ILLINOIS GAYS BLAST OBAMA'S MEMORANDUM

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release Contact: Rick Garcia
June 17, 2009 312-560-0405

Jim Madigan
773-858-6104


ILLINOIS GAYS BLAST OBAMA'S MEMORANDUM
"An insult the to the millions of gay Americans who supported him"

CHICAGO - Illinois' statewide gay civil rights organization issued a blistering criticism of President Barack Obama's action extending minimal benefits to the partners of gay and lesbian federal employees.

"This is so small a gesture by the President, that it represents an insult to the millions of gay Americans who supported him," said Rick Garcia. "And an insult to the families of gay and lesbian federal employees who need healthcare coverage and protections like anyone else."

Obama's action today allows gay federal employees to take time off when a partner has a long-term illness and to secure coverage for long-term care. However the memorandum leaves out health insurance coverage and retirement benefits. Many states and local jurisdictions give coverage to the same-sex partners of employees who can't get married.

"The president could have ordered and should have ordered the extension of health insurance coverage to the non-spousal partners of federal employees," Garcia said.

This month, the White House discouraged members of Congress from moving to end the "Don't Ask Don't Tell". Last week, the President's Justice Department defended the anti-gay federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) by comparing same-sex relationships to incest.

"The president's action today is an attempt to distract gay Americans and our families who are rightfully disappointed in his administration's backsliding on its commitment to gay and lesbian issues," charged Garcia. "It is a betrayal of those who put their trust and their support in him."

END

Following is the full Equality Illinois statement:

President Obama's Memorandum today allows gay federal employees to take time off when a partner has long-term illness and to secure coverage for long-term care. However, the Memorandum leaves out health insurance coverage and retirement benefits. This is so small a gesture by the President, that it represents an insult to the millions of gay Americans who supported him.

The federal Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA") does NOT prohibit the President from providing health care insurance coverage. DOMA provides: "In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word 'marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word 'spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife."

Giving health insurance to the same-sex partners of federal employees would not have required any recognition of "marriage," and so DOMA is irrelevant. Health insurance coverage is regularly offered to non-spousal dependents of government employees. It happens all the time with children of employees, for example.

And in many states, such coverage also is given to the same-sex partners of gay government employees, who can't get married. The President should have mandated the same thing for federal employees: He could have ordered the extension of health insurance coverage to the non-spousal partners of gay federal employees. He did not do so, and DOMA is no excuse.

This month, the White House discouraged Members of Congress from moving to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy. Last week, the President's Justice Department defended DOMA by comparing same-sex relationships to incest. Today - in an obvious attempt to distract gay Americans who are rightfully disappointed -- the President touts new benefits, but he leaves out what all American employees need most: health care coverage for their longtime companions.