In another step toward securing the equality due all Americans, today the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of eight married same-sex military couples seeking access to the same benefits available to married opposite-sex military couples.
Though you can be gay or lesbian and serve in the military now because of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, your spouse can’t get a military identification card, he or she can’t access any programs for military families, housing benefits, health insurance, or surviving spouse benefits.
The suit is a constitutional equal protection challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act and seeks marriage recognition for every legally married military spouse. Specifically, it challenges DOMA, as well as other statutory definitions of “spouse” in Title 10, Title 32 and Title 38 of the U.S. Code.
Just as repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was about restoring balance and equality in access to the responsibility of service, the suit seeks to restore balance and equality in access to the benefits of service.
Learn more at sldn.org.