President Obama Extends Additional Benefits to Same-Sex Partners of Federal Employees

June 02, 2010
Jake Tapper

Last year, you may recall, President Obama extended some benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, including -- for partners of foreign service members – health care abroad, eligibility for employment at posts, cost-of-living adjustments abroad and medical evacuation; and – for civil service employees -- long-term care insurance and expanded sick leave for civil service employees.

But, as Yunji de Nies reported at the time “many gay and lesbians are upset about what is not included: health care, retirement and survivor benefits. The actual benefits are widely viewed as small potatoes…. The White House says the president cannot extend health care and other benefits because of legal challenges under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which the president has said he wants to repeal.”

Today President Obama signed a presidential memorandum extending more benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees: family assistance services, hardship transfers, relocation expenses. In addition the memorandum requires federal departments and agencies to extend to same sex partners any new benefits to employees’ opposite-sex spouses “to the extent permitted by law.” the rest