The White House press office has issued a Fact Sheet that outlines the benefits to be made available to same-sex partners of federal workers. Here is the text of the press release titled, "Fact Sheet: Presidential Memorandum on Federal Benefits and Non-Discrimination":
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2009
Fact Sheet: Presidential Memorandum on Federal Benefits and Non-Discrimination
In an Oval Office event later today, President Barack Obama will sign a Presidential Memorandum on Federal Benefits and Non-Discrimination. The Memorandum follows a review by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Secretary of State regarding what benefits may be extended to the same-sex partners of federal employees in the civil service and the foreign service within the confines of existing federal laws and statutes.
Over the past several months, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Secretary of State have conducted internal reviews to determine whether the benefits they administer may be extended to the same-sex partners of federal employees within the confines of existing laws and statutes. Both identified a number of such benefits.
For civil service employees, domestic partners of federal employees can be added to the long-term care insurance program; supervisors can also be required to allow employees to use their sick leave to take care of domestic partners and non-biological, non-adopted children. For foreign service employees, a number of benefits were identified, including the use of medical facilities at posts abroad, medical evacuation from posts abroad, and inclusion in family size for housing allocations.
The Presidential Memorandum to be signed today will request that the Director of OPM and the Secretary of State act to extend to same-sex partners of federal employees the benefits they have identified. The Memorandum will also request the heads of all other executive branch departments and agencies to conduct internal reviews to determine whether other benefits they administer might be similarly extended, and to report the results of those reviews to the Director of OPM.
The Memorandum will also direct OPM to issue guidance within 90 days to all executive departments and agencies regarding compliance with, and implementation of, the civil service laws, which make it unlawful to discriminate against federal employees or applicants for federal employment on the basis of factors not related to job performance.
It is important to note that a Presidential Memorandum expires when the President who signs the memorandum leaves office. In addition, the most expensive and valuable benefit federal employees receive, health insurance, is one of the many benefits that remain out of reach for same-sex partners of federal employees.
Reacting to today's announcement, Leonard Hirsch, president of Federal Globe: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Employees of the Federal Government said, "Our analysis has been that it will take an act of Congress for the full suite of benefits such as health benefits and retirement benefits to be provided for same-sex couples and families." According to Hirsch, the executive branch has the authority to extend certain other benefits through departments and agencies, such as providing relocation costs for partners of federal employees.
Joe Solmonese, President of The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), made the following statement concerning the upcoming signing of the Presidential Memorandum,
Today’s Presidential memorandum committing to a federal workplace free from discrimination, including the extension of some benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers, is a welcome and long-overdue step toward bringing the government’s policies closer in line with what America’s largest companies understand is good for business. Today’s presidential signature is the first brick in paving what is a long path toward equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. We commend President Obama and his administration for taking this beginning step to level the playing field but we look forward to working with him to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and guarantee the entire American workforce is free from discrimination.
HRC has worked with the President’s Transition Team since the election and White House Staff since the inauguration to provide them with substantive steps they can take to advance LGBT equality. The HRC's recommendations are outlined in “A Blueprint for Positive Change” – an exhaustive document detailing actions the President can take to make the lives of LGBT people better.
Sometimes Presidents need to take dramatic stands in order to advance their agenda. They need to not worry about polls and popularity, and do what they think is right. And it's much easier to do this when your party is in power in Congress. It appears that President Obama is either unwilling to take such a stand, or achieving equality for GLBT folks is simply not on his agenda.
What's worse is that the same can be said when it comes to health care, ending the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, climate change, poverty, drug policies, and anything having to do with race and racism. This is indeed an administration that may be characterized as one ushering in change. President Bush rammed his agenda down the throats of Congress and the American people. His ideas were awful and misguided, but at least the dude's actions refelcted his beliefs. Is there anything other than consensus and getting along that this President believes in?
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