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Kenney bills would help LGBT Philadelphians move toward parity (UPDATED)
Life partners would have rights to pension benefits, hospital visitation and other protections now provided to married couples.
Kenney bills would help LGBT Philadelphians move toward parity (UPDATED)
Councilman Jim Kenney made headlines for blasting the gay-marriage-hating president of Chick-Fil-A earlier this year. But now, he is set to introduce legislation that could make a real difference for LGBT Philadelphians — and make Philly a more appealing option for LGBT couples. "These are not special rights, these are equal rights," he said. "We must do everything we can to stimulate population growth, attract high caliber talent, and encourage families to plant roots. Being named the most LGBT-friendly city in America will only help achieve this critical goal."
The reforms include the nation's first "Equality Tax Credit," to allow employers to deduct the cost of health care benefits for life partners of employees as they do for spouses, and, just as importantly, guarantee hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights for life partners. It would also provide them with an exemption to the real-estate transfer tax (a move that the state Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional when City Council attempted it previously). The reforms extend to "all uncommitted married couples." Kenney's legislation would also require the city to offer the same health benefits to partners of employees that it offers to employees' spouses — another initiative that state courts previously ruled against.
Kenney said he's hoping the courts will change their approach this time: "We're going to pass what we think is appropriate." If there is a legal challenge, "We'll see if the court is in the frame of m ind after so many years to do the right thing this time."
Kenney also wants to make city processes more equitable — changing things like "mother" and "father" to "parent 1" and "parent 2" on forms, and providing a "self-identify" gender option on paperwork for transgender people.
The same protections would extend to city employee programs like pension and survivor benefits, and Fallen Hero awards, meaning that life-partnered couples could now have the same rights as married couples.
What the hell does a "all uncommitted married couples" even mean?
Someone has to ask these questions since Kenney is too stupid to think these things through.
So can every city worker just pick someone to inherit their (already overgenerous) pension?
Who will judge what is a real relationship and what is gaming the system?
Just saying. It will cost millions of dollars if someone can designate a young person to inherit for the rest of their life also.
Kenney will tell us no city employee would ever try to game the pension system this way. Meanwhile he is getting paid every which way under teh table.— PhillyNetTaxPayer- Useless....this is the second so-called equal benefits bill that does nothing substantive on trans issues. Where's the removal of health care discrimination?
Wow - a check off box!!! Be still my beating heart!!!— Poit
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