By Julianne LaJeunesse – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

On Friday Christian leaders from across the country unveiled the Manhattan Declaration, which “call[s] upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike” to protect human life, marriage, and religious liberty, which the nearly 150 signatories say, is becoming increasingly vulnerable.

“The three issues that we’re talking about today do not constitute the entirety of Christian moral concern,” said Beeson Divinity School professor Timothy George, who spoke at the press conference. “They are threshold issues, on which everything else that we do is related. Our concern for the poor, for peacemaking in our world, for the care of creation, our concern for all of the issues of nurturing children into faith…”

The Manhattan Declaration, according to the speakers, was not intended to align with the House and Senate health care bills, and was described as being nonpolitical. However, the document does say that the signatories will commit “fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them” in their effort to defend human life, marriage, and religious liberty.

Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon delivered remarks at Sunday’s National Equality March. She told the supporters that their “real” activism work would start when they returned home. She notes that those who support gay rights need to come together and show resolve on the issue. (0:49)

 

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By Justin Duckham and Learned Foote-Talk Radio News Service

President Barack Obama took what he described as “a historic step” Wednesday evening as he signed an executive order granting limited federal benefits to same-sex domestic partners.

The executive order will give the U.S. Office of Personnel Management the authority to issue directives stating that any discrimination not based on work related factors is illegal. This would include sexual orientation and gender expression.

The President conceded that there was still much work to be done to achieve full legal equality for gays in the U.S., but noted that he planned on working with Congress to take future legislative action, including the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.

The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which bans gays from serving in the military, was not mentioned. During the 2008 election, Obama pledged that once President, it would be repealed.

 

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By Learned Foote – Talk Radio News Service

President Obama will sign a memorandum on June 17th granting limited federal benefits to same-sex couples, and requesting that the Office of Personnel Management issue guidance within 90 days preventing discrimination against federal employees based on factors other than job performance.

John Berry, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the highest-ranking openly gay member of the Obama administration, said that he and the Secretary of State have “conducted internal reviews to determine whether the benefits they administer may be extended to the same-sex partners of federal employees within the confines of DOMA [Defense of Marriage Act].”

These benefits will not include health insurance, survivor or retirement benefits, or any other benefits outlawed by the Defense of Marriage Act. The Obama administration recently defended DOMA using arguments and language condemned by the ACLU, the Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, and other advocates for LGBT rights. Obama has promised to repeal DOMA if the appropriate legislation reaches his desk.

The benefits granted to civil-service employees will include long-term care insurance and sick leave to care for ailing partners. Foreign service employees and their partners will gain the use of medical facilities, medical evaluations from abroad, and consideration of family size in housing units. The memorandum also requests that the heads of executive departments and agencies conduct an internal review to locate other benefits that may be legally extended to same-sex couples.

The Clinton administration issued guidance requiring that many executive agencies grant some of the benefits identified in Obama’s memorandum. Berry said these benefits thus far have been “subject to the whim of a supervisor.” Berry said that “what the president is doing today is making this no longer optional; he is making it mandatory and is making it clear that this is now the policy of the federal government.”

Within 90 days, the OPM will issue guidance regarding civil service laws that make it illegal to discriminate against federal employees for reasons other than job performance. Berry said this guidance will not impact “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a law that prevents openly gay people from serving in the military.

“This is a first step, not a final step,” said Berry.