Same-Sex Health Benefits Approved For Mecklenburg County Employees

Same-sex county workers will be able to get health benefits after a vote Tuesday evening by Mecklenburg county commissioners.

The board voted 6-3 to extend benefits to domestic partners with Democrats voting for the plan and Republicans opposing it.

Commissioner Dumont Clarke made the motion and offered a definition of domestic partners which included a "same-sex, spouse-like relationship between two adults."

The board spent several hours on the issue hearing from a representative of the county's human resources department about the cost and then listening to supporters and opponents from the public.

The vote on Tuesday evening culminated discussions which began in February.