FAMILY AND EQUALITY HAND IN HAND

The last couple of days have been centered around my family and equality for my family. There have been either questions or comments concerning my family and the diversity and pride that comes with my family.

For example yesterday my administrator Kathy had a group of us go into the conference room and put together a collage about ourselves. Then we had to stand up and share the collage with our group and say ONE word that best describes us. This is a way to get to know one another and to know a little bit about the people we are working with. This is part of a "team" building process through our company. We had to listen to our CEO Andrew talk a little about "team" work and our company. It was an interesting way to spend a couple of hours.

My collage began with a picture of Jane Lynch from which I said "I am a Lesbian." Of course, everyone in the room knows that already simply because I choose to live OUT and PROUD.  I did hear a few {no kidding} comments. Then the next picture was one of 2 women to that I replied {I married my partner of 10 years Kathy a year ago} so on and so on with the rest of the collage. Now across the top of the page was the word EQUALITY that I spelled out using the foam letters that my administrator had on hand. Because the word EQUALITY is very important to me and one that I strive for. Because EVERYONE should be EQUAL in this life time. The ONE word that I used to described myself was PROUD. My friend Charlene said she would have said PASSIONATE. Either one of those words works for me.

Now today...we had benefit enrollment at my work place. As I was reading through the booklet that the company supplies I came across an interesting paragraph. One that has NEVER been in this booklet and I have had 10 years with this company. The following is word for word what is written:
*Who is Eligible
Eligibility in the SCAdvantage benefit plans has changed for 2012! SCA recognizes that with a diverse workforce comes a broad array of personal circumstances and individual needs. The definition of family for one Teammate can be different-but equally as significant-from that of another. SCA is pleased to offer eligible Teammates the opportunity to cover Domestic Partners {and Partners' eligible dependents} under certain plans that are part of SCA's various benefit programs. This extension of coverage is consistent with SCA's commitment to offer competitive benefit programs and support the Company's many diversity policies and initiatives.* Now I don't have to tell you how important this one statement is to me and others like me. Kathy said to me does it make you feel better to be working for this company now. I replied oh yea.

I find that EQUALITY is coming for me and my family and others like us. 
  

These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.