Anti-Gay Inequality Bad for Business - Even in Alabama

Interestingly enough the University of Alabama Birmingham has figured out something ignored by states like Virginia and politicians like Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonnell and Ken "I'm a Kook" Cuccinelli - treating LGBT employees with equality and equal employment opportunities and benefits is good for business and makes for a more competitive position in attracting top talent. Alabama, like Virginia, is abysmal in the manner in which it treats its LGBT citizens. Nonetheless,the University of Alabama Birmingham - which includes the state's flagship medical school - wants to extend extend health insurance benefits to same-sex partners beginning on January 1, 2010. Why? Because the University is losing staff and finding itself uncompetitive in the recruiting market. Would be faculty don't like the inequality faced by LGBT faculty. I have argued time and time again that states and localities that treat their LGBT citizens like second, third or fourth class citizens are ultimately condemning themselves to economic mediocrity. Unfortunately, demagogues like Bob McDonnell refuse to see that reality. Here are some highlights from Al.com:

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The University of Alabama at Birmingham will extend health insurance benefits to same-sex partners beginning Jan. 1 in a move officials said was designed in part to help it compete with top medical schools when recruiting faculty.

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Faculty and staff were able to enroll same-sex partners and their children in medical, dental and vision plans for the first time earlier this month, for coverage beginning in the new year. The move makes UAB the first of the big three universities in Alabama to offer domestic partner benefits to staff and faculty. Neither the University of Alabama nor Auburn University offer such benefits, though UA is studying the issue, spokespersons for those schools said.

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Dale Turnbough, a UAB spokeswoman, said the change was made "to create a positive, supportive and diverse work environment," and to help the school compete for new faculty with other National Institute of Health-funded medical schools. Most top medical schools, including Vanderbilt, Duke and Johns Hopkins offer such benefits, she said.

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The expansion of benefits to domestic partners comes several months after the release of a UAB film student's documentary about the impact of the lack of benefits on the university. In the film "One Closed Door After Another" UAB faculty members and employees said the school was losing top talent, or not getting the opportunity to seriously recruit top talent, because competing schools offered same-sex partners health coverage. They also discussed how the lack of coverage for their partners affected their own lives.

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Personally, I would never move back to Alabama since the state seems to have become increasingly homophobic - maybe all the rational liberals are leaving the state - and treats its LGBT residents worse than Virginia. Something that takes some real effort. Here's a clip from the documentary. Bob McDonnell, are you listening???*