The repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” was great but it’s not enough

September 20, 2011 was a huge victory for the entire LGBT community despite the many statements suggesting otherwise by radicals like Michelle Bachman and Rick Santorum. That said, the target now is the Defense of Marriage Act, which, according to Freedom to Marry and many others sources, has serious consequences for gay and lesbian soldiers. Respect for Marriage states that DOMA “unfairly denies married same-sex couples the 1,138+ federal protections and responsibilities provided by marriage.”

Same-sex married couples are denied Social Security survivor benefits, family and medical leave and a host of other benefits that married couples have. In short, gay and lesbian soldiers, even those who are legally married, are still treated like second-class citizens compared to married couples who are of the opposite sex. The difference between gay and straight soldiers has nothing to do with what makes us human and everything to do with discriminatory law.

Here is a short video from Freedom to Marry and OutServe-SLDN:

