*The Labor Department will likely announce Wednesday that the Family and Medical Leave Act is being tweaked, giving gay federal employees the right to leave work to care for a child, just as straights can.
It’s the latest in a long string of incremental changes President Obama has quietly made since taking office that have expanded federal benefits to gays and lesbians.
This White House has given gay employees long-term health insurance for their partners, day care, and child subsidies. The Federal Housing Authority can’t consider a loan applicant’s sexuality anymore. And the Census Bureau will count the number of Americans who say they’re part of a same-sex couple.
In his Father’s Day address Sunday, the president even mentioned that modern families took many forms-including having two fathers.
Though some gay-rights activists are frustrated Obama has been slow to overturn Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, they generally agree the little changes show the White House still cares about them.
Read more at the Washington Post.
I still don’t get the opposition to don’t ask, don’t tell in the military. Its not necessary to be flying the rainbow flag or dressing in drag when you choose a military career. Besides that who wears their sexuality on their sleeve in the military anyway? Why is it so important for all to know you’re gay? Rhetorical questions – I think the whole fight was a waste of time and energy. I’ll be glad when Obama can focus on the issues that are beneficial to all of us!