DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS: Challenged In Philadelphia

      A group of Philadelphia citizens filed suit last week to block the city's recently passed law granting health care and other benefits to the same-sex partners of city employees. According to the plaintiffs, "brought together by the Urban Family Coalition," the City Council "redefined marriage" when it voted to grant the benefits, a move they say can only be accomplished by the state government. Urban Family Coalition Director William Devlin said the benefits are "anti- family and anti-marriage," while another plaintiff "said that ultimately God will judge the city for permitting same-sex partners to enjoy many of the same benefits married couples do." No hearing has been set in the suit, which was filed in Common Pleas Court. Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell (D) "said he would fight the lawsuit here and defend the city ordinances" (Burton, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/15).

OK'd At The Post
      The Washington Post Company announced Friday that "it will offer health-insurance benefits for the first time to same-sex domestic partners of eligible employees, beginning Jan. 1." The decision follows similar moves by other leading media organizations, including National Public Radio, the New York Times Co., Times Mirror Co. and Knight Ridder Inc. The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association reports that "500 companies across the country offer this coverage," including a total of 44 media companies (Berselli, Washington Post, 8/15).