The Houston Family Law Blog


Obama Supports Domestic Partnership Benefits

| No TrackBacks

It's true that same-sex couples don't have equal rights when it comes to the law. However, president Barack Obama is now taking some basic initiatives to change that. As stated in On Top Magazine, the president's support for equal protection among gays starts with his voiced approval of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act.

On Top Magazine reports that this piece of legislation would make the unmarried partners of gay and lesbian federal employees eligible for certain benefits previously denied to them because of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a law that prohibits the federal government from recognizing gay unions. Some of these benefits would include federal health insurance, retirement and disability benefits, medical and emergency leave, and compensation for work injuries.

Obama has stated, "I think it's the right thing to do." Meanwhile, the bill has yet to be scheduled for vote in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate. The bill was initially introduced in both chambers in May 2009, where openly gay Wisconsin Representative Tammy Baldwin sponsored the House version of the bill. Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman introduced the bill in the Senate.

The Human Rights Campaign reports that the federal government is the nation's largest civilian employer. Texas family law attorneys say that if the government grants benefits to the partners of gay employees, than the law could open doors for employers in the private sector to follow. For more information about the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, you can learn more on The Human Rights Campaign website.

Related Resources:

  • Same-Sex Marriage Pros and Cons (FindLaw)
  • Domestic Partnership Benefits (FindLaw)
  • Texas family law attorneys directory (FindLaw)

No TrackBacks

TrackBack URL: http://houstonfamilyattorneysblog.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/9255