(WHAS11) -- With the stroke of a pen, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on Friday carried out the decades old aim of the Fairness Campaign, to extend health insurance benefits to the domestic partners of city employees.
The benefit applies to same sex couples and unmarried straight couples.
Gay rights supporters said it would make a dramatic difference to the personal finances of affected couples who can enroll a domestic partner in medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for qualified adults, defined as someone over 18 years of age and not eligible for Medicare.
The extension is effective on July 1, 2012 and is estimated to cost taxpayers $400,000 per year.
Fischer had promised the move during the 2010 campaign and said he did not see a need to seek additional public input before signing the executive order.
