Palm Beach
Increases Domestic-Partner Benefits

The Palm Beach County School District has agreed to insure the children of its employees' domestic partners.

As Floridians prepare to decide on Amendment 2 -- an initiative that could constitutionally ban same-sex marriage in the state -- on November 4, Palm Beach made a bold statement of gay tolerance by offering increased domestic-partner benefits.

"The School Board's pro-family policy of insuring the children of domestic partners could not have come at a better time," said Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, in a release. "In these uncertain economic times, all families need access to affordable health insurance."

The Palm Beach school board last year adjusted its health insurance rates to allow employees with domestic partners to pay the same premiums as married partners. (Neal Broverman, The Advocate)