Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham to Offer Partner Benefits

Well Jay, you may be right. A state legislator is going to try to reverse the UAB benefits policy. http://www2.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/local_legislator_calls_for_uab_to_change_same-sex_partners_benefits_policy/104526/

Jay, you are confusing UA and UAB -- though they are both part of the University of Alabama system, UAB is the medical school located in Birmingham, and is the number one employer in the state of Alabama. UAB brings so much prestige to the state, any punishments the legislature would try to bring against the school would be a shot in their own foot. It seems very unlikely that we have cause for anything other than celebration. And you're right, as an LGBT person with LGBT parents who grew up down here, it sucks in especially rural parts of the state, but positive changes are being made, and pessimism and fear will only hold us back

Paul, you are right about Ohio and Michigan. Only about half of the states have state-wide anti-discrimination laws. I am happy that the University of Alabama has recognized the need to become diverse and supportive of their gay and lesbian employees. The only way it is going to be considered a significant national university is by doing so. (As it is now, it is mainly regarded as a football factory.) I don't want to pour water on this good news. But I also remember how hateful the good Christians are there and I would not be at all surprised if the politicians get involved and put the kibosh on domestic partner benefits or anything else that might help homosexuals. I would be delighted to learn that my fears are unfounded.

One Closed Door After Another can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=annV2cWOwJs

Jay - you forgot Ohio and Michigan.

Joe, I hope that you are right. However, I think Alabama's record on sexual orientation discrimination, like its record on racial discrimination, is not very enviable. You are right that California voted against marriage equality, adopting a constitutional amendment similar to but not as expansive as Alabama. But at least we have domestic partnerships that grant all the rights and responsibilities of marriage, and a very strong non-discrimination law. In Alabama it is perfectly legal to fire someone or refuse to rent to them because they are gay. I'm glad that you are happy there, and I hope things are improving. But I would not be at all surprised if state politicians overturn this policy. Or someone sue to have it overturned by the state courts on the grounds that it violates the constitutional amendment banning marriage and "marriage-like" recognition. Given the people on the state supreme court, I wouldn't expect any justice.

Please fix the picture > That is the U. of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and not Birmingham. Same system but not the same school. I wish the U of Alabama would do that same offering soon because it's a great school too and it does not always follow the state in backwards thinking.

@ Jay. That's pretty strong coming from a state whose citizens just voted to take away established rights. Come on, we all have backwards people in our states. We are making progress, just as CA is. It might not seem big to you, but we did elect an openly gay state legislator and UAB's partner rights are here to stay. How can they remove them when the institution's non-discrimination statement includes sexual orientation?

I would not be counting on these benefits. Alabama is one of the most backward states in the country. If the legislature has anything to do with this, they would rather put gay people in jail than give domestic partner benefits. And they like being backward, so the fact that they would lose bright people will have no sway with them. They have passed tons of anti-gay legislation, including a law that made it illegal for a state university to recognize a gay student group (it was ruled unconstitutional by the federal courts). Only Mississippi is more thoroughly homophobic than Alabama, though admittedly South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Virginia come close.

The headline is misleading because it is the Univeristy of Alabama at Birmingham that is offereing the benefits, not the University of Alabama. The article is correct, except it says "Alabama University" instead the University of Alabama. Auburn University is lagging behind. Full disclosure, I am an Auburn and a UAB alum.