NYC Mayor Blocks GLBT Benefits Law

October 15, 2004

NEW YORK — New York Mayor Bloomberg is going to court to overturn a law that would force companies doing business with the city to offer benefits to the domestic partners of their employees.

The legislation was passed by city council in May. The following month Bloomberg vetoed it saying the law would hurt the city. Two weeks later council overrode the veto by a 41 - 4 vote.

The legislation is to take effect October 26. It would require contractors that do more than $100,000 of business each year with NYC to offer the equal benefits.

The legislation would have made health coverage available to tens of thousands of additional people in the New York City region and because many companies which do business with New York are national corporations it could also provide same-sex benefits to hundreds of thousands of people across the country.

When he ran for office Bloomberg backed the measure but once in office changed his mind.

Trying to use the City's procurement dollars to advance social issues is just not productive, Bloomberg said in 2002. He also cited a decrease in competition for contracts and a resulting increase in the cost of services.

Lawyers for the mayor filed suit in Manhattan Supreme Court, late Thursday.

This action can only be described as a slap in the face to lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender New Yorkers, councilwoman Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) told a Friday news conference at city hall.

This is New York and there is no room for discrimination in New York, said Alan Van Capelle, Executive Director of Empire State Pride Agenda.

We have fought for this law for too many years now to stop fighting. LGBT employees and their families deserve and need the same support all other employees and families receive and we will make sure this happens.