Illinois Treasurer Expands DP Benefits

Illinois state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias signed an executive order Sunday that will give gay and lesbian employees of his office the same domestic-partner benefits as married employees.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, "They'll get the same family and medical leave benefits, be able to take time off to have or adopt children, and take bereavement time on par with married workers. That is in addition to health care benefits that same-sex partners already received."

The office, which employees about 180 people, becomes the first Illinois state agency to adopt such a policy.

Giannoulias is also a candidate seeking President Obama's former senate seat, but he said politics was not the reason for the decision, according to the Sun-Times.