The following editorial first appeared in Los Angeles Times:
Important as it was, the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” did not put gay and lesbian service members on an equal footing with their straight counterparts. A poignant story by Los Angeles Times staff writer Phil Willon described how partners of gay service members are still denied benefits available to other couples, including marriage bonuses and the right to seek joint deployments. Gay and lesbian partners of service members can’t even use the base commissary.
Superficially, this inequality can be rationalized. Couples who receive spousal benefits are married, while most gay and lesbian couples are unmarried. The problem with this distinction, of course, is that gays are barred from marrying in most states. Equally important is the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, which defines marriage for federal purposes as the union of one man and one woman. (It also authorizes states to refuse to recognize same-sex weddings performed in other states.)
As long as DOMA is on the books, the military may not treat even married gay couples the same as married heterosexual couples. Repealing DOMA and related legislation would allow gay couples that have been married to receive spousal benefits, including housing. As more states legalized same-sex marriage, more married gay couples would be eligible for military benefits.
President Barack Obama opposes DOMA, and his Justice Department has refused to defend the constitutionality of the law in court. At a recent speech to a gay rights group, Obama reiterated that “I believe the law runs counter to the Constitution, and it’s time for it to end once and for all.” But the president hasn’t made repeal one of his priorities, perhaps because of dim prospects for it in the Republican-controlled House. That body has incorporated DOMA’s definition of marriage into its version of a defense authorization bill.
But there are stirrings in the Senate. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Judiciary Committee, says he will hold hearings on repeal legislation next month. Those proceedings should provide a forum for men and women who have been the victims of the double standard written into the law, including those who have served in the military.
Winning repeal of DOMA is a daunting task. But so, not long ago, was the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” During the campaign to end that policy, members of Congress were enlightened about the fact that gays and lesbians were already in the military and serving with distinction. In the process, stereotypes were debunked and minds were changed. A similar educational effort, this time about the lives of same-sex couples, should be part of the DOMA repeal effort. Until it succeeds, gay couples in the military will be second-class soldiers.
Comments (16)
Add commentSecond class citizens
And gay soldiers will continue to be boo'd at republican debates or any other function where right wing extremists can be found.
Gay marriage in all 50 states is just a matter of time.
Repeal DOMA.
Do Not Defeat DOMA
As I see it, this is a no win for the legislature branch. Whatever they decide will continue to bankrupt and demoralize the country. (Progressive Agenda)
1. Give domestic partners the same rights as spouses. DOMA probably would not even be an issue any more. This would be my preference, and it would preserve the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. Or,
2. Take away the rights of married spouses, and have them operate the same as domestic partners - with powers of attorney.
Agree with Jo -
I am also hopeful it's only a matter of time. The religious right needs to stay out of other people's bedrooms. If they believe it's a sin, then they have every right to NOT marry a same-sex partner themselves.
But for them to continue to try and legalize their own religious beliefs to govern other consenting, non-religious adults, who absolutely cause them no harm whatsoever by being married, is not only wrong, but also means that they do not believe in freedom of religion.
DOMA
Actually NO WHERE in the Bible does it say anything about marriage being only between a man and a woman. This was told to me an ordained minister
hellojuneau - question...
Why do you think the "sanctity of marriagae" would not be preserved if gay and lesbian couples could marry?
Is the 'sanctity' preserved by the 50% of heterosexual marriagaes that end in divorce?
Was 'sanctity' undermined by mixed-racial marriages, which were illegal in many states (using the exact same arguments now leveled against homosexual couples - because they were "against God's will" and "unnatural") until Loving v. Virginia, 1967?
Isn't the "sanctity" of marriage about two consenting adults promising to love and honor and support each other, through sickness and in health, until the end of their days?
Who makes the best soldier?
We need to get back to basics on who makes the best soldier. Right now recruitment standards have been weakened due to an obese population, low academics, and many soldiers now have active affiliations with street gangs. I don't care if a soldier is gay, bi, not sure...if they can hold up to the rigors of combat who cares.
@jimcollman
And, if those who make the best soldiers just happen to be gay, then they should receive all the same benefits as all other soldiers and shouldn't be discriminated against because of who they love.
@hellojuneau1: I always snicker when I hear the right wingers speak of the "sanctity" of marriage, whatever that means.
Marriage is a social institution, enacted by people, and it is a failed institution for many reasons:
1. Most marriages end in divorce.
2. Most marriages experience infidelity at some point in the relationship, even though they vow to be faithful.
3. Divorce has ruined the lives of countless numbers of children.
"It's always been one man, one woman" is incorrect. Look at mormons and ancient Persian kings.
Where's the sanctity again?
