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Do You Agree? Cuyahoga County OKs Domestic Partner Benefits For Gay Couples

Take our poll and tell us if you agree with the decision. And then explain your stance in the comments.

The children of gay couples who receive health insurance from Cuyahoga County will now get benefits that the children of straight, but unmarried, couples can't receive, according to the Plain Dealer.

The Cuyahoga County Council, which voted 6-4 Tuesday on the measure, explained their decision to leave out the children of unmarried straight couples.

The newspaper explains that: "The children of all county employees are covered, regardless of the employee's marital status. The difference in the new law is that the children of the partners of gay county employees are now covered. The children of unmarried partners of heterosexual county employees are not."

From the Plain Dealer:

The reason, council members said, is that heterosexual couples can get married to get benefits for their children.

"This is the first step to be more inclusive," Council Vice President Sunny Simon, who introduced the legislation, said afterward. "They have a choice to get married. This particular group has no choice."

So do you agree with the decision? Take our poll and then tell us why in the comments below.

Valerie Middleton Winter February 16, 2012 at 09:07 pm
@ Josh, I believe the title was about "Gay Couples". But back to my comment that health insurance should be like car and life insurances - individual policies for all. People living together are able to purchase insurance all by themselves, or get it through medicaid if they qualify. Why does this have to be for a person, a couple, a family. Let it be for each person, just like a car and the premium based on age, health, lifestyle, type of work (high risk vs low risk / athlete vs office worker). And it is a "benefit" some employers don't even offer health insurance unless you are a full timer and part timer's average 25 hours per week. The Mentor School's has a policy that the employee gets a stipend for opting out of the school health insurance, and Lincoln has a similar policy, that's what that year-end bonus is for their employees so they can pay for their own health insurance. Give me more money in my paycheck (section 125) so I can buy my own health insurance from a company of my choice.
Ted Dick February 16, 2012 at 09:09 pm
I know that some where they "the Patch People" ask you to leave you first and last name. I could not find it quickly though for you Barbara. For me, putting your name is a good policy. It keeps the discourse civil,
Ted Dick February 16, 2012 at 09:32 pm
I disagree with "the decision to allow gay couples to get domestic partner benefits but not straight, unmarried couples" because anybody in a committed relationship independent of sexual orientation should get partner benefits. So I agree that gay couples should get the benefits but so should straight, unmarried couples. My partner benefits from such an extended policy at CWRU. Cleveland Heights allows domestic partnerships to heterosexual couples.
Sandy February 16, 2012 at 10:26 pm
All children should be allowed to get health benefits no matter what the makeup of the family
Winston Smith February 17, 2012 at 04:46 am
Hi Michelle
Under Our current system,Employers pay most of there employee's Health Care costs. The children(biologicl & adopted) are covered as the employees dependants. I have no way of knowing where your adopted parents worked, but we are talking specifically about Cuyahoga County employees. I, in my own small part, AM PAYING FOR THERE HEALTH CARE. They are not legally married. That's the same as paying Health Care for a roommate. A Male/Female couple is normal.Same sex couples are abnormal. If that offends you, ask your two same sex adopted parents why they could not produce there own biological children. The key to you being offended lies there. Good day.
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:03 am
All this Bs about god and the bible - people trying to put their religious beliefs on others. Which btw was what 9-11 was all about
Shairia law. which is about as hateful to gays as some xtians.
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:04 am
we dont believe in your bible.
And if you want to rant, why dont you talk about the immoral people who have children out of wedlock. We can save 10x easy of the cost of covering gay domestic partners re insurance. So cute how you forget conveniently about the sins of so many str8 people.
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:07 am
Mine also. Some xtians are anything but xtians.
BTW keep your multi thousand year old scripture to yourself. Or I'll be glad to form a stone brigade to solve the problems of your daughters not being virgins on their wedding days.
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:09 am
Not sure where you are coming from but I'm all for gay marriage rights. what your church does with its marriage RITES is their biz and you can bar the door to gays with my blessings.
Because our church will perform marriage rites for gays, and find them the best of parishioners. - sometimes adversity makes better people
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:10 am
bulls eye Laura. And I bet the people most opposed to gays getting eg medical beneifts for their partners are the same who talk about protecting life.
Hypocrites
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:11 am
maybe we should nt call the bigots bigots. lets try busybodies -
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:15 am
lets see - half of western Europe has gay marriage. As does canada, mexico, argentina and columbia
And nations as diverse as israel, Nepal, Repub of south africa etc. Want to stop the fraud I'mjust right - let gays marry. BTW how do we know that you and your wife are legally married? We' can prob save 10x what giving the small number of gay couples bennies by tossing off the hetero marriage fakers. I've been married 44 years and never been asked if I was married? thats where our county can save a fortune - kick off the hetero fakers.
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:16 am
you can buy health insurance for your pets. its available commercially. woof woof
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:19 am
and dont give us the marriage has always been the same blah blah.
We no longer sell our daughters into slavery of a man she has never met for a dowry and to cement biz ties etc. As for gays having the right to marry someone of the opposite sex, lets see you go marry someone of hte same sex........ Re tjhe procreation biz, lets make marriages conditional on children happening and kill off all marriages when the last kid reaches the age of majority. dont you get tired of throwing out the same old back of the bull arguments?
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:21 am
a small but vocal block being run over left and right by large blocks of reliigious people.
Stop claiming you are the victimi when in fact you are the victimizer.
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:24 am
