Family and Medical Leave Act

President Obama is expanding the rights of U.S. gay workers by allowing them to take family and medical leave to care for sick or newborn children of same-sex partners - regardless of whether or not a formal adoption has been processed. Federal law currently does not recognize same-sex relationships - but Obama's Labor Department believes that people in same-sex relationships should qualify for family and medical leave when they act as parents, sharing the care and support of a child.