June 17, 2009 8:07PM
Michael Cole
President Barack Obama speaks before signing a Presidential Memorandum regarding federal benefits and non-discrimination during a ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House, Wednesday, June 17, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
HRC President Joe Solmonese issued the following statement tonight on the President’s benefits memorandum:
“Moments ago in the Oval Office, President Obama signed a memorandum committing his administration to adhere to principles ensuring that the federal workplace is free from discrimination, including the extension of some benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers. This first step granting benefits such as giving federal employees the ability to provide their partners with access to long-term insurance and requiring supervisors to extend leave policies so that LGBT employees can take care of their loved ones, is a welcome and long-overdue movement towards bringing the government’s policies in line with the overwhelming majority of America’s businesses.
Earlier today, OPM Director John Berry affirmatively stated that this newly signed presidential memorandum will give him the authority to ban workplace discrimination for all members of the LGBT community.
Although today’s actions are only the beginning in what will be a multi-step process towards achieving real and tangible equality for our community, it is no doubt an important first step. We commend President Obama and his administration for taking this action to provide some basic benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees and his endorsement of legislation that would provide domestic partner health benefits.
Presidential leadership can be a powerful tool as we work to protect LGBT people under the law and President Obama’s continued leadership is what we need and expect as we move forward.
Video of President Barack Obama signing a memo extending some benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees:
A CNN news package featuring HRC’s Joe Solmonese:
Countdown with Keith Olbermann discussing the memorandum:
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