Mecklenburg County will offer domestic partner benefits to employees in same-sex relationships, starting in 2011.

County commissioners approved the change Tuesday night in a 6-3 vote along party lines.

Democrats said the new policy, which would kick in next fall during the open enrollment period, would help the county recruit and retain workers. Republicans said the change was unneeded.

WBTV is reporting that last night’s debate led to a contentious exchange between Republican commissioner Bill James and Democrat Vilma Leake. Their words were picked up by open microphones at their chairs.

It all started after Leake made an impassioned speech about her son, who she said died of AIDS. At that point, James, who has a history of making controversial and even racist remarks, leaned over to Leake and whispered: “Your son was a homo, really?”

Leake responded by admonishing James to avoid talking about her son. “Don’t make me hurt you,” she was overheard saying during the brief exchange. "Don't do that to me. Don't talk about my son."

In 2004, James sent out an email saying that black children in urban settings live in a "moral sewer" with parents who lack the desire to act properly. Despite widespread condemnation, he never apologized for the remark.

During the public comment period of last night's debate, some local ministers also spoke out against the new policy, which is expected to cost the county about $400,000 a year.

To qualify for the county’s domestic partner benefits, same-sex couples would have to meet specific requirements -- living together in a long-term relationship, be financially interdependent and not be legally married to another person.

The policy would not apply to heterosexual couples who live together, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Mecklenburg joins six other N.C. jurisdictions in offering the benefits. The others are Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, Greensboro and Durham and Orange counties.

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