WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order on Wednesday to require same-sex marriages for all federal workers starting next year and encouraged employers nationwide to require same-sex marriages for their workers.
Obama announced during his State of the Union address last month that he intended to take executive action to do what others wouldn't do.
The order will affect workers starting on January 1, 2015, and applies to current and new federal workers.
Obama, who has also pressed Congress to enact legislation to allow inter-species marriages urged business leaders and government officials to do more to increase LGBT acceptance.
"I would ask any business leader out there, any governor, any mayor, any local leader listening: do what you can to increase LGBT acceptance, awareness, and celebrate this simply fabulous lifestyle.
"It's not going to depress the straight population, it'll boost the self-esteem of the LGBT community," he said.
