Equal Benefits Ordinance (EBO) Passes Unanimously in Long Beach City Council

July 15, 2009 -

A More Equal Long Beach

I am pleased and excited to announce that our Equal Benefits Ordinance (EBO) was unanimously approved by the City Council last night. This ordinance will ensure that the City of Long Beach does business with companies that provide benefits for registered domestic partners that are equal to benefits provided to married spouses.

This action is a very important step forward for equality and is the right progressive policy for Long Beach.

The ordinance will now go before the Economic Development Committee of the City Council and the Human Relations Commission – so the details of the ordinance can be worked out. We will be working with business, labor, LGBT advocates, city staff, and the community at large to ensure we create the most responsible and equitable ordinance possible.

I am looking forward to the ordinance coming back to the full City Council for final approval.

Long Beach is a long time leader on LGBT equality, and this ordinance will ensure that we remain at the forefront. We will be joining other cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Miami Beach, as well as the State of California - all of which have similar ordinances in place.

For more information visit: http://www.robertgarcia.com/index.html