Report: Pentagon poised to extend benefits to same-sex partners
The military is poised to extend some benefits to the same-sex partners of service members, U.S. officials said Tuesday, about 16 months after the Pentagon repealed its ban on openly gay service.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has not made a final decision on which benefits will be included, the officials said, but the Pentagon is likely to allow same-sex partners to have access to the on-base commissary and other military subsidized stores, as well as some health and welfare programs.
Panetta must walk a fine, legal line. While there has been increased pressure on the Pentagon to extend some benefits to same-sex partners, defense officials must be careful not to violate the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA. The federal law forbids the federal government from recognizing any marriage other than those between a man and a woman.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
That’s the least disturbing thing about this.
elfman on February 6, 2013 at 11:50 AM
What other job is there where showering and bunking with a man who’s dying to have sex with you may be required to keep it?
elfman on February 6, 2013 at 11:53 AM
What choice do they have?
JeffWeimer on February 6, 2013 at 12:09 PM
This is stupid and just gives SCOTUS another way to force gay marriage everywhere because gays who are from states which do not have any formal recognition are now being discriminated against by the federal government.
Rocks on February 6, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Walking a fine line = ignoring a law and not caring.
NeoKong on February 6, 2013 at 12:10 PM
They can follow the law. It’s not the Pentagon’s job to be a “leader” on social issues. When Congress extends benefits to same sex couples then the Pentagon can to.
Rocks on February 6, 2013 at 12:10 PM
But I was told “social issues” are mutually exclusive from economic issues?
crrr6 on February 6, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Of course they are… Now straight males will be marrying in order to get the off base and other benefits marrieds get.
The whole idea that a soldier gets more money for no additional work needs to be ended.
astonerii on February 6, 2013 at 12:16 PM
How does this have anything to do with SCOTUS? Marriage isn’t “forced”…well, besides the ol’ “shotgun wedding”…it’s only allowed and recognized. Thing is tho, I don’t know where this “fine line” is between DOMA and same-sex partners of military guys and gals gaining what amounts to fed recognition of something “other than a man and woman”.
JetBoy on February 6, 2013 at 12:18 PM
It is SUBSIDIZED in this case.
Off base housing, food, COLA, frequently special privileges others are not allowed, such as having a car on base and many additional perks and direct payments.
astonerii on February 6, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Oh and the insult to injury…
When there is extra work to be done, the marrieds get to go home on time and the rest of people, who are getting paid far less for their work are forced to make up for their pleasure.
astonerii on February 6, 2013 at 12:29 PM
Gatekeeper on February 6, 2013 at 1:17 PM
Bcs of course, it’s not like this is ever going to extend to polygamists.
I mean, polygamists wouldn’t ever apply for stuff like welfare or foodstamps or social security benefits & stuff if they were allowed to have their marriages recognized, like homosexuals.
These people have a right to be happy too.
And what about the man & dog who love each other & want to get married?
This i=does not affect society.
What we’re really doing here is interfering with people’s liberty & pursuit of happiness.
Bcs it’s not like the guy who marries his dog is ever going to have any legal issues the state will have to contend with or anything.
See, the state really does have a legitimate stake in determining what a legal union will be.
You have a right to pursue happiness, but you don’t have a right to do whatever the frack you want.
No one is keeping homosexuals from having sex & living together & leaving their property to each other.
And no one is stopping some guy from fracking a bunch of women & having kids out of wedlock with them.
But maybe we should make that $hit illegal.
Bcs look at the economic cost that is incurring from all of this iniquity.
See, morals DO have a place to be somewhat regulated in society.
The sins fo the father & all that crap.
IT is a cancer.
Your rights don’t extend to the rest of the world recognizing your desire to marry another human being in the eyes of the law.
Badger40 on February 6, 2013 at 2:00 PM