THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of
the Press
Secretary
________________________________________________________
For
Immediate Release
June 17, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE SIGNING OF
A
PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM
REGARDING FEDERAL BENEFITS AND
NON-DISCRIMINATION
Oval Office
6:04 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Well, today I'm proud to issue
a presidential memorandum that paves the way for long-overdue progress in our
nation's pursuit of equality.
Many of our government's hard-working, dedicated,
and patriotic public servants have long been denied basic rights that their
colleagues enjoy for one simple reason -- the people that they love are of the
same sex.
Currently, for example, LGBT federal employees can't
always use sick leave to care for their domestic partners or their partners'
children. Their partners aren't covered under long-term care
insurance. Partners of American Foreign Service officers abroad aren't
treated the same way when it comes to the use of medical facilities or
visitation rights in case of an emergency.
These are just some of the wrongs that we intend to
right today.
In consultation with Secretary of State Clinton, as
well as OPM Director John Berry, my administration has completed a long and
thorough review to identify a number of areas where we can extend federal
benefits to the same-sex partners of Foreign Service and executive branch
government employees.
I'm requesting that Secretary Clinton and Director
Berry do so where possible under existing law -- and that the heads of all
executive departments and agencies conduct reviews to determine where they may
do the same.
Hundreds of Fortune 500 companies already offer such
benefits not only because it's the right thing to do, but because they recognize
that it helps them compete for and retain the best possible talent -- and we
need top talent serving their country right now more than ever.
Now, under current law, we cannot provide same-sex
couples with the full range of benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married
couples.
That's why I'm proud to announce my support for the
Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, crucial legislation that will
guarantee these rights for all federal employees.
I want to thank Representative Tammy Baldwin, who is
behind me somewhere -- there she is, right there -- for her tireless leadership
on this bill and in the broader struggle for equality. I want to thank
Senator Joe Lieberman -- Joe is here -- as well as Susan Collins for championing
this bill in the Senate; and Representative Barney Frank for his leadership on
this and so many other issues -- in fact, this is his second trip to the White
House today. (Laughter.)
It's a day that marks a historic step towards the
changes we seek, but I think we all have to acknowledge this is only one
step. Among the steps we have not yet taken is to repeal the Defense of
Marriage Act. I believe it's discriminatory, I think it interferes with
states' rights, and we will work with Congress to overturn it.
We've got more work to do to ensure that government
treats all its citizens equally; to fight injustice and intolerance in all its
forms; and to bring about that more perfect union. I'm committed to these
efforts, and I pledge to work tirelessly on behalf of these issues in the months
and years to come.
Thank you very much everybody, and with that I am
going to sign this executive order.
(The memorandum is signed.) (Applause.)
END
6:08 P.M. EDT