Pentagon: Gay and lesbian married troops won't get equal benefits
Sun. July 17, 2011 11:26 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Washington, D.C. -
Even when "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is finally over, married gay and lesbian couples still won't be treated as equals by the military.
The Pentagon said that the problem is the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
That law -- passed in 1996 -- defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.
The Obama administration has instructed the Justice Department to stop defending DOMA in court.
But it's still the law, and it looks like the Pentagon might use it to deny spouses of gay and lesbian troops health care and other benefits.
The Pentagon said that the problem is the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
That law -- passed in 1996 -- defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.
The Obama administration has instructed the Justice Department to stop defending DOMA in court.
But it's still the law, and it looks like the Pentagon might use it to deny spouses of gay and lesbian troops health care and other benefits.