[beachn4fun]

So is this saying that private employers have to give the same benefits to same-sex “spouses” as to genuine husbands and wives?

Yup, that's exactly how I read it. At first I thought it was just for DoL employees, but it looks like it's a nationwide edict applying to ALL employers.

I'm guessing that if they force employers to do this, then government should force them to cover "live-in"partners...those not legally married but have lived together for over 5 years or so. Same difference, IMO.

[tanknetter]

At this point, if they’re going to go down this road of recognizing same sex marriages and long-term cohabitation (as you suggest) they should at least apply some of the more onorous consequences of marriage to them as well. Like the marriage penalty.

I actually wonder if non imposition of the marriage penalty, etc, for same sex marriages recognized as legit by the DoL would be grounds for a challenge under the equal protections clause of the 14th Amendment ...