Utah Gay Marriage Ban Blocks Benefits To University Workers

And this from Utah...

Utah State University’s attorney has concluded that Amendment 3, banning gay marriage, likely prohibits extending the Logan school’s medical benefits to same-sex couples.

Amendment 3 likely would override any potential same-sex benefit action by state institutions, said USU general counsel Craig Simper. [...]

“Policies are binding,” said anthropology professor Pat Lambert, who helped create the current benefits proposal. “What does it mean when a university doesn’t stand by its policy?” she said.

Lambert said she believes benefits are part of the employee’s salary.

“If we’re not offering equal compensation to all our employees, then we’re not treating everyone equally,” she said. “This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

Offering same-sex benefits is a national trend, with many universities and Fortune 500 companies offering same-sex benefits, she said.