Skip to main content

Obama extends family leave rights of gay couples

Image
By

US President Barack Obama speaks about the situation in Iraq from the briefing room of the White House in Washington

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the White House about the Iraq situation in Washington June 19, …
By Mark Felsenthal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday will announce a rule that makes legally married same-sex couples eligible for benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act in all 50 states, a White House official said.
Currently, legally married couples are eligible for those benefits if they reside in a state in which same-sex marriage is legal. Obama is directing the Department of Labor to propose a rule extending the FMLA rights even to states where gay unions are not legal.
The rule is being issued as Attorney General Eric Holder announces the results of a review of U.S. laws in the wake of the landmark 2013 Supreme Court Windsor decision that held that the survivor of a same-sex couple could claim the federal estate tax exemption for surviving spouses.
The decision forced the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages in states where it is legal and has paved the way for the Obama administration to take steps to expand the legal rights of gay couples.
The Family and Medical Leave Act allows employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical purposes.
Holder is due to issue a review on Friday of how the more than 1,000 different federal rights and obligations linked to a marriage or a spouse are affected by the Windsor decision.
Obama on Tuesday said he would sign an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating against employees based on their sexual orientation, but he also told gay rights activists they need to keep up the pressure on Congress to pass a broader law.
In February, Holder announced widespread changes within the Justice Department to benefit same-sex married couples, such as recognizing a legal right for them not to testify against each other in civil and criminal cases.
(Reporting By Mark Felsenthal; Editing by Ken Wills)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ART– AN EYE INTO ANOTHER WORLD

By
For some reason, I have always been a fan of the arts. The ability to create something from nothing, the ability to bring to life what was once but only a figment of one’s imagination to me, is to dare to rival the gods, if you believe in them. I consider the artist to be a gift to man to constantly remind him that he is possible of anything! This piece is more of a show than tell as I am certain that it would not be proper to write an article on art and tell more words than I show works. I have therefore had to steal from a friend, a classmate and most of all, a talented artist as I, myself, am not so gifted as to put up my works for display but still, I shall humour you eventually with my rendition of a popular cartoon that you may recognise if you grew up watching ‘Looney Tones’. Nevertheless, gift is not a necessity to appreciate beauty and the plethora of magna opera (The many great works). Mr Joshua Zirigbe (9β) is a Nigerian from Delta State and he has given us the opportunit...
Post a Comment
Read more

THE FIRE ON 23 ROAD – FESTAC, LAGOS

By
A fire outbreak occured on 23 Road in Festac on Saturday the 14th, February, 2015 which is the popular Valentine's day. Jouleconcept's correspondent, Mr Juwah Awele covered the story and gave a report in form of an article about the occurrence. This can be read below: “There is fire in house 2! There were children locked inside the house…” those were the words of my elderly neighbour, Mrs A, returning from the scene of some ongoing tragedy. Immediately, my mother went for all our official documents she always keeps in a ready to go bag while, my father, brother and I set off in the direction of the blaze. On getting to the front of the close, T Close, we observed the residents of the first few houses on the left hastily withdrawing their belongings from their homes; stuffing generators, plasma TVs, gas cylinders and the works into the back seat of their cars. Some had already driven their cars away! Immediately, we realised the fire was coming from the next cl...
2 comments
Read more

Voucher Charity (2)

By
Over the months, we've had a lot of discouragements here and there; but we stood by our vision. After the end of the 2nd month of the blogging, we have been able to acquire over 10,000 views: Thanks to you! Because of this, Jouleconcepts and its crew are pleased to inform the start of a voucher charity for its viewers. We have only had supports in the U.S.A for sharing free air time online. Thanks to Mr GbadamosiOluphisayor Temitope ( lives in the United State) for his kind support in making this blog touch not just its local country, but the citizen of the United States of America.. We can not forget the presence of the well wishers of the Jouleconcepts and particularly, GINA LONDON for her impact on the vision also. Jouleconcepts says thanks, God bless the blog, the viewers and the World at large..   Nigerian Airtime  Glo   235 873 233 158 434 Etisalat 91108 15796 74652 curtsey Jouleconcepts Please to show that this cards are valid from ...
5 comments
Read more