Gay American Troops Want Equal Benefits.

Article first published as Gay American Troops Demand Equal Benefits on Technorati.

Jason Shaw

Let us be equal! It's been just over a month since that folly, "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" was repealed, allowing openly gay service men and women to serve in the military. Now a new fight for equality started last week when a group of gay and married military personnel sued the U.S. government for the same benefits as straight military couples, they claim its a matter of justice and national security.

The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court claims the government’s Defense of Marriage Act violates their constitutional rights.  It also asks the military to recognize their marriages and provide spousal benefits such as medical coverage along with the right to be buried together in military cemeteries, benefits already enjoyed by straight service personnel

The Defense of Marriage Act means the Pentagon bound by law to ignore same-sex marriages, even though they are currently legal in six states and in Washington, D.C. itself.    “While the repeal of (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) was an important first step in the military’s march for equality, it is time to take the next step and provide equal benefits for equal work,” the lawsuit claims.

DADT comes to an end.

by MARTHA RADDATZ 

The young U.S. soldier who took the end of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy to share his experience of coming out to his father via YouTube said he now feels comfortable, reports ABC's Good Morning America.

"It feels great. It's nice not having to look over your shoulder or worry about who you are talking to, Phillips told ABC News the day after "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was officially repealed. "I never thought I'd be so comfortable with it. It's very supportive. Everybody's been so great."

OutServe Magazine tribute.

101 Faces of Courage

The following 101 photos represent the approximately 70,000 currently serving LGBT military personnel. We serve in every country, in every conflict, and in every career field. We serve because we are committed to our country. We serve to protect those we love. We serve because we are dedicated to this self-evident truth — that all men are created equal. This is who we are:

Open publication – Free publishing – More dadt

http://outservemag.com/2011/09/101-faces/

 

Gay Military Ban Ends.

After years of debate and months of final preparations, the military can no longer prevent gays from serving openly in its ranks.

Repeal of a 1993 law that allowed gays to serve only so long as they kept their sexual orientation private took effect Tuesday at 12:01 a.m

The Army was distributing a business-as-usual statement Tuesday saying simply, "The law is repealed," and reminding soldiers to treat each other fairly.

US Navy clears WWII record.

Nearly 70 years after expelling Melvin Dwork for being gay, the Navy is changing his discharge from "undesirable" to "honorable" — marking what is believed to be the first time the Pentagon has taken such a step on behalf of a World War II veteran since the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell."

The Navy notified the 89-year-old former corpsman last month that he will now be eligible for the benefits he had long been denied, including medical care and a military burial.

Dwork spent decades fighting to remove the blot on his record.

Choi trial opens with clash over White House protest rules

 

A lawyer representing gay former Army Lt. Dan Choi questioned five U.S. Park Police officers Monday over the validity of their decision to arrest Choi last November after he handcuffed himself to the White House fence to protest the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

Defense attorney Robert Feldman asked the questions while cross-examining the officers during the first day of Choi’s trial at U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Choi faces a possible sentence of six months in jail or a $5,000 fine if convicted on a misdemeanour charge of disobeying a lawful order to disengage from the fence.

Pentagon Ready To End DADT

 

The reports are all over the internet from news media in the US,  that The Pentagon is all  set to announce later today that the ban on gay people openly serving in US military is to end, officials say.

Administration asks court to reconsider 'don't ask, don't tell' order

Letting down every single gay and lesbian American yesterday,  President Barack Obama  asked a federal appeals court in California to reconsider its order last week temporarily blocking the U.S. military from enforcing its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays and lesbians serving in the military.

 

Court Tells US Government To Clarify DADT Position.

 

It comes just five days after an order to end to the ban on openly gay men and women in the US military, "Don't, Ask, Don't Tell"  another US court gives the government a few days to make it’s legal position clear.

The written order was issued Monday, in which the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it appeared "the United States is not prepared to defend the constitutionality" of the military's long-time restrictions against gay men and lesbians in uniform.

