Ausust 6.2009

The Honorable Susan E. Rice
Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations
United States Mission to the United Nations
140 East 45th Street
New York. N.Y. 10017


Dear Ambassador Rice:

Congratulations on your confirmation as our new Permanent Representative to the United
Nations. We welcome your leadership in promoting America's standing among our
fellow nations in the l,rN and look forward to working in partnership with you. We write
to enlist your support to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all U.S. citizens who
serve honorably as tN employees.

As you know, on June 17, President Obama signed a Memorandum granting limited
domestic partnership benefits to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
employees of the federal government, including U.S. diplomats serving in our country's
many embassies and missions around the world. The Presidential Memorandum also
requested that Director of the Office of Personnel Management John Berry and Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton extend to same-sex partners of federal employees the benefits
they identified as a result of extensive internal reviews. Finally, the Memorandum
requests that the heads of all other executive branch departments and agencies conduct
internal reviews to determine whether other benefits they administer might be similarly
extended, and to report the results of those reviews to the Director of OPM.

We are both heartened and inspired by President Obama's strong commitment to LGBT
equality and decision to issue this Presidential Memorandum. We also commend both
Director Ber:ry and Secretary Clinton's readiness to clarify the details of the benefits that
can be made available to lesbian and gay federal employees and their families. We
wholeheartedly agree with Secretary Clinton when she said of the policy changes at the
U.S. Department of State: "this change is the right thing to do, and it is the smart thing to
do."

As you are no doubt aware, current internal LN policy defers to the instructions of
the relevant Permanent Mission of the country of origin of a staff member when deciding
whether to grant benefits to same-sex partners of uN employees. We understand that the
IIN may have already forwarded to you at least one request for recognition of the
domestic partner of a U.S. citrzen serving honorably at the [,rN.

In light of President Obama's Memorandum, as well as Secretary Clinton's steadfast
commitment to ensuring LGBT federal employees at the Department of State are treated
equally, we hope that you will continue this promise and enable American employees at
the tN to designate their same-sex partners as domestic partners. These individuals lead
dedicated lives of service, and deserve the opportunity to provide for their families.

We would be pleased to work with you in addressing these matters and look forward to
your prompt response. If you have any questions, please contact Amber Shipley of
Rep. Baldwin's staff at 202-225-2906.

Sincerely,