It is therefore no surprise that domestic-partner benefits are old news in the corporate world but politically impossible in the public sector.

But proponents of the Ohio amendment said it would not prohibit private companies from offering domestic-partner benefits.

Several companies in Nebraska said they would continue to offer domestic-partner benefits.

Although many larger governments and a growing number of corporate employers offer domestic-partner benefits, most towns still don't.

Four years ago when I asked the Town Board to join me in enacting domestic-partner benefits, the public was arguably divided.

He voted for prohibiting HIV-positive immigrants from entering the United States and against a measure to grant domestic-partner benefits to District of Columbia employees.

Greensboro began offering domestic-partner benefits in 2007.

He added, "I'm surprised Computer Associates thought they could get away with dropping domestic-partner benefits when that's such a competitive issue."