Cities may follow suburb's lead on same-sex benefits

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — As this city prepares to meet possible legal and political challenges to its decision to give health benefits to the same-sex partners of city employees, other Ohio cities are considering similar legislation.

Critics say the City Council's groundbreaking vote last week — making the Cleveland suburb the first in Ohio to provide such benefits — excludes unmarried heterosexual couples from the same coverage.

Cleveland and Columbus are likely to be the next Ohio cities to consider health benefits for same-sex couples.

In Cleveland, council member Nelson Cintron said he will propose similar health coverage for city employees as early as June.

In Columbus, council members are now considering health benefits for those who are dependent on city employees for insurance, regardless of gender. In 1998, council voted to give health benefits to same-sex partners. When residents got enough signatures for a vote, council repealed the decision.

Under the Cleveland Heights law, an unmarried heterosexual couple could claim discrimination, NAACP President George Forbes said.

"That will have to be raised by someone who works for Cleveland Heights who wants the benefits ... and be decided by the court," said Forbes, head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Cleveland chapter.