Same-Sex Military Spouses Authorized Some Benefits

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Monday officially extended benefits to the military's same-sex spouses and to unmarried partners of gay soldiers, according to an NBC news report.

Some of the privileges will include child-care services, member-designated hospital visits and the issuing of military ID cards, which will give same-sex spouses and partners access to on-base shopping at both the Post Exchanges and commissaries, movie theaters and fitness facilities.

The federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) still will not authorize over 85 other benefits available to married spouses.

Two of the bigger benefit issues that have affected gay couples at Fort Bragg have been medical and dental benefits, and death benefits.

In January, Fort Bragg's high-profile discrimination case against same-sex spouse Ashley Broadway made national news. While the new ruling did not hit in time for the birth of her baby with Lt. Col. Heather Mack, Panetta said the policy changes will go into effect upon completion of training with the new standards.

In October when Sgt. Donna Johnson, of Raeford, was killed in action, her same-sex spouse, Tracey, was not notified by the casualty assistance officer and she was not the beneficiary of any death benefits received by traditional military families.

According to a Washington Post report, the Pentagon estimates that about 5,600 active-duty and roughly 3,400 National Guard servicemembers have same-sex spouses. The Pentagon said it hopes to offer the new benefits by Aug. 31.

Panetta said DOMA is “now being reviewed by the United States Supreme Court" — and he offered his first clear signal that the Pentagon wants that law overturned.

“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."