Date: Wed, 29 Oct 97 12:56:18 EDT From: "communications" Subject: HRC Praises Domestic Partner Benefits Bill ________________________________________________________ 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 Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997 HRC PRAISES BILL TO EXTEND BENEFITS TO DOMESTIC PARTNERS OF FEDERAL WORKERS Equitable Treatment Is Good Business, Says Elizabeth Birch WASHINGTON -- The Human Rights Campaign voiced support today for a bill unveiled by Rep. Barney Frank that would make domestic partner benefits available to federal employees. "As a former executive of a Fortune 100 company, I have seen firsthand the effects of equitable treatment of gay and lesbian employees in the workplace," HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch said at a news conference today. "Put simply, it not only promotes fairness and great values, it is good business." Frank, D-Mass., unveiled the legislation at a news conference on Capitol Hill. The measure, called the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 1997, would make such benefits available to the same-sex and opposite-sex partners of all federal workers. Birch pointed out that an increasing number of the most successful and fastest-growing U.S. corporations have implemented domestic partner coverage for their gay employees, including such household names as IBM, American Express, Eastman Kodak and Nike. "They took this step not only because it ensures the ability to attract the best talent from the broadest pool, or because the commitment and loyalty of every employee is enhanced, but because such policies honor and celebrate the values of fairness and equality on which this nation was founded," she said. She also noted that no company that has ever instituted such benefits has withdrawn them, that there has never been a documented case of fraud surrounding such policies and that the cost of extending domestic partner benefits is minimal. Among the benefits extended under this legislation: Participation in the civil service or federal employees' retirement program; life insurance; health insurance; and workers' compensation. 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 -