President Obama’s memo on partner rights
President Barack Obama, surrounded by his vice president and Congress’ gay team at his desk in the oval office, speaks out about same-sex partner rights and signs a presidential memorandum extending some medical benefits to partners of federal employees.
well done Obama
just crumbs
What exactly is WRONG with the GLBT community? Our “Fierce Advocate” has just promised to re-chrome the spigots on the separate water-fountains for us, and to re-pad the seats at the back of the bus. Jeeeez! There is just no pleasing some people!
Seriously, my partner of 35 yrs (and spouse for 4 years) was acting Post Master of Kansas City and also a station manager for many years. He is retired now after over 35 years of service to the US government. As a married couple, we are outraged that I, as his legally wed spouse, am still excluded from his pension plan and from his health care benefits — which he earned and to which we are as much entitled as any other federal worker.
To say just because the person he loves happens to be of the same gender that it is an adequate reason to rob him of his full benefits in order to subsidize heterosexual families at the expense of his own family is utterly unacceptable.
My spouse and I lose over seven thousands dollars per year in health benefits — which heterosexual married couples receive automatically. I cannot claim any of his pension benefits either should he (god forbid) pass before me — as we are both aging and in poor health.
My partner also voluntarily joined the military during the Vietnam Conflict — as much as a debacle as that turned out to be — nevertheless, his patriotism is beyond reproach. And yet, people in power (people we put in power) stand by and continue to let injustice happen to us in such a manner which they would never tolerate imposed upon them.
To somehow put the equality of fellow Americans on the backburner because “there are more important things (in the minds of bigots) to do” is an affront to all people (including the tens of millions of GLBT Americans) who have sacrificed, in so many ways, to create this nation.
Shame on all those who spit upon the unalienable rights of fellow Americans and who deny them their birthright of freedom and full equality. History has a long memory, and when this injustice is finally ended, future generations will not forgive you for what you have done.
© Bud Evans
Too bad that little benefit package, (and I do mean little benifit package) doesn’t cover the important things like healthcare and the ability to leave your benefits and retirement to your long-term partner. This is basically nothing, combined with more of Obama’s golden words that will not be acted upon.
AMAZING! Finally the Obama I saw in the campaign with respect to gay rights!