If gays are allowed to serve openly in the military, will their partners be entitled to benefits?

[RamboLiberal]

WASHINGTON— If gay service members are allowed to serve openly, the military will face another tough question: Should gay partners be entitled to military benefits?

Momentum appears to be building for ending the ban on gays in the military. New rules ordered Thursday by Defense Secretary Robert Gates make it harder to discharge men and women under the policy known as "don't ask, don't tell." His decision is intended as a stopgap measure as Congress weighs whether to go along with President Barack Obama's request to repeal the law.

Since the draft ended in 1973, spousal benefits have increasingly been used as an incentive to recruit and retain an effective force. Today, more than half of all troops sport a wedding ring.

Benefits for married service members include college tuition for a spouse and the right of a spouse to be at a wounded service member's bedside. Spouses also have access to military health care and commissaries worldwide, and married service members receive better housing and even extra pay when they go to war.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/03/26/2010-03-26_if_gays_are_allowed_to_serve_openly_in_the_military_will_their_partners_be_entit.html#ixzz0jKDUEMoa

Hell yeah they should get all the benefits!

[kestrel91316]

1. They SHOULD be allowed to serve openly, and they SHOULD be allowed

to marry anywhere in the US. If married, they SHOULD get the same benefits that straight marrieds get.

I have no idea how the messed-up legalities are gonna play out at this point, however.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. Only if they are legally married.

Live in girl/boy friends do not get benefits.

[stray cat]

3. Boyfriends and girlfriends don't get benefits - legally joined partners should - just like everyone

[KILL THE WISE ONE]

4. ssssssshhhhhhh don't bing up legally married gay couples until after the repeal

ofcourse it would mean repeal of DOMA as well for that to happen