GLIFAA provided the following list to DG Thomas and Deputy Assistant Secretary Taylor.  As always it is a work in progress and we welcome input.  DG Thomas pointed out that all American citizens are evacuated when a major emergency occurs in a foreign country.

Providing same sex partner Members of Household (MOH) equal status to Eligible Family Members (EFMs) in the Foreign Service Act (FSA) is the best arrangement to achieve equality for the families of Foreign Service State and USAID gay and lesbian employees.  Adding, "and domestic partners," to all citations or benefits where EFMs are mentioned might have the same effect, for example "EFMs and domestic partners will be given preference in hiring."

In the meantime, GLIFAA has identified the following concerns as the main discrepancies in equality of benefits and support for families of GLBT employees.   

Health Benefits:  USG provided health insurance for partners stationed abroad.  Benefits for civil service, and Foreign Service stationed domestically is also a priority. 

Travel Orders:  Inclusion of MOH partners on travel orders, ensuring our families receive full travel benefits, to and from assignments.  

Iraq and Afghanistan Support:  Separate Maintenance Allowance (SMA), ability to remain in housing while employee is serving, and ability to join "family left behind" support groups.

Visas for Partners:  Firm Department support for obtaining visas, and work permits where applicable, for partners going overseas with an employee.  USG recognition of partners from other countries coming to Washington would make this easier.

Employment Preference:  Employment opportunities at posts abroad opened up to MOHs, with the same preference and accommodation accorded to same-sex partners as EFMs.

Allowances:  Inclusion of same sex partners in house hold size calculations for housing, Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), Miscellaneous Transfer Allowance, and Home Service Transfer Allowance. 

Immigration and Naturalization:  Immigration benefits and eventual naturalization for non-Married partners so that they may live in the U.S. with FSOs in Washington, and accompany partners on tours abroad as American MOHs. (Note: INA, not FSA.) 

Diplomatic Status:  Diplomatic passports and status for partners. 

Training: FSI Training for MOHs, just as EFM spouses receive, including but not limited to: foreign language, area studies, and the security overseas seminars.

Evacuation: USG funded evacuation of partners at post when EFMs are evacuated.

Medical Care: Access to post medical facilities, regional medical units and visiting regional medical officers, equivalent to what is afforded EFMs.

Mail: Pouch and APO/FPO access equivalent to what is afforded to EFMs.

Badges/ID: Embassy ID cards and compound access equivalent to that issued to EFMs.

• The DPBO was introduced prior to recess, and the draft appears to contain the necessary references to the Foreign Service Act. 
  • See HFAC Chairman Lantos' comments on benefits for GLBT employees in foreign affairs:
    

• GLIFAA provided our priority list to staff and will continue to provide information to interested legislators in 2008.
  
• GLIFAA encourages members to contact and meet with staff of their Senators and Representatives either to encorage them to support the bill or to thank them for their cosponsorship
• Remember:  do not use .gov email addresses or other work resources to contact your Congressional representatives
  

Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act

Bipartisan legislation was introduced December 19th in Congress that would give federal employees with same-sex domestic partners the same employment benefits that are currently available to married federal employees and their spouses.  The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007, was introduced in the Senate (S. 2521) by Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.).  There are 19 cosponsors.  In the House, the legislation (H.R. 4838) was introduced by Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Chris Shays (R-Conn.), Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Tom Davis (R-Va.).  There are 35 cosponsors.

The bills would mandate that federal employees and their same-sex domestic partners be offered the same employment benefit plans as married federal employees, including:

·         Health benefits;
·         Retirement and disability;
·         Family medical and emergency leave;
·         Group life insurance;
·         Long-term care insurance;
·         Death, disability, and similar benefits;
·         Workplace injury compensation; and
·         Relocation, travel and related expenses.

The bills provide that, in order to be eligible for benefits, federal employees would have to prove that they share a home - and financial responsibilities - with their same-sex partner.
 
In addition to the lead sponsors, the Senate bill (S. 2521) had 19 original cosponsors:
 
Akaka, Boxer, Brown, Cantwell, Cardin, Clinton, Dodd, Durbin, Feingold, Kennedy, Kerry, Lautenberg, Leahy, Levin, Murray, Obama, Schumer, Whitehouse, Wyden

The House bill (H.R. 4838), had 35 cosponsors in addition to the 4 leads, these include:

Frank, Lantos, McDermott, Towns, Harman, Tauscher, Ellison, Engel, Moran (James), Kucinich, Kennedy (Patrick), Abercrombie, Hare, Cummings, Velazquez, Nadler, Maloney, Sanchez (Linda), Delahunt, Berkley, DeLauro, Markey, Lee, Langevin, Schakowsky, Allen, Serrano, Norton (E. Holmes), Berman, Roybal-Allard, Moore, Gwen (WI), Wynn, Wu, Wasserman-Schultz, Sherman