ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Gay firefighters in the city could gain domestic partnership benefits this summer.
Mayor Francis Slay announced today that he is asking aldermen to amend bills currently before them that overhaul the firefighters' pension system, so as to treat domestic partners as widows or widowers.
"That means that a qualified domestic partner of a St. Louis City firefighter would be eligible to get a pension if his or her partner died in the line of duty," Slay said on MayorSlay.com.
Domestic partners are not currently recognized. Changing the existing system, Slay points out, would require the approval of the state Legislature. Slay's overhaul proposal keeps such changes in the hands of aldermen.
Those seeking benefits would have to be registered with the city as a domestic partner for the year before their partner's retirement, and also for the year before their partner's death.
In addition, the domestic partner would have to prove two markers of "economic interdependence," such as joint property ownership, joint bank accounts, a common address, or a will or life insurance account naming them as primary beneficiary.
The Vital Voice, a magazine for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents, broke the story today.
Alderman Craig Schmid, sponsor of the mayor's two bills, will introduce the amendment, said Slay's press secretary, Kara Bowlin.
The aldermen's Public Safety Committee is scheduled to hear the pension bills Thursday morning.
Copyright 2012 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
