Florida Agenda » Karen Golinski http://floridaagenda.com Florida Agenda Your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender News and Entertainment Resource Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:16:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Federal Government May Permit Health Coverage for Kids of Same-Sex Partners http://floridaagenda.com/2012/07/25/federal-government-may-permit-health-coverage-for-kids-of-same-sex-partners/ http://floridaagenda.com/2012/07/25/federal-government-may-permit-health-coverage-for-kids-of-same-sex-partners/#comments Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:17:21 +0000 FAdmin http://floridaagenda.com/?p=15473 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Office of Personnel Management proposed a rule last week that would allow gay federal employees the option of health coverage for their partners’ children under the federal government’s health insurance plan. Under current regulations, a federal employee can only get coverage for a partner’s children by adopting them. But adoption is only available to same-sex couples in 18 states and the District of Columbia.

The proposed rule would fill the gap until a legislative solution is enacted. The rule change was proposed three months after a federal employee, Karen Golinski, sued in federal court to have the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) declared unconstitutional. Golinski, a California resident, was seeking health benefits for her wife, Amy Cunninghis. The court ruled DOMA to be unconstitutional, and Cunninghis was allowed to get coverage under Golinski’s benefits.

(Republicans are appealing the ruling.) Under the decision, only Cunninghis was allowed to obtain health coverage. The ruling did not affect the status of other gay federal employees and their partners.

A proposed federal Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, sponsored in the House of Representatives by Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), and by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) in the Senate, would extend federal healthcare, retirement, and other benefits to the domestic partners of federal workers. The House version is stalled in subcommittee. A Senate committee approved that version in a voice vote on May 16.

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