Catherwood LibraryILR School

The mayor of the city of Houston, Annise Parker, announced that same-sex partners who have been legally married to city employees will have the same benefits as opposite-sex partners of city employees. The decision was guided by a 2001 City Charter amendment which aimed to prohibit same-sex benefits by allowing only ?legal spouses? to receive benefits of city employees. Due to recent Supreme Court decisions, the mayor decided that the city of Houston would recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, thereby allowing city employees who marry outside of Texas and work for the city to share their benefits with their same-sex ?legal spouse?. Critics say that they are already planning on challenging the extension of benefits in court.