DoD extends gay couples/marriages benefits

[jav6454]

Surprised this hasn't been posted:

Departing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta extended Monday a list of benefits — all previously denied by the Pentagon — to the same-sex spouses of service members as well as to the unmarried partners of gay troops.

[...]

While advocates for gay and lesbian service members and their families hailed Panetta’s policy switch as “substantive” and “encouraging,” the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) still blocks the DOD from enacting more than 85 other benefits now provided to heterosexual military spouses and their children — most notably medical and dental care, housing allowances, and death benefits.

[...]

“There are certain benefits that can only be provided to spouses as defined by that law,” Panetta said. “While it will not change during my tenure as secretary of defense, I foresee a time when the law will allow the department to grant full benefits to service members and their dependents, irrespective of sexual orientation. Until then, the department will continue to comply with current law while doing all we can to take care of all soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and their families."

[...]

Linky

[GermanyChris]

good for the outgoing secretary! Now we can ditch DOMA, then rebuild.

[Moyank24]

It's a step in the right direction, but a small one.

There will be a lot more to celebrate when SCOTUS drops the hammer on DOMA.