NGLCC Urges Passage of Legislation Providing Same-Sex Domestic Partner Benefits to Federal Employees

Contact:  Kate Karasmeighan   202.419.0440 (office)  

(Washington, DC)  Today, the NGLCC urged the passage of The Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007 (S.2521). Under the legislation introduced by Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Gordon Smith (R-OR), a federal employee and same-sex domestic partner would be eligible to participate in federal health benefits, the Family and Medical Leave program, long-term care insurance, and retirement benefits. Domestic partners would also assume the same obligations that apply to married employees and their spouses including anti-nepotism rules and financial disclosure requirements.

“This is a positive step in the right direction for the federal government.  It is time for the government to join corporate leaders like IBM, Wells Fargo, McDonalds  and the thousands of other companies that offer equitable benefits for their LGBT employees,” said NGLCC President and Co-Founder Justin G. Nelson.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that based on the experience of private companies, offering same-sex domestic partnership benefits to partners of federal employees would increase the cost of these programs by less than one half of one percent. “Given the relative cost of offering benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees, coupled with the boost to recruitment and retention, it is obvious that passing this bill is in the best interest of federal government,” said NGLCC Co-Founder and CEO Chance Mitchell.

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About the NGLCC:
The NGLCC represents the interests of the estimated 1.4 million LGBT owned businesses in the United States.  Through its affiliated network of 45 state and local chambers and business organizations, the NGLCC is the largest LGBT business development and economic advocacy organization in the country.