Giannoulias extends rights to gays and lesbians

Illinois Treasurer and U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias plans to extend some of the same rights to gay and lesbian employees in his office as to married employees.

Gay and lesbian workers would be able to take up to 12 weeks per year unpaid time off to care for a sick partner or for the birth or adoption of a child, under the guidelines of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

Giannoulias' office says he is the first state constitutional officer to broaden the act's application to taking care of unmarried domestic partners or their children.

President Barack Obama has ordered federal agencies to extend family and medical leave, relocation and child care services to the partners of gay and lesbian federal employees.

Giannoulias, a Chicago Democrat, announced the policy Saturday, and will discuss it at a news conference Sunday. The office of his Republican opponent from Highland Park, Rep. Mark Kirk, did not immediately comment.