Obama set to rise to gay’s expectations

Same-sex partners in America are going to get a good time ahead as President Barack Obama is all set to extend some federal benefits to the gay partners of US government workers.

The President is due to sign a presidential order in the Oval office on the issue later on Wednesday. It is being expected that the gay partners of federal employees will get the health and pension benefits currently enjoyed by the heterosexual partners of government workers, but they might be devoid of getting full health insurance coverage.

The move comes in the wake of anger expressed by some gay supporters of Obama that he has not done enough after assuming the office to protect their rights. Gay and lesbian rights group were continuously voicing their disappointment over the Obama’s failure to live up to campaign promise in the first month of his presidency.

With this the US military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy may come to an end as the President is reportedly seeking to repeal this policy as part of a lasting and durable solution. A White House spokesman said the President agreed that the policy was not working for national interests. So he is working with the Secretary of Defence and the joint chiefs to capsizing the policy.

As per the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, the gay servicemen and women are allowed to serve, but on the pre-condition of not disclosing their sexuality or engaging in homosexual acts.

Several gay supporters had withdrawn from a fundraising event in protest of Obama’s not fulfilling his promise to repeal the ban on gay military members and extending benefits to partners of government employees. He was also criticized for not turning down a Justice Department legal opinion opposing gay marriage.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) had backed the Defense of Marriage Act last week, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman and denies federal benefits to same-sex married couples.

During the presidential election campaign, Obama though opposed to gay marriage but supported civil union, which means to ensure the gay couples the same legal and financial benefits as per married heterosexual couples. He expressed opinion on marriage as a sacred union between a man and woman, but at the same time advocated for the gay and lesbian rights.