This expansion of benefits is long overdue and required for the continued success of higher education in VA. VA Public Institutions are falling behind their counterparts across the U.S. in their provision of benefits to all employees. As a gay professional faculty member at W&M, it is one area where the most disparity occurs between myself and other married counterparts. This is a change to promote basic fairness and the equal treatment of all employees. I strongly support this change in regulation. I also think it is necessary to recruit and retain faculty and staff across the Commonwealth.