Note: Jennifer Chrisler is now on Twitter. Follow her updates on the signing ceremony and what happens next.

As most of you now know, President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum today extending certain domestic partner benefits to federal employees. Our community’s reaction is and should be mixed. While we recognize that any extension of benefits and steps toward equality have positive impacts on people’s lives, we also want to ensure that we’re pushing the President and Congress to enact broader legislation ending discrimination against our families and including them in efforts like comprehensive healthcare reform.

From Jennifer Chrisler’s statement to the press:

“All American families face challenges, but our families encounter unique obstacles when trying to protect our children and our partners. The language in this memo signed by President Obama addresses some of those complex realities,” Chrisler said. “President Obama’s actions will help thousands of committed, same-sex couples working for the federal government ensure their families’ security. While today’s memorandum falls short, it does move us forward. There is much more work to be done to recognize the wide diversity of families that live and work in this country, including families with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents. I look forward to continuing to work with the Administration in the future as it takes the next steps to ensure equal protection and treatment of all American families.”

Click here to read our statement in full. Tell President Obama what you and your family really need him to do here: http://www.familyequality.org/action/story.html. We’ll have more information and updates as they become available.

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