Tampa reconsiders same-sex unions

SUMMARY: Outrage over the city of Tampa's refusal to grant pension benefits to the long time lesbian partner of a slain police officer has forced the Florida city to reconsider its position.

TAMPA -- Outrage over the city of Tampa's refusal to grant pension benefits to the long time lesbian partner of a slain police officer has forced the Florida city to reconsider its position.

Police Officer Lois Marrero was killed in the line of duty two weeks ago. Under current law, her partner of 10 years, Mickie Mashburn, 48, is not eligible to receive Marrero's benefits.

Marrero, 40, was shot to death July 6 while chasing a bank robbery suspect. The killing shocked Tampa. That her partner was denied benefits angered gays and lesbians.

Thursday, Tampa's city council will raise the question of modifying the city's pension package to encompass same-sex unions.

"It is tragic that she died, and it is very sad her partner is not able to receive her death benefits," said council member Linda Saul-Sena, who promised to ask the city attorney's office for guidance on how the pension might be adjusted.

"I think the most straight-ahead way to do this would be to allow people to identify the recipient of their death benefits as whoever they want," Saul-Sena said. "I would be hard-pressed to understand why anyone would have a problem with that."

Saul-Sena said she would support including Officer Marrero's life partner in a pension plan retroactively, though it was uncertain whether that would be possible.

The city's pension plan designates an employee's "widow or widower" as eligible to receive death benefits. State law forbids gay and lesbian couples from marrying.

Tampa City attorney Jim Palermo said modifications to the city pension plan must be approved by the state legislature. If directed by council members, the city could present a bill for a modified plan to the local legislative delegation.