To quote a humorist: "Gays should be allowed to marry. They have every right to be just as miserable as those who are married."
separate but equal
@Jim again....'separate but equal' has rarely translated into "equal" in America.
Which means, we gays do not want domestic partner recognition. We want marriage. We want the same thing heterosexuals have.
Anything less or different isn't the same thing.
Repeal DOMA. Allow gays to be married. It's only a matter of time.
I am kind of mixed on this.
I am kind of mixed on this. People should be able to do whatever they want in their bedroom with another consenting adult. Problem is, in the military, they may be forced to share a bedroom with a non-consenting adult. It would make me uncomfortable. Could I still function? Sure. But I'd be uncomfortable.
KP:
You bring up an interesting point. You can also look at it this way, if I am required to sleep, dress and shower with a person who is attracted to other men. Then why not allow men and women to share the same requirements’ such as you find on a ship. Very close quarters. Jo after reading you’re comment and the way you described marriage why in the world would gays want to get married. Reading further I had to laugh at the last paragraph it was a good one.
kpawsuh and milspec....
That's a lame argument. You're not being asked to share a bed or kiss. I find it amusing that (I'm assuming you are both over 50) older men in particular seem to think that they will be some kind of attraction magnet for every gay man who even lays eyes on them, and that those gay men will be for some reason unable to keep their hands to themselves. Otherwise, what is there to be uncomfortable about? I've never heard a straight woman express this imaginary "fear".
I don't know what it's like on ships, but I saw an interview with a military man who'd been on submarines, and he said the bunks have curtains and the showers have partitians.
Besides - if either one of you have been to summer camp, work situations with bunkhouses, the gym, college, or any other situation where there is some sort of group bunking or shower situation - odds are very, very good that you've already slept and showered with gay men more than once.
Since you apparently didn't notice, could it be that you're just not that irrisistible? :)
Actually Swimmer, I have a
Actually Swimmer, I have a very valid reason for being uncomfortable. As a kid, you always do sleep overs. The last time I slept over at a friends house, I woke up to him fondling me. He lost teeth and I never slept over at anyones house again. And no, I'm not over 50. Fairly younger than that. Growing up in Wyoming and Montana, I have witnessed many times where someone would come out, and get beat senseless for it. I have never condoned it and have stopped it when possible. I annot though, knowingly go into a situation like that again. You are correct, though, in that I am sure I have done it unknowingly. I have always said that I am perfectly happy not telling anyone my bedroom tales and I am equally happy if they dont share theirs.
Swimmer:
Well Swimmer. Glad you got a laugh out of that. I really don’t care; I was just making an observation. You are missing the point altogether. Yes I most likely have been goggled eyed in the past. However, if I was I didn’t know who they were. Some people are uncomfortable with this, make a note to yourself “I am not one of those people” However now that the Genie is out of the bottle everyone will know and it will make some uncomfortable possibly cause problems. As for ships the last one I was on was the USS Eisenhower and every thing was left out in the open so to speak. No privacy what so ever or very little. Btw, I have stood up and stepped in for gays several times in the Navy when I felt they were being taken advantage of. Never could stand a one sided brawl.
legalize ?
Swimmer did you mean legalize? Or legitimize?
Who's best for combat?
We're still talking combat forces here. If the bullets are flying, I'd sit in foxhole with a gay if he's a fightin' machine. I'll take being fondled and groped over having my bloodied body drug through the streets of say, Mogadishu, while my family watches on CNN. Although the gays I've encountered, once they knew I was straight, never bothered me. Gays are fine in my book if they pull their weight, which most do.
kpawsuh and milspec -
kpawsuh - first, I am sorry for your experience. No one, heterosexual or homosexual, should ever be molested against their will - ever. You would, in my opinion, have a legitimate reason for being uncomfortable.
milspec - interesting. So you think men who know other men are gay would be uncomfortable. Whether or not the gay man ever approached them, or was in a relationship with someone else. I may be wrong here, but I can't help thinking about the male psyche, and the whole catcall, whistling at girls thing that happens everywhere there are pretty women. Most men think nothing of it, but it is objectifying women, and making unwanted advances. Most men think this is ok, and I wonder if that transfers in their subconscious to what other men might do. Men are fairly basic (sorry, but it's true) when it comes to sex, as compared to women, who need a more emotional connection to be attracted to someone. I wonder if that is the underlying cause of the fear that more men than women seem to have regarding this issue.
Regardless, it seems to me that a few minor retrofits (curtains, partitians) in most bunks/showers would do the trick.
There was a woman on the news this morning - I believe she has terminal cancer, and her issue is that her partner (also a female) and their child will not qualify for death benefits from the military when she dies. These are the kinds of things that really matter, imho.