Delta institutes policy supporting same-sex couples in states that don't recognize same-sex marriage

Delta Airlines just took a big step in supporting LGBT rights by instituting a new policy that removes the tax burden for employees in same-sex relationships. Until this week, they were subject to additional charges to access Delta healthcare plans in states that don't recognize gay marriage.

The admirable move doesn’t mean the taxes will disappear, but just that Delta will now assume the cost on behalf of these employees, retroactive to Jan 1, 2015. With the burden removed for qualifying employees, Delta’s health care coverage will cost the same people in same-sex relationships as anyone else in the company, regardless of location.

For Delta's Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Joanne Smith, the new policy reflects “Delta's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect…rooted deeply in the airline's values and culture.” Delta also recently filed a  brief urging the Supreme Court to support marriage equality when it takes up the case this month.

This makes Delta the first major airline to adopt such measures, something all the more impressive considering the fact that Delta’s headquarters are in Georgia, one of the states that does not recognize same-sex marriage.