Military to Expand Some Benefits to Same-Sex Partners

News reports say Defense Sec. Leon Panetta will announce new policy this week

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to announce this week that same-sex partners of military personnel will receive expanded benefits, news reports say.

Panetta's policy will likely include issuing military identification cards to same-sex partners of military personnel, which would allow them to shop at military commissaries, and access to gyms, movie theaters and family support programs on bases and posts, the New York Times reports.

The Pentagon had been considering what benefits could be offered without violating the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law that strictly defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Unless the law is repealed, the Pentagon is probably unable to offer full financial benefits like medical and dental coverage and housing allowances to the same-sex partners of military personnel because they are federal employees, the Times reports.

Via the New York Times

Are you pleased the military will offer expanded benefits to same-sex partners?

[bsking]

In the old days the enemy would fear our military forces.

Now they're just slightly uncomfortable.

[hankf68]

hit up by mistake and yeah right, our military isn't feared, your bigotry has no bounds...

[Keyjo]

Something tells me our enemies are more fearful of an army of toned, fit, muscular, strong young Gay men than an army of wrinkled old bigots.

[bsking]

@Keyjo oh I do.t know,thats who is sending the troops now

[Keyjo]

@bsking
Hot Gay men are sending the troops now!? If you say so!

[bsking]

@Keyjo swoosh another 1 right over your head

:-0

[SignifiedNBlue]

Ugh.. Why oh why is this an issue?

[angelbaby2014]

Because same sex couples build lives together sometimes over years. If they lose their partner they get nothing. I think that makes it an issue.

[Keyjo]

It doesn't go far enough, but it's a good start.
SCOTUS needs to go ahead and declare DOMA unconstitutional and it needs to be done away with. Then same-gender marriage needs to be subject to the same federal benefits as opposite-gender marriages. The way would, and soon will be, cleared for the military to do what's just.

[jaybebo84]

I am against it...but Panetta is on a roll...

[DARSB]

You know, if someone is willing to put his/her butt between me and a bullet and wants commissary privileges for a significant other, I have no problem with that at all. It's not enough, but it's what can be done at the moment.

Now if the Republicans would drop that stupid DOMA lawsuit.

[jessejaymes]

I think that it's absurd that our country will accept gay military but won't give them equal benefits. One or the other.

[mwr]

would someone tell the liberal from CA who is packing his bags and leaving the SECDEF job that extending federal entitlements to people who are not married (at the federal level) is wrong!

[Denizen_Kate]

IMHO there is nothing wrong with anything done for the benefit of our all-volunteer military.

[jamie91]

Which is why DOMA needs to go down for good.

[AnnieO]

A spouse is a spouse. And legally, the definition includes same-sex couples.

[wild_turkey6]

I am all for SSM, and giving service members and their families what they deserve, but your legal definition is only valid in a handful of states and DOMA makes makes it illegal for federal employees to receive benefits. That is the problem.

[AnnieO]

@wild_turkey6 Please look here.
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/a...
It doesn't say of the opposite sex. That's my point. Marriage is marriage. I understand DOMA but at some point, they will have to do away with it, especially since they are allowing gays to serve openly. A gay soldier may be less inclined to serve if their spouse isn't receiving the same benefits that the soldier is working for. I think we are getting closer to that point. DOMA is fairly new and parts of it were determined to be unconstitutional anyway.

[wild_turkey6]

@AnnieO I couldn't agree with you more, unfortunately, the SCOTUS isn't reading the same dictionary right now

[AnnieO]

@wild_turkey6 You make a good point :) I'll agree with that!

[commonsense51]

What about equal rights for someone who wants 10 wives? Why do Gays only get special treatment? Oh that's right, Homosexuality is a sin in the Bible so therefore the anti God left must keep it in the spotlight constantly. No other groups get special mention for equal rights, only Gays. We hear pro gay commercials and constant mention from Liberals. I guess all the rest of Americans have no problems and needs no one to speak up for them. Has there ever been a more divisive president in our nation pitting Americans against Americans, fanning the flames of all our differences rather than bringing us together, like the liar and chief said he would do four years ago. His entire agenda is pushing his agendas that tear us all apart. he lives and breathes contention and the mandates of his transformed America. The United states of Europe.

