State Dept to provide benefits to same-sex and opposite-sex partners

[jefferson_dem]

Sunday, May 24, 2009
State Dept to provide benefits to same-sex and opposite-sex partners
by John Aravosis (DC) on 5/24/2009 10:59:00 AM

Excellent.

Among the benefits are diplomatic passports, use of medical facilities at overseas posts, medical and other emergency evacuation, transportation between posts, and training in security and languages.
It's very interesting that they're the benefits to gay and straight unmarried couples. Arguably, this is one way to get around DOMA. By including unmarried straight couples, per se the benefits have nothing to do with marriage since those couples can get married under law. The benefits deal with family, and nothing in the law says that families can't get benefits.

This is a good first step by the Obama administration. We should thank them, while not letting them off the hook for their most important promises: DOMA, DADT, and ENDA.

As an aside, State's approach, letting same-sex and opposite-sex unmarried partners all get the benefits, opens up the question of whether the federal government can do this across the board, not just with their own employees, but with American citizens at large. Can the agencies off their benefits, such as Social Security benefits, tax advantages, etc. to unwed partners?

http://www.americablog.com/2009/05/state-dept-to-provide-benefits-to-same.html

[ruggerson]

1. Glad to see this happening

it's a good first step.

I'm wondering if someone will try to attack it as an end run around DOMA.

[PBS Poll-435]

2. Here is a link from the Austin American-Statesman

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/05/24/0524gaydiplomats.html



This is measurable change.

[snowdays]

4. self delete as i posted in wrong spot

[snowdays]

9. Now it is time for Obama to get busy on DADT instead of

kicking the issue down the road.

[PBS Poll-435]

10. I seem to remember something about the fierce urgency of ...

What was it again?

:crazy:

[snowdays]

12. nothing boils when the issue is put on the back burner

with the heat turned down or no wood tossed into the stove.

[snowdays]

13. It will be on the SOS website soon. thanks.

[Ocracoker16]

3. Thank you Hillary Clinton

There seems to be some confusion as to when this would take effect. This is a step in the right direction.

[snowdays]

5. Yes, thank you Hillary.

[Captain Hilts]

7. Thanks to Hil' and 'Bam! nt

[karynnj]

20. I was shocked that it wasn't already done - as many big companies did it years ago

As many take a salary cut to work in government, the difference of having this benefit or not might have lost the government good employees.

[snowdays]

6. a big REC

[PBS Poll-435]

8. 5 Recs and this article has been posted for more than 4 hours?

:wtf:

This is a big FUCKING deal.

[snowdays]

11. Yes, it is a big deal--civil rights granted for more US citizens.

[stevenleser]

14. It's not as much fun when folks aren't criticizing our Democratic President I guess...

:shrug:

[Starry Messenger]

23. I rec'd it!

Here's a kick, too. :) Its got another hour for the recommend window, so hopefully it will get some more recs.

[CTyankee]

15. Nobody suffers, everybody wins. The RW can't spin this as the gays taking away YOUR rights

as a heterosexual, thereby driving a wedge of fear and turning straights against gays, their usual divide and conquer strategy that they have done on women's rights and minority's rights.

Just like when a state legalizes gay marriage everybody wakes up the next day and finds that nobody took anything away from them. The RW looks stupid for raising such a huge fuss and loses more party members.

It's a goddamn shame it had to take this long but it's happening. This old straight lady is overjoyed!

[polmaven]

17. But..but..

"They" will be using OUR tax dollars for this "perversion"......That's OUR bidness!

Just in case it isn't clear.....:sarcasm: (An example of what Freeperville clearly will be yelling!)

[snowdays]

16. More details from the WP:........Clinton said she would look into the issue and she did.....

........The issue achieved prominence in 2007 when a respected ambassador, Michael Guest, resigned after 26 years in the Foreign Service to protest the rules and regulations that he argued gave same-sex partners fewer benefits than family pets. Guest said he was forced to choose "between obligations to my partner, who is my family, and service to my country," which he called "a shame for this institution and our country."

Guest was a member of Obama's State Department transition team. And Clinton, during her confirmation hearings, indicated a greater willingness to explore the issue.

In the memo, Clinton said: "At bottom, the department will provide these benefits for both opposite-sex and same-sex domestic partners because it is the right thing to do."

State Department officials said the draft indicates the direction Clinton hopes to go, but the final policy document still requires additional consultation within the department.

Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, last week dropped plans to legislatively require such a policy change, as part of the State Department reauthorization bill.

"It is my expectation, based on very recent conversations, that the Secretary of State will move forward with implementing all of the benefits provided in that provision in the very near future," Berman said at a hearing on the bill..



http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/05/24/state_dept_reportedly_plans_to.html?hpid=news-col-blog

[CTyankee]

18. Michael Guest is a hero. His testimony is exemplary and I applaud him.

Thank you for filling us in on this important information. I'm so glad he spoke out so forcefully and so well...

[snowdays]

21. yes, he is and we need real heros

[sniffa]

19. Awesome news

K&R

:thumbsup:

[snowdays]

22. Its a good day for all.