Bill Would Provide Benefits to Same-Sex Partners

A bill that would extend health care and retirement benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees has gained 20 new Senate sponsors.

The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act was initially co-sponsored by Connecticut independent Joe Lieberman and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, The Washington Post reported.

The Defense of Marriage Act prevents the federal government from extending such benefits. However, a lone federal employee in California recently won such benefits for her same-sex partner as result of a federal law suit challenging the Act.

Under the Lieberman/Collins bill, same-sex partners of federal workers living together in a committed relationship would also be eligible for family and medical leave and long-term care benefits in addition to health and retirement benefits. Lieberman’s office noted that a number of large corporations and 24 states offer benefits to same-sex partners, the Post reported.