University of
Louisville to offer benefits to gay employees

The University of Louisville's board of trustees has passed a plan that would offer health insurance to domestic partners of school employees. The board approved the measure by a 14-1 vote on Thursday. Louisville is reportedly the first public university in Kentucky to endorse a plan that would allow nonmarried gay and straight partners of school faculty and staff to take part of the benefits plan.

The trustees said they weren't trying to make a social statement with the plan but felt the move was necessary to keep the school competitive with other universities who were already offering similar benefits. "From an economic development position this does send to the rest of the country that this is an enlightened institution," said trustee Bill Stone. "This is not an endorsement of gay marriage or any of the other lightning issues."

Over 250 colleges and universities already offer domestic-partner health benefits, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington, D.C.-based gay-rights advocacy group. The plan would affect more than 4,800 employees. (AP)