Date: Tue, 10 Aug 99 16:04:27 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] Fair Skies for Same-Sex Couples Only ********************************************* NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE Contact: David Elliot, Communications Director 202-332-6483 ext. 3303 800-757-6476 pager delliot@ngltf.org http://www.ngltf.org 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC ********************************************* FAIR SKIES FOR SAME-SEX AIRLINE EMPLOYEES "The recent decisions-to offer domestic partner benefits to same sex couples is a good first step. But airlines should offer benefits for unmarried opposite-sex couples as well." --NGLTF Executive Director Kerry Lobel Aug. 10, 1999-A flurry of announcements by three of the nation's leading airlines that they will now offer domestic partner benefits to same-sex couples marks true progress, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said today. "The recent decisions by American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways to offer domestic partner benefits to same-sex couples is a good first step and recognizes the value not only of gay and lesbian employees, but also of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered travel dollars," said NGLTF Executive Director Kerry Lobel. But Lobel added that the announcements by American Airlines and United Airlines were not entirely satisfactory because full benefits will not be extended to unmarried opposite-sex couples. (The third airline, US Airways, has announced it will provide domestic partner benefits but has not released details of its program, a corporate spokesperson told NGLTF Tuesday.) "It's a bittersweet victory when gay and lesbian couples get their benefits but others are excluded," Lobel said. Under United Airlines' new policy, gay and lesbian couples will receive full benefits, including health and pension coverage. Unmarried opposite-sex couples will receive only "noneconomic" benefits, such as flight discounts and bereavement or medical leave. United and American are hardly alone in excluding unmarried heterosexual coverage. Of the more than 1,000 companies in the United States that offer domestic partner benefits, about 40 percent exclude unmarried opposite-sex couples, including Disney, American Express and AT&T. Lobel noted that an argument frequently cited against offering benefits to unmarried opposite-sex couples is that, unlike gay and lesbian couples, they have the right to marry. "That's not the point," Lobel said. "This is an issue of workplace equity, equal pay for equal work. There are a variety of reasons why an opposite-sex couple may choose not to marry - religious reasons, opposition to the institution of marriage, potential loss of pension benefits, for example. Employers should recognize that today's families come in all shapes and forms. Every family is entitled to health care, pension coverage and other benefits that come from domestic partner policies." NGLTF this year published "The Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual For Employee Benefits," a comprehensive guide that explains what domestic partner benefits are, why employers should adopt them and how employees can obtain them. For information on the report, please visit http://www.ngltf.org/pub.html. _____________________________________________________________________ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. _________________________________________________________________ The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force presents the Creating Change conference - the nation's premier conference for activists and organizers in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender movement. November 10-14 * Oakland, CA * http://www.creatingchange.org _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . You may also unsubscribe by visiting http://www.ngltf.org.