Date: Wed, 19 May 99 18:48:10 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] Task Force Releases Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual *********************************************** NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE Contact: Betsy Gressler, Deputy Political Director 202-332-6483 ext. 3306 800-757-6476 pager bgressler@ngltf.org 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20009 www.ngltf.org *********************************************** NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE RELEASES COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE ON DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS * Table of Contents: http://www.ngltf.org/pubs/dp_pub.html * Op-Ed on domestic Partnership benefits: http://www.ngltf.org/press/kerrymay99.html May 18, 1999, Washington, DC -The Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) has published a comprehensive resource on domestic partnership benefits for journalists, public officials, advocates, employees and employers. The manual describes various strategies to achieve domestic partnership benefits, dissects policies already enacted, lists companies and municipalities offering domestic partnership benefits, and includes sample policies. The Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual also explains the arguments for and against these benefits, concluding that the pros far outweigh the cons. The Policy Institute of the NGLTF is a think tank dedicated to research, policy analysis and strategic projects to advance the greater understanding and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. The Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual is one more step toward our goal of producing valuable research and resource information. Selected Facts from the NGLTF Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual: * According to the 1990 US Census unmarried couples comprised approximately 4.5 million families and one-third of these unmarried couples were of the same-sex. * Domestic partnership benefits are available to employees at over 570 companies, 141 colleges and universities, and over 87 city, county and state governments such as Pima County AZ; Philadelphia, PA; and the States of Vermont and Oregon, with many more pending. * Currently more than ten percent of all employers offer benefits to domestic partners of their employees. Among companies with more than 5,000 employees, almost one quarter offer these benefits. * More than 62 percent of Americans support domestic partners receiving equal access to inheritance benefits. * Domestic partnership benefits are not costly and enrollment is low; generally less than 2.5 percent of employees elect these benefits. * Benefits comprise approximately 40% of a worker's compensation, employees who can obtain benefits for their spouses, are in effect, paid higher than employees in relationships, which are not legally recognized. The movement for domestic partnership benefits is rooted in the democratic notion of equal pay for equal work. * Domestic partnership benefits are tangible and real, including medical care, bereavement leave, hospital visitation, and a host of other benefits. In a country where unemployment is an all-too-common reality and the government does not provide universal health care, access to medical care and other valuable employment benefits is critical. Please share this information with those working on domestic partnership, whether they are journalists, public officials, advocates, employees or employers. The Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual offers information on: how domestic partnership is defined, arguments for and against DP benefits, who supports DP, resource groups and contact information, sector by sector policies, public and private sector benefits, union or membership organizations, college and university benefits, states and municipalities offering DP benefits or registries, sample proposal for DP benefits, key court cases affecting the rights of domestic partners, and more. Copies of The Domestic Partnership Organizing Manual may be ordered by calling 202-332-6483 or by downloading our publications list and order form at http://www.ngltf.org/downloads/Publications.pdf. The manual can also be dowloaded by visiting the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force website at http://www.ngltf.org/pub.html. Please visit the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force for more information http://www.ngltf.org _____________________________________________________________________ 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. _________________________________________ 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.