The GLIFAA Globe - July 2009

Greetings to all! It's great to be back on the board, and I look forward to seeing folks at our meetings and events. GLIFAA is only is strong as our membership. We have a full plate of policy initiatives and planned events for the upcoming year, and there are plenty of opportunities for members in Washington and overseas to volunteer and lead. The more members and supporters we have actively involved, the more effective we can be as an organization.

At the top of our list is the recent extension of key benefits to same-sex partners of Foreign Service personnel in the Department of State and other agencies as they sign on, as announced by the Secretary of State and President Obama. Details of this initiative can be found in three unclassified cables -- State 063819, State 066740 and State 067315 -- sent to all posts in June, which were matched with Department Notices sent out via email. These benefits are also extended to civil service and many contractors serving overseas. We encourage all LGBT personnel to have a look at these cables, if you have not already. Very importantly, we also urge eligible personnel with same-sex partners to complete and submit as soon as possible the affidavit detailed in the first cable and also available for State employees on the Bureau of Human Resources intranet site. You should also complete and submit forms OF-126 and SF-1190 so that benefits can begin immediately.

The Office of the Under Secretary for Management is coordinating a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), which is currently being cleared through the Department and which we hope will be available for distribution in the next few weeks. The new policies, with changes to the Foreign Affairs Manual, were effective June 26. Other agencies have been given the option to sign on, which it is hoped will happen soon. Management is also reviewing the terms for State Department contractors so they also benefit from the new measures.

The Department and other agencies have begun discussions to approach other governments on related visa issues and bilateral work agreements, with the goal of extending these benefits on a reciprocal basis. America citizen same-sex partners at posts will be eligible for employment in American family member/eligible family member positions (AFM/EFM). Non-US citizen partners are not eligible for these positions because of the hiring authority used, but may apply for FSN/PSA positions at posts.

A number of our members have expressed concern about the common residency requirement in the affidavit, citing circumstances when residing in the same location is not possible. Management has told us that it recognizes this problem and is working with the Office of the Legal Advisor on a remedy. In the meantime, affected personnel should complete the affidavit and attach a cover letter explaining the circumstances as to why common residency is not possible.

If you have questions on the new policies, please work with Human Resources Officers at post, or in Washington through personnel technicians, CDOs, and others as appropriate. This may be an education process for them just as it is for GLIFAA members, but it is important that we try to work through the system to help make it function. Queries for State personnel that cannot be answered through regular channels can be directed through "Ask Admin" intranet site or through the "Ask HR" site. Questions for which there is not already a pre-written answer on either site can be addressed through the "submit a question" function.State Personnel can also send Questions/concerns directly to the Director General's office through an email to "DG Direct" at dgdirect@state.gov.

The GLIFAA board asks that those questions that can't be answered through other avenues -- or which present broader issues to be addressed -- be sent to glifaa@yahoo.com. We also seek comments from members on how smoothly the process moves for them at posts and in Washington.

I'd like to say that in the 16 years I have been involved in GLIFAA, I have never seen such goodwill and willingness to work on behalf of LGBT personnel by offices throughout the State Department. Under Secretary Kennedy and his staff deserve special appreciation for their commitment in developing and implementing these new policies, as well as their effort toward new initiatives to create a more equitable environment for LGBT personnel at State and other foreign affairs agencies. There are still some issues that are being worked through. But the changes that have been made in just a few weeks are nothing less than historic and will have a concrete impact on our quality of life overseas.

Many thanks,
Bob G.