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Compiled By GayToday
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania--University of Pittsburgh students and staff along with members of the Equal Rights Alliance (ERA) began a hunger strike Monday. They have also called for ongoing 'Days of Silence' to protest the University's continued denial of domestic partner health benefits and its challenge to Pittsburgh's anti-discrimination ordinance.
In a previous action following a spirited rally on February 18, several of ERA's members held a sit-in at the Chancellor's office to demand a statement, which was never provided. Students say the hunger strike will end when 1) they can meet with Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg to discuss growing student, staff and faculty concern over this issue and 2) a public forum with the Board of Trustees is arranged so that the Board may finally hear the citizenry's concerns and be held publicly accountable for faulty decisions that promote discrimination.
Heterosexual couples, on the other hand, may apply for benefits without proof of marriage. Under Pennsylvania's liberal common-law marriage statues, a heterosexual couple can simply verbally agree to be married. Thus, the requirement of marriage—even loosely defined-- uniquely harms gays and lesbian couples legally ineligible for marriage and therefore for health benefits. Pittsburgh's Human Relations Commission had concluded in May 1997 that the university's policy "has resulted in disparate treatment [for employees with same-sex partners] in comparison to heterosexual employees." The parties were to have privately settled the case, but instead the University of Pittsburgh is attempting to have the case dismissed, claiming that Pittsburgh's protection ordinance for gays and lesbians exceeds the city's authority under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
If this motion is successful, say activists, it will threaten similar anti-discrimination laws in at least seven Pennsylvania cities and in Northhampton County. Arguments adopted by the University to withhold benefits for 'financial reasons' are spurious.. Currently only 16 members of the school's 9,000 faculty and staff members take advantage of the limited benefits granted to same-sex partners (limited tuition remission, bereavement leave and a Pitt ID). Pitt's own Human Resources department estimated that extending medical coverage to same-sex partners would cost Pitt $25,000 (that's 0.003% of Pitt's $865 million 1999 budget). When these limited benefits were passed by the Board of Trustees amid much controversy, then trustee Jim Flaherty said, "It's a special award for being a homosexual, and I'm totally against it'' (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 6/25/1993). Past fundraisers resigned when the limited same-sex benefits were extended, claiming that it hurt funding from private contributors. "Imagine the response," said a hunger striker, "if the Trustees voted against increased funding for the African Studies department simply because it might hurt fundraising efforts?" When asked by the University Times (March 4, 1999) "How do you feel when you hear people making accusations that you're homophobic, that the board is homophobic?" J.W. Connolly, Chairperson, of the university's Board of Trustees, responded "Are you asking me if I like girls? Is that what your question is?" How you can help: www.pitt.edu/~hslst7. Equal Rights Alliance: Equal_rights_alliance@yahoo.com |
