Is Bucks discriminating
against its homosexual
employees?
At the latest Board of
Trustees meeting on Feb. 12,
Jim Fillman, coordinator for
students at Upper Bucks,
pleaded for equal benefits for
same-sex couples.
“[I]address you today representing
a coalition of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender
employees of the college…
We are here to ask the
board and our college president
to correct an injustice
that has been in existence for
much too long,” said Fillman.
“We ask you to act today to
approve domestic partner
benefits for same-sex partners.”
Fillman said Bucks is the
last of any non-religious community
college in the
Delaware Valley to endorse
these benefits.
“This is discrimination and
it needs to stop. One would
assume that it was the intent
of the college when it adopted
a non-discrimination policy
that included sexual orientation
that it seriously intended
to not discriminate against
its lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender employees,” said
Fillman.
“It is time for the college to
act now, not when the
County of Bucks decides to
get around to treating its
employees fairly, to back up
its claim, to be congruent
with its mission, and put
words into action.”
“At the very, very least I
ask, on behalf of a great number
of people, that if the college
does not approve domestic
partner benefits for samesex
partners today,” said
Fillman, “that it form a committee
whose purpose will be
to move this matter forward
into fairness. I ask that you
invite me to be a member of
that committee.”
The trustees did not act
immediately, but
Chairwoman Elizabeth
Graver did say that the issue
will be considered.