WASHINGTON — The White House has announced that federal agencies will provide additional benefits to same-sex couples to the extent allowed under current statutory restrictions.

President Barack Obama has today signed a Memorandum that requires Executive agencies to take immediate action to extend to the same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees a number of meaningful benefits, from family assistance services to hardship transfers to relocation expenses. It also requires agencies that extend any new benefits to employees’ opposite-sex spouses to make those benefits available on equal terms to employees’ same-sex domestic partners to the extent permitted by law.

Obama stated that "This Memorandum is an important step on the path to equality, my Administration continues to be prevented by existing Federal law from providing same-sex domestic partners with the full range of benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. That is why, today, I renew my call for swift passage of an important piece of legislation pending in both Houses of Congress—the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. This legislation, championed by Senators Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, would extend to the same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees the full range of benefits currently enjoyed by Federal employees’ opposite-sex spouses. I look forward to signing it into law."

US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director John Berry praised the issuance of the Presidential Memorandum which directs Federal agencies to begin immediately to implement the changes necessary to extend benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees that are currently available to opposite sex spouses, wherever permitted by law. Berry is the highest ranked openly gay Obama administration appointee.

"This is another major step forward for gay and lesbian federal employees. But it’s also a good business practice -- this will help us retain valuable employees and better compete with other employers for top talent," said Director Berry. "President Obama has stated clearly that this is an issue of equality. But just as important, youth today, LGBT or not, see these benefits as a litmus test for determining high quality employers."

OPM has issued guidance to implement the President’s Memorandum. The guidance identifies additional benefits that agencies reported could be extended to cover same-sex domestic partners. These include gym and credit union memberships, access to career and other counseling and assistance services, access to government medical facilities, and lodging allowances.

"All employees should be treated equally and without discrimination, whether they are straight or LGBT and this is certainly a positive step in that direction," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "The limitations of these new benefits however serve as a glaring reminder that the Defense of Marriage Act ultimately stands in the way of providing true equality to LGBT Americans."

"We welcome the President’s renewed call to pass the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act and call on Congress to pass it swiftly," said Solmonese. "When a majority of the Fortune 500 offer equal benefits, it should be a no-brainer that the federal government catch up." — Staff