Obama to sign healthcare benefits for same-sex partners

US President Barack Obama is expected to sign a memorandum today granting health care and other benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees.



The signing which will take place in the Oval Office follows criticisms of the president over a Justice Department motion filed last week in support of the Defense of Marriage Act.



The Act opposes same-sex marriage.



President Obama also irked gay advocates before his inauguration when he named the Rev. Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his swearing-in.



Warren has blasted homosexuality as being similar to having sex with animals or incest.