Blog that did not make the cut

Posted on November 18, 2008
Filed Under Leftovers |

Leftovers:

While same-sex couples in California protest for being given a long-desired right and then having it taken away, same-sex couples at the University of Texas are still battling to get health benefits that peer universities and Texas private colleges, such as Baylor University and Trinity University, offer.

Brandon Jass, a UT Public Affairs graduate student, started to work a policy he proposed for same-sex couple benefits through the system in April. As of Tuesday, Jass has passed it unanimously through every student governing body on campus.

“I honestly was surprised at how little descent there was in any student governing bodies,” Jass said. “It just reaffirms my belief that students at the University overwhelmingly support a change of policy.”

But the change of policy does not come from the University standpoint, but the Texas Legislature, which set a law that has kept all Texas public universities from allowing same-sex benefits.

The law states that only a “spouse” can have health care privileges. –And a spouse is defined as someone who has a recognized marriage within the state of Texas.

Jass’ side note to the initiative was to include housing benefits for same-sex couples in the graduate school –An issue that might be more easily resolved, but still presents a Legislative issue, according to UT lawyers.

But many students have put much of the blame of the University, saying that the legal interpretations of the policy could change and allow same-sex couples to receive benefits.
The belief led hundreds of supporters for the initiative to rally in front of the University’s union building yesterday for benefits, an event sponsored by the UT Pride and Equity Faculty Staff Assocation.

Representatives from the University Diversity office spoke, along with representatives from Equality Texas, and the Texas Legislature. Jass announced the passing of the initiative and a new focus on the Texas Legislative session beginning in January.

He said that passing it through student governing bodies is important to show that students, and the University as a whole, would like a change in policy.

“We will probably take more administrative avenues as far as this issue goes,” Jass said. “We are going to transition to a more activist role to change this policy.”

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