No Gay Marriages On US Bases

 

The changing face of equality in America shows no sign of faltering, politicians  voted to slow the new policy allowing gays to serve openly in the military, backing a measure to ban chaplains from performing same-sex marriages on military bases regardless of a state's law.

The amendment to the defense spending bill passed on a 236-184 vote yesterday. Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) said military bases shouldn't be used "to advance a narrow social agenda."     So military chaplain's cant do gay marriages, or rather the forces cant spend money on giving them training to do such thing.  Had they been asked? 

US Appeals Court Orders Halt On Gay Military Ban

 

In the US a federal appeals court in San Francisco has ordered the U.S. government  to immediately stop enforcing the longstanding ban on openly gay members of the military.

A Soldier’s Legacy

 

A deeply moving and thought provoking article,  published on CNN.

Rosemount, Minnesota -- Andrew Wilfahrt changed his gait in the weeks before going off to basic training. He walked more upright. He bulked up with weights. He spoke with a deep Robocop voice. He acted "manly." reports CNN.

Through the eyes of his parents, Jeff and Lori, it was all a bit strange.

This was the boy who told them he was gay at 16 after being confronted with exorbitant bills from Internet chat rooms. Who lobbied for gay rights in his high school and escaped the fists of football players when hockey players came to his rescue. Who had the courage to wear pink and green even after his car was spray-painted with "Go Home Fag!"

Gates Tells Marine There Is No Opt Out Over DADT Repeal

 

Defense Secretary Robert Gates in on a farewell tour of Afghanistan before he departs for his well deserved retirement and his position is taken over by current CIA head Leon Panetta. While on this tour, Gates rather bluntly told a group of Marines that they will not be able to opt out of their enlistment on the grounds that they disagree with the government’s decision to end the ban on lesbians and gays serving openly in the military. The answer came when a Marine sergeant asked about the repeal of the policy during a Q&A session at a base in Helmand Province.

Pentagon Confirms Discharge Of Gay Airman Under DADT

 

One step forward,  and two backward,  equality for gay and lesbian in the US military is still a way off.   Despite all the fanfare of the repealing of Don’t Ask, Don't Tell,  service-members are still being discharged under it. 

The Pentagon on Thursday confirmed the discharge of an airman for violating “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the 1993 law that bars gay and bisexual troops from serving openly,  in the forces.   This is the first  new firing since President Barack Obama in December signed legislation aimed at repealing the law.

US Passes Defence Bill With Antigay Amendments

 

Many see news that the House of Representatives approved its version of the 2012 National Defence Authorization Act with three controversial, antigay amendments, purely as an attempt to delay, halt or make disappear the implementation of "don't ask, don't tell."

US Gay Troops Convention

 

“Don’t ask, don’t tell” hasn’t been officially fully been repealed, however, a gay rights group is already planning a major post-repeal conference,  to take place with autumn.  The idea is not not only celebrate the end of the law, but also start planning a path ahead.

US House Panel OKs Defence Bill.

 

A delay to gays serving in the US military is confirmed,  as the US  House panel approved a defense bill early Thursday that would delay President Barack Obama's new policy allowing gays to serve openly in the military and limit the commander in chief's authority on slashing the nation's nuclear arsenal.

Gay marriages on military bases? No, says US Navy

 

The Navy did an abrupt about-face late Tuesday, suspending earlier guidance that could have allowed same-sex marriages on military bases once the Pentagon scraps its present Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, reports US network CNN.

Obama & Biden's Military Initiative Excludes Gays!

 

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's military initiative Joining Forces excludes gay families.  In a surprise homophobic and discriminatory move the duo are set to ignore gay people on a nationwide tour that looks at the unique challenges faced by military families when it kicks off today after a special event at the White House.

Openly gay soldiers to begin serving in summer.

 

 

The Pentagon announced that openly gay soldiers are on track to begin serving this summer.