APNewsBreak: Pentagon may revise same-sex benefits

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

WASHINGTON (AP) The Pentagon is poised to extend health care, housing and other benefits to the same-sex spouses of military members by the end of August, but may reverse earlier plans to provide benefits to gay partners who are not married.

According to a draft Defense Department memo obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, the department instead may provide up to 10 days of leave to military personnel in same-sex relationships so they can travel to states where they can marry legally.

While no final decisions have been made, the memo from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to top defense leaders would reverse an earlier plan that would allow the same-sex partners of military members to sign a declaration form in order to receive limited benefits, such as access to military stores and some health and welfare programs.

The recent Supreme Court decision extending federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples eliminates the need for such a plan, Hagel said in the draft.

"As the Supreme Court's ruling has made it possible for same-sex couples to marry and be afforded all benefits available to any military spouse and family, I have determined, consistent with the unanimous advice of the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that the spousal and family benefits far outweigh the benefits that could be extended under a declaration system," Hagel wrote.

According to a U.S. official, the memo is under legal review by the Justice Department, and the Pentagon will not be able to take any action until that review is finished. The official was not authorized to discuss the memo publicly, so spoke on condition of anonymity.

Pentagon officials would not comment on the specifics of the memo. A Defense Department spokesman, Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen, said only that the Pentagon "is working alongside the Department of Justice to implement the court's decision as quickly as possible."

In February, then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that by no later than Oct. 1 the Pentagon would extend some limited benefits to same-sex partners of service members. Housing benefits were not included, but the plans called for same-sex partners to get special identification cards granting them access to commissaries and other services.

The benefits would be contingent on the service member and their same-sex partner signing a declaration that they were in a committed relationship.

At the time, officials said that if the Supreme Court ruled on the federal Defense of Marriage Act the issue would be revisited. The act prohibited the federal government from recognizing any marriage other than that between a man and a woman.

In Late June, the court cleared the way for legally married gay couples to be recognized under federal law, and also allowed same-sex marriages in California to resume. It did not issue any sweeping declarations that would allow same-sex couples to marry anywhere in the country.

When the ruling was announced, Hagel said the Pentagon would reassess the department's decisions on benefits for same-sex couples, and also begin the process of extending benefits to same-sex spouses of military members.

In the new draft memo, Hagel says the department intends to treat all married military personnel the same and "make the same benefits available to all military spouses, regardless of sexual orientation."

But, recognizing that same-sex couples are only allowed to marry in a limited number of states, Hagel said the provision allowing service members to travel to states where the unions are legal is a way to help overcome those challenges.

Defense officials estimate there are 18,000 same-sex couples in the active-duty military, National Guard and Reserves. It's unclear how many of those are married.

The repeal of the ban on openly gay military service took effect in September 2011.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20130807/US--Military-Gay.Marriage/

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Looks like a lot of Marines and Sailors will be asking for that ten day leave as soon as a ship arrives in port.

[himher 634]

We really don't share your giddy excitement on this issue but if you need to talk to yourself in your own thread be our guest

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

We really don't share your giddy excitement on this issue but if you need to talk to yourself in your own thread be our guest

Is your latest suspension over already? It was almost pleasant not having you around.

[Jacque67 7,328]

Is your latest suspension over already? It was almost pleasant not having you around.

So I am not the only one who gets suspended? Phew.

[Danno 1,228]

Is your latest suspension over already? It was almost pleasant not having you around.

Yeah some people like when the opposition is silenced, pretty much a Left wing trait.

As to the special Rights granted to Homosexuals, it seems kinda unfair that personnel who seek out normal marriage don't get that extra ten day Honeymoon leave time.

Everyone else gets 30 days gays get 40....25% more leave time to slip off to "tie the knot."

[Jacque67 7,328]

I took it to be a Right Wing trait. Interesting.

[Danno 1,228]

I took it to be a Right Wing trait. Interesting.

It's hard to imagine more liberal institutions than HollyWood or the College campus, both adhere to strict "speech codes."

[decocker 7,198]

Yeah some people like when the opposition is silenced, pretty much a Left wing trait.

As to the special Rights granted to Homosexuals, it seems kinda unfair that personnel who seek out normal marriage don't get that extra ten day Honeymoon leave time.

Everyone else gets 30 days gays get 40....25% more leave time to slip off to "tie the knot."

seems unfair that many gay couples have to travel to another state in order to get married because some states are slow to get with the whole equality concept.

that's what the extra time was for, travel.

[Danno 1,228]

seems unfair that many gay couples have to travel to another state in order to get married because some states are slow to get with the whole equality concept.

that's what the extra time was for, travel.

A soldiers father has cancer in another state, does he get additional leave time to travel?

Getting married is a private affair, use your own leave time like every one does to handle their affairs.

In addition to 30 days 4 day weekends are common as well, What part of the country would you have to be that you could not fly somewhere marry and return in a 4 day weekend?

Again, not -equal-Rights,

Special- rights.

[decocker 7,198]

A soldiers father has cancer in another state, does he get additional leave time to travel?

Getting married is a private affair, use your own leave time like every one does to handle their affairs.

In addition to 30 days 4 day weekends are common as well, What part of the country would you have to be that you could not fly somewhere marry and return in a 4 day weekend?

Again, not -equal-Rights,

Special- rights.

until same sex couples can get married in any state they may reside, not equal.

and let's try to stay with your intial grievance, shall we? what's this "a soldier's father has cancer in another state" - has nothing to with this bit..

As to the special Rights granted to Homosexuals, it seems kinda unfair that personnel who seek out normal marriage don't get that extra ten day Honeymoon leave time.

Everyone else gets 30 days gays get 40....25% more leave time to slip off to "tie the knot."

[himher 634]

Is your latest suspension over already? It was almost pleasant not having you around.

Thanks. Couldn't possibly be as pleasant as those "teenage daughter" fantasies of yours though

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Thanks. Couldn't possibly be as pleasant as those "teenage daughter" fantasies of yours though:rofl:

The schoolgirl and the head master are the best.

Thanks. Couldn't possibly be as pleasant as those "teenage daughter" fantasies of yours though:rofl:

The schoolgirl and the head master are the best.

[Protocol417 161]

Again, not -equal-Rights,

Special- rights.

If they had "equal rights" there would be no need for "special rights" (and last time I checked, nobody was asking for those 10 days. I'd imagine they'd prefer to be treated the same as everyone else).

A honeymoon is not a necessity for seeking survivors' benefits and a host of other perks that come with a legal marriage. Giving a straight couple 10 days so they can drink martinis in the Bahamas is not the same thing as giving a gay couple 10 days to travel out of state so they can secure the same benefits our first couple could get by going to the local courthouse.

Make marriage rights equal and there'd be no problem.

Edited August 8, 2013 by Protocol417

[himher 634]

The schoolgirl and the head master are the best.

The schoolgirl and the head master are the best.

Each to their own sport