Date: Tue, 20 May 97 17:23:50 EDT From: "Phil Attey" Subject: DNC INSTITUTES DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS FOR LESBIAN/GAY EMP __________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Saturday, May 17, 1997 DNC INSTITUTES DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS FOR LESBIAN/GAY EMPLOYEES Joins Growing Roster of Employers Who Treat Employees Equally WASHINGTON -- The Democratic National Committee has decided to offer domestic partner benefits to its lesbian and gay employees, joining the growing list of employers who treat their workers equally. DNC National Chair Steve Grossman revealed the plan in a meeting May 13 with Elizabeth Birch, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, and HRC Co-Chairs Mary Breslauer and Fred Hochberg. "The Democratic National Committee is joining some of the smartest and most successful U.S. employers by deciding to treat its workers fairly," Birch said. "Offering equal benefits will help the DNC attract and retain good employees in a competitive market. HRC applauds the committee's excellent business judgment." The benefits will become available to the same-sex domestic partners of DNC employees around July 1, after the committee negotiates its new health insurance contract, Grossman told the HRC leaders. The DNC employs between 100 and 125 workers. Several hundred U.S. employers already offer domestic partner benefits to employees, including such household names as IBM, Eastman Kodak, Disney, Harley-Davidson, Hewlett Packard, Consumer's Union, Glaxo-Wellcome, Microsoft, Time Warner and the Public Broadcasting System, to name a few. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 -