H.R. 2517, a Bill to End Discrimination against Same-Sex Partners of Federal Workers
Discrimination happens when people are treated differently according to their social status. At the federal level for some time now, same-sex couples have been discriminated against. Most broadly, this discrimination against same-sex couples has occurred in the context of marriage. Since the passage of the Defense of Marriage Act in the 1990s, successive Congresses have made it clear, either loudly or meekly, that there is no intention to give same-sex couples the right to marry at the federal level. H.R. 2517, also known as the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, would grant same-sex domestic partners of federal workers the same benefits as federal workers\’ different-sex spouses. For proponents equality under law in America, this is a step forward for same-sex couples, albeit at a less ambitious scale than full-fledged same-sex marriage.
This legislative effort to bring equality to federal workers’ benefits has been principally sponsored by Rep. Tammy Baldwin, and has been cosponsored by 64 more members of the House of Representatives. If your member of Congress isn’t on that list, get his or her contact information, then make your call.
