Thank you, Marquette; you’re taking a giant step in the right direction.

Last week, the university acted on recommendations by Marquette University Student Government and Academic Senate to extend benefits for registered university employees to their domestic partners.

In Ronni Sanlo’s report, she pointed out that a number of other Jesuit institutions like Loyola, University of Chicago, Georgetown University and University of San Francisco all have domestic partner benefits. Marquette can now be added to that list.

By providing LGBT faculty and staff with these benefits, Marquette is showing it is serious about recognizing and treating the LGBT community fairly.

After the Jodi O’Brien incident last year, this is definitely the biggest positive step the university has taken toward improving LGBT relations.

According to Sanlo’s report, studies have shown that benefits for domestic partnerships have no additional cost to institutions that provide health care benefits for same-sex families.

University employees who identify as LGBT deserve the same benefits others receive. Since the work done by LGBT faculty and staff is no different from the work done by their heterosexual peers, it is great to see Marquette improving equality among its employees.

But Marquette has not completely erased its wrongs. Progress should not stop here. Extending benefits to registered domestic partners should only be the start.