The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that Mayor Andy Berke says treating all city workers equally includes offering health benefits to same-sex domestic partners.
City Councilman Chris Anderson is heading that effort, which includes an official nondiscrimination policy against gay and lesbian city workers. Activists are calling for similar policies in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis.
Commissioners in Collegedale, Tennessee, have already approved offering health benefits to same-sex partners of public workers, if they were married in states where such unions are legal. Last week, commissioners there amended the policy to cover all domestic partnerships.
Currently, 18 states and the District of Columbia offer benefits for same-sex partners of state employees. Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam said last week he doesn't anticipate similar policies for Tennessee.
