Benefits for Same-Sex Military Spouses At Last

The Task Force welcomes the Department of Defense’s (DOD) long overdue extension of important military benefits to same-sex spouses of service members — and is urging the DOD to end discrimination based on gender identity in the armed forces. “Until this week, our government did not treat all military spouses equally. Today we can say with pride that same-sex military spouses and their families — who know all too well that freedom isn’t free — will be treated equally,” said Rev. Darlene Nipper, Task Force deputy executive director.

Same-sex spouses will now be able to access a whole range of military benefits including health care, housing allowances and survivor benefits. The announcement comes hot-on-the-heels of the Task Force and other LGBT groups meeting with and urging Obama Administration officials to quickly implement the Supreme Court’s Windsor ruling.

“Now the DOD must build on this progress and allow transgender people to serve openly in the military,” Nipper said.