San Antonio Votes to Provide DP Benefits to City Employees

After nearly three hours of input from citizens -- including protests from self-proclaimed Christians -- the San Antonio, Texas, City Council passed a new budget Thursday that included domestic partner benefits for city employees.

The council voted 8-3 in favor of the proposal despite a monopolization of the meeting's "Citizens to Be Heard" portion which was filled primarily with religious and moral objections, including one from a pastor who, according to DallasVoice.com, "displayed a picture of his infant grandchild who has only two teeth, saying his grandson had a better bite because the DP initiative was a toothless idea that was fraught with potential for fraud."

Some of those opposed even threatened political retribution to the council members who voted in favor of the measure.

Mayor Julian Castro, who supported the proposal, said, "This is not a new issue -- this should have be done some time ago."

After the vote, Equality Texas put sent out an email news blast saying: "Today's vote is an affirmation of the City Council's belief that all San Antonians should be treated equally, with the dignity and respect they deserve. There was opposition. And, there will likely be negative backlash. As we move forward, let us remember that fairness and justice will always be in the best interests of our diverse communities."

Read more here.