Obama Signs Same-Sex Memorandum

In a major step forward for employees of the Federal government, President Barack Obama signed a memorandum on June 2 requiring the Executive agencies of the Federal government to extend various benefits to same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees. According to a press release by President Obama, benefits will range from "family assistance services to hardship transfers to relocation expenses." Additionally, the memorandum requires that federal agencies that extend any new benefits to employees' opposite-sex spouses must also make those same benefits available, on equal terms, to employees' same-sex domestic partners.

While President Obama acknowledged that the memorandum was an important step towards equality, he also renewed his call for the passage of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, championed by Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin. The legislation, currently pending in both Houses of Congress, would extend the full range of benefits currently enjoyed by hetrosexual, married Federal employees to the same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees as well.