Grand Rapids Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Article: Obama gives benefits to workers' same-sex partners
WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Obama is extending child care, medical leave and other benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
Obama on Wednesday directed federal agencies to immediately begin allowing domestic partners and their children some of the same rights available to spouses and children of employees. That includes child-care services and subsidies, expanded family and medical leave and relocation and other benefits.
Obama's memorandum covers only benefits that can be extended under existing law, without congressional action. Legislative action would be required for a full range of health care and other benefits.
It's the president's latest step on gay rights. He's also supported a rollback of the military's "don't ask don't tell" that governs gay military members.
Link to the article here.
I thought this was a step in the right direction. Equal rights for all people sort of thing. If you read the first two pages of comments, people are going nuts over this. I thought more people would be in favor of fair treatment - granted, I only had time to read two pages, maybe the opinion changes. What do you guys think? Care to discuss?
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Re: Article: Obama gives benefits to workers' same-sex partners
Here's what I found on that:
OPM said interested same-sex couples can visit www.LTCFeds.com to complete a form that states they are committed domestic partner and intend to stay together indefinitely. The federal worker must then submit the form to their employer. Couples will not be required to provide further proof of the relationship, because asking for further proof, ?would impose a greater burden on domestic partners than other qualified relatives,? OPM said, noting it does not ask opposite-sex couples for bank statements or other proof of marriage.
So, they will have to submit no greater or no less proof of their relationship than opposite-sex couples.
And this is definitely a step in the right direction.
Ok, but for me to get the H's health insurance we had to be married. Obviously, same sex couples can't be married. Are these benefits going to be extended to couples of the opposite sex who aren't married but living together? Know what I mean? If these same sex couples have been together 2 weeks, they shouldn't get the benefits just like opposite sex couples can't until marriage.
It sounds like it's now the same for opposite sex and same sex. Whatever the marriage/living situation may be, the requirements of proof of relationship are the same no matter the sex. Which is exactly as it should be.
That brings up a good point. I hadn't thought of that. I had to supply a copy of my marriage licence to HR in order for MH to get health benefits, but health benefits are not what this amendment includes. Hmmm.
Exactly. Even if the H and I were living together unmarried, we couldn't get benefits until we could prove marriage. Same sex couples can't prove marriage b/c they aren't married. If they can get benefits straight people can't get, then that's not fair either.
True, that would be unfair. But that doesn't seem to be the case here. It sounds like, currently, opposite-sex couples are not required to show proof of marriage in order to get the benefits. Opposite sex couples never had to be married to receive these benefits in the past either.
The agency said it does not ask opposite-sex couples for bank statements or other proof of marriage.
Hmm. Interesting. Another perk of working for the gov't, I suppose.