Faced with growing anger from its gay and lesbian supporters, the Obama administration Wednesday announced the extension of some benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees but stopped short of offering full health care coverage.
John Berry, director of the White House Office of Personnel and the highest-ranking gay member of the administration, called the move “long overdue progress in our nation’s journey to equality.”
President Barack Obama signed a presidential memorandum implementing the policy changes at an Oval Office ceremony Wednesday evening.
Many expressed disappointment that the president is not taking bolder steps, particularly on health care benefits.
“This is not enough. I want to be able to add my wife to my policy in the same way that every other federal employee can add their spouse to their policy,” said Kate Kuykendall, a federal worker in Los Angeles.
Berry said Obama’s move would allow employees’ domestic partners to be added to the government’s long-term insurance program.
The memo also would allow employees to use sick leave to take care of domestic partners and children, and would let the same-sex partners of diplomats use medical facilities at foreign posts.
“This is a first step, not a final step,” Berry said. “This is an attempt to get our federal house in order.”
Berry noted that further steps are limited by the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
