The US government is planning to expand the sphere of recognition of same-sex couples in the country, bringing them more at par with heterosexual couples. US attorney general Eric Holder announced that the Justice Department will take the lead in this regard.
The Justice Department will be extending the spousal privilege guaranteed to heterosexual couples in the US, by which no one can be coerced to testify against their spouse. Same-sex couples will also be granted the same visitation rights given to heterosexual couples.
A written memo will follow where every justice official will be instructed to provide the same privileges, protection and rights as granted to opposite-sex couples under the federal law.
Same-sex couples will also be eligible for death benefits from now on.