NEWS RELEASE
October 7, 2004

EQUALITY MARYLAND
Contact: Dan Furmansky, Executive Director
Phone:    Office 410-685-6567
Cell    301-461-4900
Email:  dan@equalitymaryland.org

ANOTHER MARYLAND JURISDICTION TO OFFER DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS

City of Mount Rainier Affirms 'Equal Pay for Equal Work' for All Employees

MOUNT RAINIER -- In a groundswell of support for families headed by same-gender couples, the fourth Maryland jurisdiction in six months has voted in favor of granting domestic partner benefits to employees. On Tuesday, the City of Mount Rainier followed the leads of Hyattsville, College Park and Howard County in extending healthcare and bereavement coverage to the partners of employees. The City Council voted unanimously for the policy change, which will apply to same-gender and opposite-gender domestic partners of employees, or to a named relative living in the household. Other Maryland jurisdictions that offer equal benefits include Montgomery County, Howard County and the cities of Baltimore, Greenbelt, Rockville and Takoma Park.

"I am thrilled that we have finally joined three other cities in Prince George's County in offering these important benefits and I hope that some of our employees take advantage," said Bryan Knedler, mayor of Mount Rainier. "I think the County should follow the lead of its progressive residents and follow suit."

Because same-sex couples in Maryland are not recognized as family by the State or Federal governments, they not covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act to take unpaid leave to care for their sick partner, or for healthcare coverage that a spouse may be eligible to receive. Furthermore, even when health insurance benefits are offered to domestic partners, the employee taking advantage of these benefits is taxed on the benefits by both the state and federal governments.

"Nine states and the District of Columbia have a law, policy or union contract that guarantees equal healthcare benefits for state employees, but Maryland is not one of them," said Equality Maryland Executive Director Dan Furmansky. "The time has come for Prince George's County and the State of Maryland to address the lack of access to domestic partner benefits that adversely impacts the lives of so many hardworking and committed employees."

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Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest LGBT civil rights organization, focused on making life better for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens of Maryland. Equality Maryland works to secure and protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Marylanders by promoting legislative initiatives on the state, county and municipal levels and educating the public about the issues faced by our diverse community.

Equality Maryland can be found online at www.EqualityMaryland.org