The East Tennessee city of Collegedale is on the verge of being the first municipality in the state to grant health care benefits to all domestic partners.
Collegedale City Commission members passed the first reading of a plan to give the same benefits that married city workers receive to heterosexual and same-sex partners of city employees. Collegedale commissioners voted 4 to 1 in favor of including domestic partners in the city benefits plan. A second reading of the plan is expected in August.
Though Tennessee doesn't recognize same-sex marriage, individual municipalities can define what partnerships qualify for employee benefits.
