Only one down side I can see from the DADT repeal:

[originalpckelly]

Gay spouses will not get any benefits under this new law.

"(d) BENEFITS.—Nothing in this section, or the amendments made
by this section, shall be construed to require
the furnishing of benefits in violation of section 7 of title
1, United States Code (relating to the definitions of ‘‘marriage’’
and ‘‘spouse’’ and referred to as the ‘‘Defense of Marriage Act’’)."

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111hr2965eah/pdf/BILLS-111hr2965eah.pdf

Here is section 7 of title 1:
"In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word “marriage” means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word “spouse” refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife."

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode01/usc_sec_01_00000007----000-.html

So, in other words, even if you're gay marriaged, your spouse won't be receiving any benefits.

[Poll_Blind]

1. It is as bare-bones as they could possibly get away with. Sadly. n/t

PB

[originalpckelly]

4. Yep. At LEAST you can be open about your relationships now if you're gay.

And you can't be dismissed. That's great.

[Poll_Blind]

16. Indeed- that is something really worth celebrating.

:toast:

PB

[LiberalLoner]

2. That sucks :( I guess that's another battle we have to fight. Surely we will win - it just seems

to take longer than I'd like. k&r

[dana_b]

3. another battle -

now let's get rid of DOMA and fight for gay marriage at the state and federal levels. That way all of the spouses in the military and everywhere will have equal rights.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Yep. That's where we need to go next.

[originalpckelly]

9. Sadly, I doubt that's going to happen in the next two years.

We'd have to have a resurgence of the Democrats in 2012. Maybe we could all start a movement to do that by then?

[truedelphi]

6. Really really sad.

And there we were, all of us feeling good for a moment!

(All the damn battles that we need to keep fighting.)

[TwilightGardener]

7. This is the biggest sticking point, IMO--they're going to have to come up

with a fair dependent benefits policy.

[LLStarks]

8. One step at a time. nt

[dmr]

10. That is so wrong, but this is a big hurdle toward positive change.

May our country gain more common sense & soon change all shameful discriminatory laws.

:applause: for today!

[toddaa]

11. You're raining on the parade of happy talk

Mentioning civil rights is such a downer.

[Codeine]

12. The camel's nose is in the tent. nt

[treestar]

13. Well we knew there would be one

Can't be happy about any progress about anything.

And didn't federal employees get those benefits?

[me b zola]

14. Yep, the work isn't done

I plan on calling all of my critters to thank them for their votes, then immediately begin applying pressure to ensure equality for our gay/lesbian service members.

[Motown_Johnny]

15. Precisely why marriage can't be left to the states

it must be dealt with on the federal level.

[kenny blankenship]

17. There is no substitute for a court finding that anti-gay discrimination is unConstitutional

The ban is not lifted yet, and DADT and any facsimile or even worse can be imposed by a new Congress and President. You get only what they want to give you, (spousal benefits? HAH!) and it's not your "right" - they can take it away at any time.

Getting "permission" and getting your RIGHTS are not the same thing.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. Take heart. One step at a time. We won this battle. Let's celebrate now, and keep

our eyes on the prize. :toast:

[MrScorpio]

19. This will change eventually...

And is a good reason to maintain the fight for full equality in this country.

Once that happens, that provision will be invalidated.