Gay state employees in Georgia, here are your spouse’s new benefits

Gay state employees in Georgia, here are your spouse’s new benefits

A memo went out Tuesday to 90,000 state employees in Georgia notifying them of the employment benefits that same-sex spouses are eligible for now that marriage equality is the law of the land. Check out this opening passage that many would never have imagined they’d see:

On Friday, June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that requires all states to recognize marriages between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed in Georgia or another state. This decision requires states to recognize same sex marriages to the same extent that they recognize marriages between a man and a woman. Governor Deal has confirmed that Georgia will follow the federal law, and Attorney General Olens has instructed state agencies to ensure their practices conform to the law. This memorandum addresses employment benefits that will now be made available to all spouses of employees of the State of Georgia in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

A copy of the memo is below (h/t AJC).

Also WABE is reporting that same-sex couples can now sign up for benefits through the University System of Georgia.

Starting next week, a University System of Georgia employee who marries someone of the same sex can enroll the spouse with the exact procedures that are in place for heterosexual couples.

We could get used to this.