AL: legislator calls for UAB to reverse decision on partner health benefits

[ccharles000]

Talk about slow on the uptake. Was the anti-gay contingent in the Alabama legislature asleep at the wheel? Last week the news broke that the University of Alabama-Birmingham will extend health care benefits to same-sex partners of employees in order to increase its recruiting appeal to quality candidates. UAB has been smoked by other universities because it cannot compete with its current anti-gay policies. So far, I haven't seen any bigot eruptions of note, but Bessemer Opinions passed this article along.

State Rep. DuWayne Bridges, R-Valley, called for UAB to rescind the policy change, adding he was researching ways to stop the policy if it is not voluntarily reversed.

"I intend to utilize every means available," Bridges said on Wednesday.

According to a Birmingham News article, UAB began allowing employees to add same sex partners and their children to health insurance plans this month for coverage beginning in January 2010.

I do have to say that the level of rage in this particular lawmaker is kind of feeble. He's calling for a voluntary reversal (duh, not going to happen). The strange thing is he isn't really sure why the policy is wrong from the standpoint of recruiting. He just doesn't like the idea.

Bridges said he was unsure the policy change at UAB would improve recruiting. Bridges cast the issue as moral and financial, saying the change is contrary to the wishes of Alabama voters and the Legislature's intent for taxpayer's money.

Is he sure about that whole "wishes of Alabama voters" thing? What if they want better faculty and with that, better services (since UAB has a medical school) that would serve the community? Last time I checked, most sane people don't ask whether the surgeon, doctor or nurse is a homo before going under the knife.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/13834/al-legislator-calls-for-uab-to-reverse-decision-on-partner-health-benefits