The Pentagon is preparing to extend the current benefits to same-sex partners of those in the military. According to a New York Times Article, these benefits will only include the issuance of a military identification card, which will give access to gymnasiums, various family support programs, and movie theaters on bases and posts.
Despite these improvements, homosexual partners still do not have the same privileges as heterosexual partners. Medical and dental benefits, as well as housing allowances cannot be given until the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is repealed. This act explicitly defines marriage as that between a man and a woman, and, because it is a federal act acting on federal employees, cannot recognize heterosexual marriages that were legally granted in any state.
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta plans to make the announcement later this week. This Washington Post Article states that there has been research to fully understand what benefits are legally allowed to be given to homosexual couples. Already some rights have been granted to partners in times of emergencies. However, unless DOMA is repealed, there is not much more the government can do.
Our nation has made great strides in giving rights to gay and lesbian military personnel in the past, but obviously there is still much room for improvement. What do you think of the current progress?
3 comments:
While I do hope that DOMA will be repealed very soon, in a way it seems like a positive thing that rights for same-sex couple are coming slowly. It allows for people to adjust more gradually to the idea of reworking how they think of legitimate couples. Even though many liberals (myself included) take it for granted that homosexual couples are just as legitimate as heterosexual couples, there are still vast portions of the country who disagree. By granting rights gradually, perhaps the country will be able to maintain a bit more peace and equilibrium--slightly angry social liberals and slightly angry social conservatives, instead of happy liberals and very angry conservatives.
I agree with Shannon that gay and lesbian rights have slowly become more and more equal, but they still have a long way to go. Though they have been given some benefits, like access to military facilities, it still seems like they are treated more as guests than spouses. Same-sex couples deserve to have the ability to share medical insurance and other such benefits. They have fought for our country and fought for other people to have the ability to gain rights, yet they can't even have their own rights here at home.
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