On Jan. 1, UW-Madison became the only Big Ten school to deny health insurance to partners of gay and lesbian faculty. UW-Madison officials said this is one more roadblock in the process of bringing quality employees to Wisconsin universities and keeping them.
\Due to state legislature, we cannot extend benefits to [domestic] partners of existing UW employees,"" UW-Madison Vice Chancellor Darrell Bazzell said. ""This is primarily health care, but also includes a variety of benefits a married couple would enjoy.""
So as the new year begins, some UW-Madison faculty members are questioning whether or not Wisconsin is really the place for them. Budget restraints already force many UW-Madison employees to endure the threat of yearly staff cuts and salaries lower than comparable institutions. Without the benefits married couples receive and with a change expected in the state constitution amending the definition of marriage, some say enough is enough.
""Some don't perceive Wisconsin as a welcoming state anymore,"" Bazzell said. ""Because we don't offer domestic-partner benefits and because of the legislation to redefine marriage, we've lost some very strong candidates for UW positions. It makes a statement about Wisconsin and it affects the campus.""
The redefinition of marriage could have some detrimental effects on domestic partners throughout the UW System and the state. Currently, domestic partners are not allowed health insurance, but many choose to pay for benefits such as dental and long-term care insurance. The redefinition would not only sustain the denial of health insurance benefits, but could essentially eliminate all benefits for gay people in relationships, according to Janice Czyscon, senior editor of the College of Engineering.
Penn State University was the only other Big Ten school that denied insurance coverage to gay and lesbian partners in 2004. This year Penn State welcomed its staff back by offering insurance for domestic partners, which left UW-Madison faculty wondering why Wisconsin continues to discriminate against its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
""I receive phone calls regularly from people who are trying to decide if they want to join the UW System, and we've lost some outstanding professionals that chose elsewhere due to Wisconsin's political climate,"" said Eric Trekell, director of the UW-Madison LGBT Campus Center. ""If the state passes this amendment, then why do I want to stay here?""
The UW System Inclusivity Initiative on Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning People is taking an active position in fighting for domestic partner benefits. According to Czyscon, in meetings last fall, the Initiative gained support from the UW Board of Regents for partner benefits and hopes a compensational package can be put together for LGBT faculty until the state legislature is changed.
""We've asked the Board of Regents to determine if a reimbursement plan or self fund would be within legal boundaries to compensate LGBT staff,"" Czyscon said. ""I think it's important to put the blame on state regulation and the legislature for not allowing these benefits, but until the law is changed we need to hold the university accountable in finding other avenues for equality.""
