Until DOMA is repealed or amended there will be no benefits for GLBT military spouses. [View All]

[originalpckelly]

"In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word “marriage” means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word “spouse” refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife."
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode01/usc_sec_01_00000007----000-.html

The new law repealing DADT specifically mentions that service members who might be married in the states where it is legal, cannot and will not receive any benefits for their spouses, like straight couples in the military.

"(d) Benefits- Nothing in this section, or the amendments made by this section, shall be construed to require the furnishing of benefits in violation of section 7 of title 1, United States Code (relating to the definitions of ‘marriage’ and ‘spouse’ and referred to as the ‘Defense of Marriage Act’)."
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-4023

I think we need to press on, even next year, to make sure these folks get their due benefits. Even if you have DOMA for all regular Americans, please just let these people be exempt from it. They deserve better than this.

I say this, and I won't even benefit in any way, shape, or form from any changes. In other words, this is not selfish in any way. I just want these people to have their due benefits. They deserve it.

Can you imagine what it will be like for a GLBT soldier serving overseas, to know they will not be able to know their loved ones are protected?

What we have coming will be better than the status quo, but it's still discrimination.