LGBT Service Members

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A Connecticut bill that would restore state benefits to gay and lesbian veterans discharged under the U.S. military's former "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is moving to the governor's desk. [ Read more → ]

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut lawmakers are seeking to restore state benefits to gay and lesbian veterans discharged under the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. On Wednesday, the Senate voted 34-0 in favor of legislation making veterans eligible for state benefits if they've been... [ Read more → ]

SANTA FE, N.M. -- New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is drawing criticism over her veto of legislation that would have required the state to expedite the occupational and professional licenses of domestic partners of gay military service members. [ Read more → ]

As the Supreme Court prepares to consider the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, gay marriage advocates are focusing attention on the way they say the law dishonors gay service members and their spouses, who are denied survivor payments, plots in veterans' cemeteries, base housing and a host of other benefits that have been available to opposite-sex military couples for generations. [ Read more → ]

Nearly 1,000 service members, veterans, and supporters gathered in Washington on Saturday night for the OutServe-SLDN 2013 National Dinner, and to hear the first State of LGBT Military Equality Address by Allyson Robinson, a U.S. Army Veteran and Executive Director of Outserve-SLDN. [ Read more → ]

The U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Chuck Hagel to be the nation's next defense secretary. The vote Tuesday was 58-41, with four Republicans joining Democrats in backing President Barack Obama's nominee. [ Read more → ]

The Pentagon’s recent decision to extend certain benefits to the same-sex partners of service members following the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell has provoked the ire of the American Family Association, which is upset that they may now be eligible for burial at Arlington National Cemetery. [ Read more → ]

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Monday announced he will extend to nearly the full extent permitted under current law the benefits available to gay and lesbian service members and their families. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials said Tuesday that outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is poised to extend some benefits to the same-sex partners of military members. [ Read more → ]

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel has pledged to “move forward expeditiously” on the issue of extending partner benefits to gay service members if confirmed for the role as defense secretary. [ Read more → ]

RALEIGH, N.C. — Sgt. Karen Alexander fought for her country in Iraq, but back home she often feels the U.S. Army is fighting against her. Married to another female soldier with a 4-year-old son, Alexander is denied the same housing allowance and other family-friendly benefits... [ Read more → ]

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- An Army officers' spouses club at Fort Bragg, N.C., under fire for denying membership to the lesbian wife of an Army officer, has offered the spouse a "guest membership" in the group while it reviews its bylaws. The Association of Bragg... [ Read more → ]

Defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel has committed to extending partners benefits “permissible under current law” to gay service members as part of attempts to allay concerns among Democratic senators about his potential performance as Pentagon chief. In a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Hagel... [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON – Former service members who are part of a class action lawsuit challenging a Defense Department policy that cuts in half the separation pay of those who have been honorably discharged for “homosexuality” will receive their full pay after a settlement announced today. [ Read more → ]