[Libertyiskey]

The other people in the military already have those "special treatments" that's why these gays are getting the "special treatment." Expanded the rights to gays means the others already had those rights..

[Jet_Silverman]

you have no good argument, so you start to talk about polygamy. Typical. Why not deal with the subject? Oh, the Bible says people who work on Saturdays should be killed. Should soldiers who work on Saturdays be put to death? After all, that's what the bible says! Or does the bible only matter when it backs up your bigotry? And is there some law that says you conservatives have to bring Obama into every topic? Do you get some kind of bonus points? Has there ever been a more divisive president? You're just upset you have a black president, aren't you?

[stepped_in_it]

Are you married....doesn't your wife have rights/benefits? And you can have as many women as your wife/GF allows you....Go for it (but I think ur nuts if you do)

[commonsense51]

@Jet_Silverman LOL, the old call them racists... gets some new material, you are sounding so ludicrous. Try quoting the new testament, you know... the Christian part. So you do not like to talk about the equal rights of others to have ten wives? Why not, the Gays get to change our marriage laws, so anything goes.

[commonsense51]

@stepped_in_it I can't have ten wives, only gays get special treatment.

[Vance1]

I surely do not want my tax dollars going towards any Benefits to Same-Sex Partners
Thats creepy!!!

[falco_alba]

Their tax dollars benefit your creepy behavior. What is the difference?

[stepped_in_it]

Canada is an option....Neo could use the company!

[wild_turkey6]

Between you and commonsense51, the typical argument against SSM was brought up in record time. It is either

A. A sin against Christian morals

B. Compared to polygamy, child molestation, or bestiality

C. Just gross and/or creepy

Can you come up with something that is valid? Those are wearing thin.

[Vance1]

@wild_turkey6

Here this is about your Messiah Obama watch closely
http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[vws]

I think they should all be offered the same maternity benefits.

[RoFroh]

The only thing I have against this is that it's unfair to unmarried heterosexual service members who are denied the services for their girlfriends or family members. Unless the homosexual service members is LEGALLY married in a state that recognizes the marriage their partners should be denied access to benefits until a time that the gay marriage debate is settled.....it's kind if fair but unfair at the same time!!!

[mimi57]

I sure hope the dogs stay in the closet... ( :

[wild_turkey6]

Why? Imagine that you are a Soldier living under DADT. You have to live a lie in order to serve your country. Now imagine the pressure of upholding the ethical standards of the Army( and other branches). When I went through OCS our ethical standard was " I will not lie, cheat nor steal or tolerate those who do." The army values are loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honesty, integrity, and personal courage.
DADT forced gay soldiers to violate these core values in order to serve. Now imagine being that soldier that has to choose his career or his honesty, integrity, or personal courage.

[seedtick]

I'm sure they qualify for maternity benefits.

[WattheTyler]

Although I don't support the US military industrial complex or their imperialistic wars of aggression for corporate interests, we need full equality under the law. That means the discriminatory law of DOMA has to go!

[Jamesa1019]

If same sex partners get benefits, long term boyfriend/girlfriend couples should get the same treatment. That will never happen. So I'm against it. Marriage is between men and women, not same sex couples.

[Speedieg]

Sorry but your incorrect there are many same sex marriages in the US all legal. These people should have more rights than someone's piece of the week.

[SavageMazx]

While I do not agree with the gay/lesbian life style, who am I to tell two consenting adults what they can do in their bedroom....a couple is a couple in my book whether or not I like it. Let it be, the world has worse things out their than this to worry about.

[Brownie]

Stop the nonsense. Smh

[Persy]

Gays ARE HUMAN and THEY DESERVE the EXACT SAME RIGHTS as WE DO...NUFF SAID!!!