Universities nationwide extend same-sex benefits in wake of Supreme Court ruling

Thecollegefix.com Notable universities across the nation have extended healthcare benefits to same-sex couples in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, which legalized gay marriage in all 50 states.While many private and some public universities already offered domestic partnership and same-sex benefits, most of those quickly reacting to the court’s decision were public universities located in the 13 states that previously banned gay marriage, as well as Christian colleges. Some universities in states such as Georgia, Kansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Michigan and Texas announced their policy changes in the days or weeks following the verdict. Take the University of Georgia, located in a state that previously banned same-sex marriage. The system’s website states its new benefits will not only impact health insurance, but also life, dental, vision and other benefits. Couples can even apply retroactively to June 26, the date of the ruling, officials stated. “The Supreme Court has ruled and the Board of Regents will ensure the University System and its 30 institutions will comply fully with the ruling,” Charlie Sutlive, the system’s vice chancellor of communications, told the Athens Banner Herald. Starting July 1, same-sex couples at the University of Texas also gained benefits, and at Kansas State, the benefits will begin Aug. 1. At the University of Tennessee, Chancellor Jimmy Cheek told employees via email that UT will offer insurance benefits to married same-sex couples following the Supreme Court decision, describing it as “historic.” Since UT’s benefits are administered through the state, and Tennessee previously prohibited same-sex marriage, UT had been unable to extend them despite calls from faculty for a decade. Meanwhile, several Christian colleges have also joined the fold. Among them is Hope College, located in Holland, Mich., which told employees that “spouses are eligible for benefits, so long as their marriage is legally recognized by the State of Michigan.” President John Knapp continued, “we recognized early on that the Supreme Court was likely to issue a decision that would present new challenges for our college.” Notable universities across the nation have extended healthcare benefits to same-sex couples in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, which legalized gay marriage in all 50 states...