L.A. to contractors: Provide DP benefits

Los Angeles city council members approved a measure Wednesday that requires contractors doing business with the city to provide benefits to their employees' domestic partners under the city's Equal Benefits Ordinance. "The city does not discriminate in employment benefits on the basis of sexual orientation or marital status," said city attorney Rocky Delgadillo after the city council voted unanimously in favor of benefits for domestic partners. "It is only fair that city contractors provide the same benefits to domestic partners as they do their employees' spouses." Delgadillo met with gays and lesbians in January 2002 and pledged to expand the city ordinance. He got help from Councilman Eric Garcetti. "The original Equal Benefits Ordinance was a pioneering advancement for civil rights," Garcetti said. "I'm happy that we can expand our application of it to include more people who do business with the city." The ordinance, which goes into effect April 1, covers contracts of more than $5,000.