Gay spouses of U.S. troops will receive benefits previously blocked to same-sex couples, according to a memorandum released Monday by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
The document, sent to each of the military services, outlines 22 benefits that will be extended to same-sex domestic partners by later this year.
Panetta said the benefits - including access to post shopping, Department of Defense ID cards, legal assistance and access to Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs - were selected after "a careful and deliberative" review.
The benefits are to be extended to spouses who file a "declaration of domestic partnership."
Panetta directs the services to provide the benefits by Aug. 31, but no later than Oct. 1.
In a statement released by the Pentagon, Panetta said it was a "matter of fundamental equity that we provide similar benefits to all of those men and women in uniform" who serve.
"Seventeen months ago, the United States military ended the policy of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' '' Panetta said. "We have implemented the repeal of that policy and made clear that discrimination based on sexual orientation has no place in the Department of Defense.
"The department already provides a group of benefits that are member-designated," he said. "Today, I am pleased to announce that after a thorough and deliberate review, the department will extend additional benefits to same-sex partners of service members."
Panetta said the Pentagon had legal limits that prevented the extension of all benefits.
He said some benefits could only be provided to spouses as defined by the Defense of Marriage Act, which is being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
"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," Panetta said. "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."
The implementation of the additional benefits will require policy revisions and training, said Panetta, who praised the Department of Defense for its implementation of the DADT repeal.
Advocacy groups for gay and lesbian troops and their families applauded the move by Panetta, the outgoing defense secretary who was honored by President Obama and others on Friday.
"Secretary Panetta's decision today answers the call President Obama issued in his inaugural address to complete our nation's journey toward equality, acknowledging the equal service and equal sacrifice of our gay and lesbian service members and their families," said Allyson Robinson, an Army veteran and executive director of OutServe-SLDN. "We thank him for getting us a few steps closer to full equality - steps that will substantively improve the quality of life of gay and lesbian military families."
OutServe-SLDN said in a news release that Panetta's announcement did not include a number of important items that could have been granted, including burial rights at national cemeteries and some overseas travel for spouses, but called the package "substantive."
Source: http://fayobserver.com/articles/2013/02/11/1236625
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