AP sources: Gay workers to get family leave

[ruggerson]

WASHINGTON -- The Labor Department intends to issue regulations this week ordering businesses to give gay employees equal treatment under a law permitting workers unpaid time off to care for newborns or loved ones.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis planned to announce Wednesday that the government would require employers to extend the option that has been available to heterosexual workers for almost two decades, two officials briefed on the plan said Monday. Neither was authorized to speak publicly ahead of the announcement.

The move, coming less than five months before November's congressional elections, seemed likely to incite conservatives and Republicans who stood in lockstep against the Obama administration's earlier efforts to repeal a ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military. It also appeared likely to be popular with loyal Democrats and organized labor.

The Family and Medical Leave Act allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year to take care of loved ones or themselves. The 1993 law, which also allows employees to take time off for adoptions, has previously only been applied to heterosexual couples.

MORE

[dsc]

1. unfortunately this isn't as great as we thought

DOMA forbids it from applying for members of the couple. This only works for the kids. Thus Bob and Joe share a kid, named Timmy. They both can take off for Timmy but not each other.

[Vattel]

2. also, the next president could reverse it.

but still, a good step