WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today hailed the approval of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO) S. 1910 in the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME), would provide benefits for same-sex domestic partners of federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits. These benefits would include participation in applicable retirement programs, life and health insurance benefits, and family and medical leave. HRC calls on the full Senate to pass DPBO.

"DPBO is about the basic concept of fairness in the workplace,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.  “The federal government would be wise to follow the private sector in offering equal pay for equal work.  America’s major corporations have discovered that equality is not only the right thing to do, but good for business.  Equal workplace policies, like those DPBO would enact, will help attract and retain the best and brightest talent, which is exactly what our federal workforce needs. We call on the full Senate to pass DPBO.” 

Currently, 60 percent of Fortune 500 companies provide domestic partner benefits to their employees.  Many of America's leading companies, including defense giant Raytheon, IBM, Microsoft, Shell Oil, Walt Disney, Owens Corning, Citigroup, Whirlpool, Time Warner, and United and American Airlines offer these benefits. In addition, twenty-four states, the District of Columbia, and more than 100 local governments offer their public employees these benefits. 

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality.  By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.