Gay Federal Employees to Receive Federal Heathcare Benefits

Another case of ... "Shut up You Bible Thumping Homophobes and Pay the Bill"

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?filepath=/dailyfed/0610/060210ts1.htm By Alyssa Rosenberg arosenberg@govexec.com June 17, 2009

President Obama on Wednesday directed the Office of Personnel Management to extend long-term care benefits and family and parental leave to the same-sex partners of gay and lesbian federal employees, and ordered agencies to conduct internal reviews to identify other benefits that they could extend as well.

"Many of our government's hard-working, dedicated, and patriotic public servants have long been denied basic rights that their colleagues enjoy for one simple reason -- the people that they love are of the same sex," Obama said.

Obama stopped short of granting employees' domestic partners access to health care benefits, saying he legally could not do so, but endorsed legislation that would provide such benefits.

The legislation, known as the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (H.R. 2517) is currently under consideration on Capitol Hill.

Margaret Becker reminds us on Easter God wants our 'Honesty'

A raw homemade reminder on Easter from God's messenger: Margaret Becker
(click the link below and prepare to have your heart touched)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tE90XebrPc

Tonight by the glow
Of the firelight
You found the courage
To speak your mind
And tear down the walls
You've been hiding behind
You spoke of your struggle
And you cried from the pain
You spoke of your failure
And then you turned in shame
You said you knew you'd never
Be alright

Chorus
God's not afraid of your honesty
He can heal your heart if you speak honestly
Humble sorrow and the honest cry
He will not pass by

So many of us
Spend so much time
Smoothing things over
Pretending we're fine
As if life could ever be
So cut and dried
But you my friend
You've got that passionate heart
It'll curse you sometimes
But it can take you far
When you let Him tame it
You will be just fine

Chorus
God's not afraid of your honesty
He can heal your heart if you speak honestly
Humble sorrow and the honest cry
He will not pass by

You may feel like you're crawling
Over broken glass
Crying a river
Into the pillows of your past
But you will be free

Chorus
God's not afraid of your honesty
He can heal your heart if you speak honestly
Humble sorrow and the honest cry
He will not pass by