Obama signs memorandum for gay benefits

[Ms. Toad]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has signed a measure that would extend some benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.

Obama on Wednesday signed a memorandum that makes small changes in benefits available to same-sex couples. Employees' domestic partners could be added to a government insurance program that pays for long-term conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease. They also would be allowed to take sick leave to care for a sick partner or non-biological child.

The new order doesn't extend health care benefits or pensions for partners as many had hoped.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gjAXvDL7otQK2aKqlWOvi89gQ-xQD98SMMKG0

---

Pretty much what we expected after the dust settled last night.

[foxfeet]

1. Hope his hand didn't cramp up.

[Flashpoint51]

14. Obama has been a huge dissapointment for all Civil Rights Activists

Especially Gays and Transgendered. I voted for him because I knew he taught Constitutional law and knew the constitution. So far he has ignored his own ideology by looking away at Bush illegal activities:Waterboarding, and illegal wiretapping. Now he's doing a Texas sidestep on Don't Ask/Don't Tell and DOMA. He had better do a turnaround or I will stay home next election.

[AndyA]

2. Obama could have been a hero to gay people all over the country.

It's a step in the right direction. A small step, but a step.

Not heroic, though. It's near the back of the bus instead of all the way at the back.

Keep trying, Barack, you fierce defender, you.

[tooeyeten]

3. a BIG announcement for a "Memo"?

[ddiver]

4. He only did this AFTER a fundraising boycott. This has nothing to do with right or wrong. It's about

MONEY!!

[Bodhi BloodWave]

6. it has been worked on for a fair while now

To be honest tho i dare bet Obama would have preferred to wait with the announcement til it was finished but i will agree that the release of it prematurely was likely to try and quell some of the rising anger

[Ms. Toad]

8. and you know this how? n/t

[ddiver]

10. He has been working on a half-ass, back-handed crumb of a offering for a fair while now?

I am quite underwhelmed. It doesn't stand up to his pre-election rhetoric.


As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full
equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best
way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not
stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and
lesbian couples — whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage.
Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
– a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate. While some say we should repeal
only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not
discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. I
have also called for us to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and I have worked to improve the Uniting
American Families Act so we can afford same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as
married couples in our immigration system.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/alexokrent/gGggJS

[WVRICK13]

5. I Will Not Give One More Penny

to Obama or the DNC until they grow balls and do what they promised for the GLBT community. This Gay ATM has been shut down. A liar is a liar whether Republican or Democrat.

[Laughing Mirror]

7. small changes = small change

Just sickening, the treatment of gays in this backward country in this enlightened age.

[msongs]

9. hey, be grateful you get to sit in the.....balcony. oh, sorry nt

[liquid diamond]

11. Small steps. We'll get there slowly but surely.

:)

[donco6]

15. That can happen without Obama at all.

Think if he actually did something! What a concept.

[Bette Noir]

12. Dang. No health care. You'd think he'd know better.

[Plaid Adder]

13. No health care? Wow, that's lame.

WTF does he think most people understand by "benefits"? If it comes to that, WTH does he think same-sex couples want legal marriage in the first place? @#$! HEALTH CARE!

@#$!,

The Plaid Adder