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John Daley ReportingA court battle is underway over the contentious issue of health benefits for domestic partners. The case revolves around a decision by Mayor Rocky Anderson to extend those benefits to Salt Lake City workers. This case is about benefits for city workers, but it also is about benefits for same-sex partners, and that's where the controversy comes in.
Dianna Goodliffe is the mother of a four-year-old child who lives with her same-sex partner. She is also a victim advocate for Salt Lake Police who recently applied for the city's new health benefit package for domestic partners.
Dianna Goodliffe, Salt Lake City Employee: "It's not about marriage rights, it's not about marriage. It's about employee compensation."
Mayor Rocky Anderson signed an executive order last year, extending health benefits to domestic partners.
Mayor Rocky Anderson, Sept. 2005: "It's all about equality. Its about treating people regardless of sexual orientation decently and equally."
Since then 16 employees, including four with children, have signed up. But that move has landed the city in court, fending off a challenge from gay-marriage opponents, including the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund.
Frank Mylar, Alliance Defense Fund: "The mayor exceeded his authority. He did not have the authority to create a different status called domestic partners, which is substantially similar to marriages."
The city maintains the executive order does not run afoul of the state's gay marriage ban, but opponents say the mayor is grabbing powers reserved for the city council. Either way, it's being watched closely by both sides of the national gay rights vs. traditional marriage debate.
Margaret Plane, Legal Director, ACLU of Utah: "Equal pay for equal work is good public policy. Treating people in similar relationships equally is good public policy. It's a matter of equality."
Frank Mylar, Alliance Defense Fund: "There's no doubt we want to protect marriage, but we also want to protect the propriety of the legal process."
Dianna Goodliffe, Salt Lake City Worker: "It would benefit me. It would just allow us some freedom to make decisions about what we want to do and the direction of our family."
The judge says he'll take the matter under advisement. He did not say when he will rule on the issue.
