DECEMBER 16. 2005
JUStjOUt 13
northwest
Powell’s Books offer domestic partner
Sam Adams Drafts
Equal Benefits Ordinance
ship benefits to their employees.
One glitch in the proposal, which is
still in draft form, is that some health
insurance providers, such as locally
based Health Net, do not offer domestic
Would bring city contractors in line with equal protection rules
partner benefits packages to companies
by Sarah Dougher
with fewer than 25 employees.
In addition, it is not clear if the city
Sam Adams, pictured here at a Basic Rights
Oregon fund-raiser, wants to make city
contractors accountable to civil rights laws.
jj| oilowing the lead of progressive communities
benefits between employees with domestic partners
provision will cover only same-sex domestic part
such as San Francisco, Minneapolis and King
and employees with spouses results in unequal pay for
ners or if benefits must be extended to heterosexual
struction field, where it can sometimes be hard to
County, Wash., the city of Portland has before
equal work. It would follow that because Portland
unmarried domestic partners.
come out. “One of the positives that can come from an
it a draft of an Equal Benefits Ordinance. The
prohibits discrimination based on marital status and
The Oregonian editorial board wrote Dec. 13 that
ordinance like this is that companies that think they
idea is supported by Mayor Tom Potter as
sexual orientation that the city would take up contract
Adams’ proposal is “heavy-handed, coercive and
don’t have any GLBT employees find out that they do.
ing practices that would reflect this value.
counteqiroductive.” The Oregonian, somewhat opti
It can be an educational experience for employers.”
well as Commissioners Randy Leonard, Dan Saltzman
and Erik Sten.
The city extended health benefits to unmarried
mistically, assumes business owners would offer
On Adams’ interactive blog, senior policy director
If adopted, this ordinance would require certain
domestic partners of its employees 11 years ago. Seven
health benefits to their employees’ same-sex partners
Jesse Beason says: “Our intent is to create a level of
city contractors to provide benefits to their employees
years ago, the state and local governments were also
if they could afford to do so. In addition, it suggests
accountability that our contractors are indeed following
with domestic partners equivalent to those provided to
required to offer spousal benefits to same-sex partners
that adding equal benefits is the national trend and
through on city policies. We re committed to making
of their employees. If adopted, the city
that businesses are doing it to attract a younger work
this accountability as easy, and as flexible, as possible.”
of Portland would join 13 other juris
force and to market their companies effectively to
The ordinance has incited a lively debate on the
their
employees
with spouses.
In drafting this
dictions that require equal benefits
queer consumers. These suggestions conclude that the
blog, with detractors and supporters in relatively
ordinance, the City
provisions for domestic partners in
city is playing too large a role in social engineering
respectful dialogue on the role of city in implementing
Council has found
their contracting agreements with
and that the market forces should play themselves out
civil rights policy.
that employee ben
businesses that offer spousal benefits.
as they will, because the trend is toward a version of
efits routinely com
According to the Human Rights
prise between 30
Campaign, the nation’s leading lobby
Roey Thorpe, Basic Rights Oregon executive direc
think it will create a larger market for domestic part
40
organization for queer rights, approx
tor, said: “1 believe that the Equal Benefits Ordinance
nership insurance in Portland, and it is the most
percent of employ
imately half of Fortune 500 businesses
encourages companies to offer equal benefits to
ee
and more than 7,500 employers
domestic partners. It would reward companies that
impact we are able to have at the moment,” notes
Beason. ©
nationwide offer domestic partnership
have already taken that positive step forward.”
percent
and
compensation
and that discrimi
nation in the provi
sion of employee
Adams' senior policy director, Jesse
Beason, had a large part in researching
and penning the Equal Benefits Ordinance.
equality anyway.
“We were waiting for the Legislature to act |on
Senate Bill KMX)I before making the draft public. We
benefits. Local employers such as
Thorpe also notes that many of the industries that
Nike, Providence Health Systems arid
would be affected by the ordinance are in the con-
To take part in the debate, visit S um A dams ’ Web
site at www.commissionersam.com .
2
H v -W ay O rnaments
by
G lass E ye S tudio
G et 1
Does Bob really want a new fondue pot?
Does Aunt Gail need another reindeer sweater1?
F ree !
M am wit » Mc uni
$1. H fiens ' A sh I
K f Offfs Gooo
725/05-12/31 AS
WMU MWWK LAST
Save your money.
M Buy a house.
901 SW Y amhiu
503.223.9510
Fine American C r a f t D
PORTLAND AlRPORI
503.284 9929
WWW.THfRtALMOTHiRGOOSi.COM
Injured?
...Call me
Free Consultation
No Fee Unless You Recover
Principal Broker
503.287.9370
bridgetownrealty.com
<<&
51 S
BRI DGETOWN
r REALTY 1
Hala Gores, P.C.
Attorney at Law
503/295-1940
12th Floor, 621 SW Morrison
Portland
l’< >R I I AND ARI A
BUSINESS ASSOC IATION
Integrity,
Experience
^Results
Proudly serving
our community since 1989
in personal injury claims
including:
• Auto & Motorcyle Accidents
• Bicycle & Pedestrian Accidents
• Medical Malpractice
• Wrongful Death
• Defective Products
• Insurance Claims
You Deserve
I till Compensation
for:
• Pain & Suffering
• Medical Expenses
• Lost Earnings
• Property Damage
• Car Rental