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

by: Pam Spaulding

Fri Oct 30, 2009 at 08:30:00 AM EDT

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.

UA is contemplating the same benefit change, but Auburn's director of university communications, Mike Clardy specifically says that there has not "been pressure for it to change its policy." Surely there must be gay people down in Auburn, no? Is it that much more repressive compared to Tuscaloosa and Birmingham?

Read some of the article comments below the fold.

Rep Bridges - Focus on your own district.  Try to doing something to improve the lives of the residents in your district.

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This is to be expected I guess, but still so sad.  It doesn't matter whether or not you support this or not.  The fact is, approximately 40% of an employee's compensation is benefits.  This means that a gay staff member is being paid less than their married counterparts for the same work.

And it is a major recruitment issue.  We want the very best professionals at all of our universities, and anything we can do to compete with the very best institutions will be a boon to the state.  Our universities bring a lot of prestige to Alabama, and this will help.

Please Mr. Bridges, focus on the problems that are rampant in our area.  There are plenty to choose from!

I am not particularly comfortable with gay things, but I do think fair is fair.  And I do think you have many, many more important things to do with your time.  Talk about a misuse of tax dollars!

The universities are not declaring these people married, and are not impacting state law in any way.  My tax dollars pay for fraternities and democrat clubs at universities, things I do not like, but that's what universities are for!

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What an ignorant, bigoted, homophobic hick.

Mind your own business, DuWayne.

Your pathetic little district doesn't include ANY of the Universities in this state, so your opinion on this is just a display of homophobic bigotry.

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GAY RIGHTS IS NOT CIVIL RIGHTS.I DO NOT SEE WHY SEXUALITY HAS TO BE IN THE OPEN.HETEROSEXUAL PEOPLE DO NOT GO AROUND PROCLAIMING THEIR SEXUAL PREFERENCE.SO WHY DO HOMOSEXUALS HAVE TO FLAUNT THEIR SEXUALITY.When you select someone as a beneficiary i have not seen the clause where that person has to be a BLOOD RELATIVE. if you gay,you gay why do i have to know that you are?? why do you have to be seen?? I care less if you gay just as you care less i'm straight. WHY DO YOU NEED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW? WHY? IT IS LIKE THE MILITARY POLICY......DON'T ASK,DON'T TELL.  WHY DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE BE RECOGNIZED? COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO TELL ME EVERYDAY-YOU GAY!! GET A LIFE!!..I HAVE A JOB TO DO AT WORK.....I'M GAY! I'M GAY! ...SO WHAT???? BEING GAY IS NOT CIVIL RIGHTS...BLACKS DIED FOR VOTING RIGHTS AND EQUALITY,  NOT HOMOSEXUALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Mr. Bridges could find better use of his time. With unemployment at or above 20% in his district he should be more concerned about the economy! Oh, yes I forgot that Mr. Bridges owns a truck stop and boot outlet on I-85 exit 70 so his personal economy is doing just fine I suppose.

Mr. Bridges, we the people of Valley want you working on projects you promised durring your last campaign, like new bridges on HWY 29 between Valley & Opelika. We want you working on new job creation...not just the few that have come to the Cusseta exit area!

I have my own spiritual beliefs too, however, there are much more pressing issues in your district than concerning yourself with what goes on at UAB! So please Mr. Bridges, check your priorities...there are A LOT of people in your district that need good paying jobs!

I for one have not forgot the promises you made at a campaign rally at Givorns in Fairfax when Gov. Riley came through that day...and those promises are UNFULFILLED!