I am gay. Furthermore, many of my friends and family identify as gay or bisexual. As such, I cannot possibly express my gratitude for the Supreme Court's Defense of Marriage Act ruling earlier this summer. That my loved ones can finally have their marriages recognized by the federal government means the world to me.
So, the Pentagon's decision to extend military benefits to same-sex spouses of military personnel is more welcome news. Is our nation any less indebted to its servicemen and women simply based upon their sexuality? Certainly not.
Luckily, the Defense Department has agreed and acted accordingly.
This decision is a natural extension of the DOMA decision, and necessary and important at that. In essence, the federal government carried through on its promise (something it has not been particularly good at recently) to the LGBT community.
These recent successes advance us toward the free and equal society we claim to be. Homophobia, which originally drove unfair and discriminatory policy toward the LGBT community, still exists, but reversal of those policies highlights a societal shift toward acceptance.
The Pentagon's announcement, although less dramatic than the preceding DOMA decision, is exactly the type of continuing progress we need.
Chris Hough Deane
West Sand Lake