As a professional social worker, I strongly support this proposal. From a social justice standpoint, it will allow same-sex partners of state employees, some of whom have been together for many years, to be eligible for health coverage that is available to heterosexual couples, regardless of whether they have been together for two weeks or 20 years. Note also that these persons would be paying for their own insurance, at no additional cost to taxpayers, but at a substantial savings for themselves. as heterosexual married people already enjoy.