Durham, NC - Joseph A. Porter and Laurel Ferejohn are proud to work at Duke -- not just because of its reputation and numerous accolades, but because Duke believes in equality and was at the forefront in recognizing same-sex partnerships.

Porter, an English professor at Duke since 1980, remembers when Duke made health care benefits available to same-sex partners. Porter and his partner, Yves Orvoën, are enrolled in Duke's health care benefits. "It made my partner and me feel very grateful to be here," said Porter, a strong proponent for the benefits. "It made us feel proud of the university. Duke has a really noble record of fighting prejudice."

Duke was one of the first employers in the state in 1994 to make health insurance benefits available to same-sex partners. The change was based on Duke's equal opportunity policy, which states that Duke will not discriminate based on sexual orientation. The latest revision to the same-sex spousal equivalent benefit was in 2003 when the enrollment procedure was simplified to be more in-line with the enrollment procedure for married couples.

Faculty and staff members who complete a confidential same-sex spousal equivalent affidavit with Duke Human Resources are eligible to cover their partners under their health, dental and vision plans.

After health insurance was offered in the '90s, other benefits such as life insurance, became available to partners of employees. Now most benefits available to married couples are also available to same-sex couples, including coverage for dependents. Due to Internal Revenue Service code, reimbursement accounts are not covered.

Benefits manager Bill Phillips encourages employees to register their partners, even if they don't enroll in health benefits.

"In the case of an employee's death, there are benefits available to their partner, like the pension plan and Children's Tuition Grant program, but the partner must be on our records," Phillips said.

Laurel Ferejohn, journals senior managing editor at Duke University Press, and her partner Faith Gardner, are enrolled in Duke's health, dental, and vision benefits. Before joining the staff at the Press, Ferejohn worked at a publishing company that did not offer insurance benefits to same-sex partners, so the couple bought Gardner an individual policy for nearly $400 a month.

"It really highlighted how lucky we were when we had coverage at Duke," said Ferejohn, who has worked at the university for most of the 24 years since 1983, and is glad to be back. "At Duke, I feel included and valued -- we both do -- because our partnership is acknowledged and supported with benefits."