Yusuf Hakeem
After eight weeks of debate among residents over whether it’s fair or immoral to extend benefits to partners of city employees in same-sex relationships, city officials announced a public hearing next week.
Legislation that would expand benefits for employees in domestic partnerships, which would include gay couples, will be introduced Nov. 12.
Next Tuesday the council will first hear from City Attorney Wade Hinton, who has researched what Tennessee state law will allow. There will be time for the public to speak.
Last week, Charlie Wysong, who is against expanding benefits, asked the council if the community could see a draft of the resolution before it’s introduced to the City Council.
Council Chairman Yusuf Hakeem told Wysong, who has spoken before the council four times in the last two months on this issue, that the public would have input ahead of time.