I can't help thinking this is indicative to a lot of homophobia. We see that clearly a critical mass of the troops support and respect Broadway's place in the military community. But she has been denied a place of belonging and acceptance in the community by a few small-minded people who sit on the board of the spouse club and wield their power in a petty fashion. After rejecting her, the board would would not even grant Broadway an audience to let her plead her case that she would be an asset to the group.

Advocacy group OutServe/SLDN reached out to Fort Bragg's military leadership on Broadway's behalf. The base leadership has refused to take action and the matter was left unresolved.

At the beginning of January, the Marine Corps circulated a memo that spousal clubs on their bases must admit same-sex partners or face eviction. Citing fears that a similar incident might happen in their ranks, the memo said:

[T]he Fort Bragg events had "caused quite a stir" and cautioned, "We do not want a story like this developing in our backyard."

Congratulations to Broadway. She tells NBC, "I never thought in a million years I would be the one to advance the cause. If that’s what it’s going to take to get attention for all the military same-sex spouses, then so be it. But I do take this (Bragg 'spouse of the year' award) very seriously. And we'll see where it goes from here."

Broadway now is eligible to be nominated for Army “spouse of the year.”

Update: to provide a sweet picture from Freedom to Marry:



Another family picture, provided by Broadway to Freedom to Marry.

“The president is absolutely focused on and aware of the need to further implement DADT [repeal], and to ensure that proper benefits are provided,” Carney said. “You know, for more details, I would point you to the Defense Department, but this is an issue the president is aware of and it has his attention.”

A golf clap for the spouse club.

Hours after same-sex Army wife Ashley Broadway was named Fort Bragg's 2013 “spouse of the year,” the on-base spouses club — that has for two months rebuffed Broadway's bid to join — fully reversed course and invited her "to become a full member," according to emails sent to NBC News and Broadway.

Questioned today about same-sex spousal benefits in the military by the Washington Blade's Chris Johnson, Press Secretary Jim Carney said, "this issue has the president’s attention."NBC provides this update:What do you say? I'm working hard to remain gracious to the spouse club, who has resisted months of lobbying, and now finding themselves in the white hot spotlight of the national media, finally see that they've been acting like indefensible morons for months on end.

It's better than never coming to that realization. I hope Ashley accepts and shows them how very wrong they were. I trust she'll demonstrate community spirit with grace and class.