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Freedom to serve, but no rights for gay couples in the military
on November 19, 2012 @ 2:58 pm (Updated: 4:15 pm - 11/19/12 )Early in the morning on Election Day, tens of thousands of military personnel received an email urging them to vote.
"You serve to help defend the right to vote for all of us, so please exercise it yourself," the email read. It was sent to members of an online resource called S1NET, a forum only accessible to those in the U.S. Army.
The email went on to outline their current policy regarding same-sex marriage.
"Although certain states may recognize same-sex unions, and some service members may take or have taken advantage of the state laws that allow these unions, at this time, SSM(s), SVO(s), and VO(s) may not make any changes to a sponsor record utilizing the documentation from one of these unions."
In short; gay marriage still means nothing in the military.
"It doesn't matter whether you live or die and happen to be gay in the military, you are still going to be sort of disenfranchised," said Retired Col. Grethe Cammermeyer. "Your family is disenfranchised. They can't get an ID card to go on a military base. They can't get healthcare."
Cammermeyer served 31 years in the military, "not without turmoil," she said.
She fought to keep her career after coming out as a lesbian, and then spent 24 years fighting for the ultimate repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) in 2011.
"To have young people come up to me and say, ‘Thank you colonel. Because of your efforts, I no longer have to choose between the military that I love and the partner that I love,' that is very humbling - to hear that it has made a difference."
Retired, she now lives with her longtime partner on Whidbey Island. The two plan to wed on Dec. 9; the first day same-sex couples can tie the knot under Washington state's marriage equality bill.
Still, the federal government's Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, will prevent their union from being recognized by the military.
"It is like there is nothing that is there for you, except you can now live and die in the service of the country and do that as a recognized gay person," she said. "My partner of 24 years, soon-to-be spouse, has no protection from the federal government from my retirements if I should die before her."
Cammermeyer is hopeful that the repeal of DADT has encouraged gay and lesbian service members to speak out about unfair treatment under the law.
"What they can be is vocal to their commanders about what their significant other can't do because of the restrictions that are there," she said. "That way there is pressure from within the military, as well as outside, to get Congress to act."
DOMA defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman; therefore benefits cannot be extended to spouses of the same sex.
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Cigarillo wrote...The Commentary Here . . . .November 19, 2012 8:15 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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cigarfan wrote...@Cigarillo burning your pillowNovember 20, 2012 12:03 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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ronzilla wrote...The military has nothing against happy/festive couples. Homosexual couples? That's a different story.November 20, 2012 2:46 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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cigarfan wrote...@ronzillaNovember 20, 2012 6:01 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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R L M 456 wrote...Maybe Fort Lewis can "donate"November 20, 2012 3:35 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Cameron wrote...The only reason Gay Couples do not have all of the same Benefits is...November 20, 2012 5:29 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Forrest wrote...The arguments between both sides about gay rights...November 20, 2012 7:20 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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calapete wrote...hold the phones...November 20, 2012 8:10 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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It's me! Ha ha! wrote...Agreed that all Americans should have equality and they will soon. Give it time. We have a nation of bigots who will soon give way to the new American voter, not white, not rich and not bigoted.November 20, 2012 9:37 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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cigarfan wrote...@Lord Ha ha!November 20, 2012 6:06 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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