Philly wants city contractors to extend benefits to workers’ same-sex partners

Philadelphia City Council has approved a bill requiring city contractors to give benefits to same-sex partners of their workers.

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown authored the bill calling for extending health benefits to same sex partners of those working on city contracts. She said it’s a matter of fairness.

“If you are a contractor seeking to do business with the city of Philadelphia, we are saying through the bill just as your spouse or marriage partner receives those benefits, we are saying now that same-sex partners should be granted those same health-related benefits,” Brown said

The councilwoman said she was impressed that bill went through council without much notice.

“It’s a clear signal that we’ve come a mighty long ways from those days in City Council where there were huge debates about giving same-sex partners equal rights,” Brown said

The bill will apply to companies that win contracts worth at least $250,000. It will also apply to their subcontractors.