ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, January 29, 1997            TAG: 9701290085
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B-6  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON

VA. FIRMS FREE TO OFFER BENEFITS THEY CHOOSE

Unlike San Francisco, Virginia does not have a law that requires companies to provide benefits to their employees' gay partners, said Hugh Keogh, president of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Nor does Virginia acknowledge same-sex marriages or so-called domestic partnerships, as San Francisco and New York do. In fact, a bill now before the General Assembly, sponsored by Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, would declare that Virginia does not recognize same-sex marriages from other states.

Employers in Virginia are free to furnish whichever benefits they wish.

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