In June of 1992, Levi Strauss & Co. became the first Fortune 500 company to offer domestic partner benefits, recognizing that the wellbeing of our employees and their loved ones transcends sexual orientation or marital status.
Catharine Martin, an LS&Co. employee from 1989 through 2000, was among the earliest to sign up for the new benefit. She recognized how important this new offering would be for her and her now-wife, Anne Laird-Blanton. Back then, Catharine designated Anne as her domestic partner, making her eligible to receive her LS&Co. survivor retirement benefits in the event of her death.
More than 25 years later, as we gear up to celebrate Pride weekend here in San Francisco, we talked to Catharine, who reflected on the legacy of the company’s early support of a crucial benefit.
