Nickels to help out same-sex marriage (extends benefits in Seattle)

[Barrett808]

Nickels to help out same-sex marriage
Plan would extend benefits inside the city
By KATHY GEORGE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Seattle businesses could be required to recognize same-sex marriages and extend the same benefits to gay married employees as they extend to other married workers, under a proposal announced yesterday by Mayor Greg Nickels and City Councilman Tom Rasmussen.

The mayor's proposal, to be sponsored by Rasmussen, would expand the scope of the city's anti-discrimination law to protect gay and lesbian couples who marry in places where same-sex marriage is legal.

Although Seattle already outlaws discrimination in housing, employment or public services based on a person's sexual orientation or marital status, the proposal would redefine "marital status" to include same-sex married couples, said Rasmussen, who added that he believes such a change would require equal benefits for gay and straight employees' spouses.

"As couples come here who are married, this will help them," said Rasmussen, the city's first openly gay councilman.

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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/163743_gaycity08.html