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发帖数: 19713 | 1 Bill Could Add More Benefits for Same-Sex Military Partners
A new bill with 40 co-sponsors in the House could add some more benefits to
military LGBT partners and families.
BY MICHELLE GARCIA FEBRUARY 14 2013 6:58 PM ET
Congress has introduced a bill to further extend the rights for same-sex
partners of people in the military and their families.
The Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act, re-introduced with about 40 co-
sponsors as of Thursday, would allow the Department of Defense and
Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize any marriage that has been
recognized by a state, the District of Columbia, commonwealths, territories
or possessions and provide the same benefits to the spouses of all service
members. The act is designed to act as a stopgap between Defense Secretary
Leon Panetta's announcement earlier this week to extend more rights to same-
sex military couples, and the repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage
Act, which prohibits the federal government from officially recognizing
marriages of gay and lesbian couples.
“While we wait for a decision from the Supreme Court on DOMA, we look
forward to seeing action from the President and the next Secretary of
Defense to make sure our troops and their families are protected from
discrimination and prejudice,” said American Military Partner Association
president Stephen Peters.
Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan fought in her final months to extend
benefits to the same-sex partners of military personnel. She passed away
last week after a five-year battle with breast cancer, leaving behind her
wife Karen and their daughter Casey.
Panetta's announcement this week will allow same-sex military partners to
obtain dependent identification cards, family support programs, child care,
joint assignments, and other benefits. Still other benefits, such health
care and housing allowances, can only be granted to same-sex couples once
the Defense of Marriage Act is repealed, because those statutes are governed
using the words "spouse" and "marriage." DOMA bars the federal government
from recognizing the legal marriages of same-sex couples.
"All spouses in the military, regardless of orientation, put up with
tremendous hardships, and it's time we recognize their contribution and
sacrifice with true equality," Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the lead
sponsor on the bill, said Thursday. |
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