Pentagon’s Benefits For Military Same-Sex Partners Fall Short Of Equality

A day after the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) filed suit upon behalf of gay troops whose partners do not have access to spousal benefits, the Pentagon has released a memo identifying 14 benefits that gay servicemembers can access. Six of these benefits are “new” since the guidelines originally released upon the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, including allowing same-sex partners to attend Yellow Ribbon Reintegration events. The full list includes:

– Service Members Group Life Insurance beneficiary;

– Post Vietnam-era Veterans Assistance Program beneficiary;

– All-volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program – Active Duty Death Benefit beneficiary;

– Death Gratuity beneficiary;

– Final Settlement of Accounts;

– Wounded Warrior Designated Caregiver;

– Thrift Savings Plan beneficiary;

– Survivor Benefit for retirees;

– Casualty Notification;

– Escorts for Dependents of Deceased or Missing;

– Designation of Persons Having Interest in Status of a Missing Member;

– Veterans’ Group Life Insurance beneficiary;

– Person Eligible to Receive Effects of Deceased Persons; and

– Travel and Transportation Allowance: attendance at Yellow Ribbon Reintegration events.

Notably missing from the list are central issues in the Defense of Marriage Act lawsuit, including the extension of health benefits to spouses, allowing non-military spouses access to health services for their children, and the ability for same-sex families to live together on base. In fact, Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN’s executive director, points out that “the benefits outlined today were, in fact, available even before the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”