The State : Gay Couples Policy Backed

San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos said he will support a newly introduced domestic partners proposal that would provide gay and lesbian couples with some of the benefits that married couples receive. “I look forward to signing” the proposal, Agnos said during a press conference called by Supervisor Harry Britt to introduce the measure. Among other things, the proposal would require the city to provide partners of gay and lesbian city employees with the same health insurance and other benefits that opposite-sex spouses receive. Britt said he was assured of support from the majority of supervisors and expects a vote on the measure in May. In 1982, Britt proposed similar measure that was passed by the board of supervisors, but was vetoed by then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein.