Giannoulias signs policy on domestic partners

[Ed Barrow]

With six months left in his four-year term, State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias signed an executive order on Sunday extending family-leave benefits to gay and lesbian employees in domestic partnerships. The new policy will allow gay and lesbian employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a sick partner or relative, the same benefit given to their married co-workers. It also would allow gay and lesbian employees to take time off for the birth or adoption of a child.

"These aren't added bonuses or employee perks," Giannoulias said. "These are the same basic rights other employees have long come to expect."

Giannoulias, a Democrat in the middle of a tough race for the U.S. Senate against Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, said the timing of his decision has nothing to do with the November election.

"This is the right thing to do. It's the only reason that I'm doing this," he said. "It's about fairness and equality. It's not about politics."


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