Report: All couples should get benefits

Gay and lesbian couples should receive the same financial benefits as married couples. That's the conclusion of the Task Force on Benefits for Domestic Partners, which recently issued a preliminary report. Because lesbian and gay faculty and staff members are not permitted to marry by law, they cannot qualify for benefits available to spouses and children of University employees, according to the report. The report urges the University to recognize that this is in conflict with the University's Non-Discrimination Policy. "We discussed the facts that many other universities and employers have extended benefits to domestic partners and it seemed that Penn should follow suit," said Religious Studies Chairperson Ann Matter, a member of the task force. "The major concern that we had was that all members of the community should have equal access to benefits." The task force – created last April by former President Sheldon Hackney –Epresented its recommendations in the October 19 issue of Almanac. A comment period will last through November 19. Interim President Claire Fagin will make a decision based on the final report. Because the issue involves finances, the Board of Trustees must approve her decision. The Graduate and Professional Student Assembly last night passed a resolution in support of the policy recommendation. Assistant Director of Student Life Programming Bob Schoenberg said yesterday he is pleased with the task force's recommendations. "I think it's an excellent report, it's based on a very extensive exploration of the facts, but it's also very principled – it has a moral foundation," Schoenberg said. "It's probably the strongest statement that I have ever seen on the Penn campus regarding lesbian and gay people." In order to ensure that lesbian and gay partners are really "couples," the report suggests seven qualifications with which same-sex partners must comply. These qualifications include that the partners reside together; that each is over 18 years old, unmarried and the sole domestic partner of the other; that they are responsible financially for each other and that they are not related by blood to a degree that would bar marriage. Matter said although the report currently suggests these qualifications only for same-sex partners, "the move of the future" will be that married people will have to prove they are married and opposite-sex couples will also have to prove they are couples. Matter thinks the findings are a step toward equality on campus for all couples. "Obviously for employees, faculty and staff and gays and lesbians on campus, it means that there will be equity in benefits," she said. "That's been a long time coming." Schoenberg echoed Matter's statement. "I think it's a considerable step forward because it's another way of acknowledging that lesbian and gay people are full citizens at the University," he said. Fagin said yesterday she has received several written comments from the University community which will be used by the committee to assist in the creation of a final report. Law Professor Stephen Burbank, the task force's chairperson, said he is hopeful that Fagin will approve the recommendations. "Obviously for some people the issues are potentially quite inflammatory," he said. "But I would hope that most people will be persuaded by the report that this is something that is strongly encouraged by existing policy."