Woman claims partner benefit bias

OLYMPIA – One of the first tests for Washington state’s new gay civil rights law has a twist: The complaint was filed by a heterosexual woman.

The state’s discrimination watchdogs are investigating the case, which claims unmarried straight people should get the same domestic partner benefits as their gay and lesbian co-workers.

But officials are treading carefully, Human Rights Commission Director Marc Brenman said, because upholding the claim could set a sweeping precedent for Washington businesses.

“We have to proceed very, very cautiously because we could be creating new policy for employers and other entities in the state,” Brenman said Tuesday.

The complaint, filed last week, is one of four that have spawned full-fledged investigations under the sexual orientation section of Washington’s antidiscrimination law. In it, Sandi Scott-Moore, a Redmond-based employee of manufacturer Honeywell International, claims health insurance coverage for her male partner was denied because the unmarried couple is not of the same sex.

Honeywell spokesman Robert Ferris said the company provides health benefits for the partners of its gay and lesbian employees and has a zero-tolerance stand on discrimination. But the company disagrees with Scott-Moore, he said in a statement.

“We believe the claim filed with the Washington State Human Rights Commission is without merit and plan to vigorously defend our position,” Ferris wrote.