Spokane Backs Domestic Partnerships

News Release: 
Friday, November 20, 2009

The City of Spokane in April 2004 adopted an ACLU-supported domestic partnership ordinance. With a 5-2 vote, the City Council passed the measure to allow unmarried partners of city employees to obtain health care benefits, city-sponsored life insurance and pension rights, and paid leave to attend to illnesses involving their partners. Opponents argued that the law would undermine the institution of marriage and condone “alternative” lifestyles, and was contrary to God’s will. The ACLU and others pointed out that offering domestic partnership benefits was a matter of fairness.

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