Gay Rights in Palm Beach County: A Look Back at 2011

January

State Attorney Michael McAuliffe revised his office's Harassment Policy to include "gender identity or expression" and revised his office's Family Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages.

April

The West Palm Beach City Commission updated the City's Family and Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages. It passed unanimously.

May

The Village of Wellington updated its personnel policies to ensure that the domestic partners of Village employees were treated the same way as spouses with regard to health insurance benefits, as well as continuation health insurance coverage, bereavement leave, major illness leave, family and medical leave and domestic violence leave.

The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners updated the County's Family and Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages. It passed unanimously.

Public Defender Carey Haughwout revised her office's Family Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw informed the Council that he is revising PBSO's Family Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages.

Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock informed the Council that she is revising her office's Family Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages.

August

Following up on a 2009 policy change including "sexual orientation" and "gender expression and/or identity" as protected classes in the Palm Beach County School District's anti-bullying policy, the School Board unanimously voted to include "sexual orientation" and "gender expression and/or identity" as protected classes in a two additional policies concerning sexual harassment and discrimination.

October

The Board of Trustees of Florida Atlantic University unanimously voted to add "sexual orientation" to the school's Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Regulation.

November

The City of Lake Worth updated the City's union contracts and other personnel policies to ensure that lesbian and gay employees with domestic partners would have the same rights as other employees with regard to Family and Medical Leave, Sick Leave and Funeral Leave.

December

Domestic partners of employees of the Village of Wellington are granted access to walk-in medical services at MD Now centers.