"You just discriminated against a couple (not gay) who lives together and they do not get the same supposed rights or benefits as you."
Sorry Chris - you cant have it both ways. gays cant marry so we make exceptions for them. and dont need exceptions for unmarried hetero couples who can marry. Somehow the word hypocrite comes to mind. PS - its the 21st century.
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:27 am
the moral decline is always having an enemy in the name of god. why dont you go have a beer and go to sleep chriss -t slate and all you seem to be able to do is claim victimhood when you are the victimizer in so many ways
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:30 am
thats fine if gays get the same deal
BTW employer insurance cannot discriminate based on prior health issues. pvt policies can refuse you coverage or raise the rates astronommically if they think they are at risk of paying off. just time to treat our gay citizens equally. the simple solution - let them marry under civil law. (I can see the vittual bricks flying)
steve James February 17, 2012 at 07:30 am
I'm fine with your comments but you might want to change your name (smiles)
Pastor Chris February 17, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I have noticed one thing in watching this dialogue unfold. The people who make resort to personal attacks of people, are closed minded, and knock on people's beliefs are those arguing for Gay marriage. The arguments people are making about the Bible are absurd. If you study literature you will understand that the Bible as a whole holds the highest level of textual criticism. What does that mean...well it means that just as a book we can know with nearly 99% in many cases that with the exception of scribal errors, not content that what the Bible says is accurate it what was actually written in its original form. As for the inspiration of Scripture that is up to the individual. If you don't want to believe it is sacred, that is on you. But the Bible is an awesome work of literature. Again, I stated earlier, people have abused Scripture by not applying systematic theology or taking it out of context or not exegeting a text correctly. Which is what those bashing the Word of God are doing. It is sad that we cannot have more respect toward God's Word and people of faith...founding principles of our nation. But the good thing about our nation is that I respect your right to hold your opinion. If you noticed I did not stoop to calling anyone who disagreed with me a bigot, hurl personal insults...not I argued my point on its own merit. That is what public discourse is supposed to be about. I hope you will respond in kind or ask questions and we can have healthy dialogue.
Barbara February 17, 2012 at 01:09 pm
Ted, I've looked everywhere in the TOU, and nowhere did I see that using a first and last name is required. Perhaps in the registration they require first and last name, but they must understand security issues and NOT require that your full name be displayed. My...and my family's security is the reason I choose to use only my first name.
Brandon Scullion February 17, 2012 at 04:40 pm
I maybe one of the younger people commenting on this post but I wanted to share a link of a music video.
As I read through these comments, from the left and the right, both of which are full of attacks and accusations, a couple of songs from the band LIVE start to play through my head. I'm a sucker for a good, politically charged, song and their first album was comprised entirely of these types of songs. The Beauty of Gray is the name of the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU4wDMYbIps If I told you he was your brother We could reminisce Then you would go about your day If I said you ought to give him some of your water You'd shake your canteen and walk away The perception that divides you from him Is a lie For some reason you never asked why This is not a black and white world You can't afford to believe in your side This is not a black and white world To be alive I say that the colors must swirl And I believe That maybe today We will all get to appreciate The Beauty of Grey
Michelle Mercuri February 17, 2012 at 07:11 pm
Winston, for the record, my parents are not 'same sex' as you assume. They are 'normal' by your definition. That is my point. I was just a child that needed health care. Obviously, many gay couples adopt. Those couples are not married because they can not legally do so. I wonder, would you have preferred it that those adopted children were aborted, so you wouldn't have to pay for their healthcare? Currently, 'man & woman' couples have the legal right, and choice, to marry. That's how they can get their children/stepchildren covered. I don't want to get into a pissing match with you, I guess I'm just trying to look at the needs of the child. I wonder how much this is really costing us anyway?
James Thomas February 18, 2012 at 04:36 pm
Brandon S.,
I admire your attempt to foster equality but let me supply some subtext to your lyrics. "If I said you ought to give him some of your water You'd shake your canteen and walk away" If I demand that you give the water that you just spent a whole day working to acquire so that your wife and children would not thirst you would walk away. "This is not a black and white world You can't afford to believe in your side" This is not a black and white issue, it's math, you can't afford it because it's already been spent and it's been spent for your children. And for you Brandon.
James Thomas February 18, 2012 at 04:40 pm
Sandy,
All children have access to health benefits no matter what the makeup of the family. The question is who PAYS for it.
Sandy February 18, 2012 at 05:28 pm
James,
We all pay into a pot to help those who cannot help themselves. You are right in that respect, but it's better to see children, or anyone for that matter, get whatever healthcare is needed rather than to let them suffer. Isn't that what a society is supposed to do? I would hate for us to regress to the standards of the 1800's.
James Thomas February 19, 2012 at 03:07 am
Sandy,
I'd hate to see that too but that is what we are headed for if we don't stop spending at the present rate. If we don't choose to control our spending the choice will be taken out of our hands. "If something can't continue, it stops". We are all on a fiscal Easter Island.
Sandy February 21, 2012 at 06:09 pm
We need to rethink our priorities, in other words.
anastasia February 21, 2012 at 09:53 pm
I'm confused about how this is even a discussion...what year is it again?? and who in their right mind would deny proper benefits to any child? i certainly dont give a rats patooty if the kids parents are gay or straight. why cant we just let people live their lives?? and all of this religious talk is garbage. i thought god was the only one who could judge us...
jessicalovely February 22, 2012 at 07:38 am
i'm not against gay or lesbian but theyre getting more and more of there kind, dont know why. i would suggest hypnotherapy to cure lesbians and gay lol. they might try viewing this one http://tinyurl.com/FreeGregoryHypnosisVideo

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