Fight For Equality In The Military

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Equality for All Maelani Roberto Comm 215
 03 Feburary 2012 Brian Townsley, MPW Equality for All September 23, 2011, is a day I will remember forever. Not, because I said goodbye to my active duty military affiliation, but because it was the day congress finally passed the bill to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. For the past year attending all the sensitivity courses and all hands on deck meetings finally paid off. Especially for my fellow brothers and sisters in the military who had to hide who they truly are in fear of not being able to serve their country because of their sexual orientation. Now that the unconstitutional DADT has been repealed, the fight for equality in the U.S. Military is not over. The Defense of Marriage act is…show more content…
For example an LGB serving in the military is married in a state where it is legal still will not receive full health care coverage with Tricare. But, a military member who is heterosexual can receive coverage for his wife and kids as long as they are a dependent. Another benefit LBGs do not receive is the ability to transfer their GI bill to their spouse. There is an unfair educational advantage that heterosexual couples get of homosexual couples in the military. For example my husband already received his degree while serving in active duty through the Tuition Assistance Program offered to all military members. If I needed him to transfer some of his GI bill to me to finish off my degree he could, but a military member of the LGB community cannot. Starting Aug. 1, 2009, service members enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill program will be able to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouses or children. ("United States Department Of Veterans Affairs",…show more content…
According to "Defense Of Marriage Act" (1996), “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.’’ (3). Another reason why we have an injustice is different religious beliefs. For example a military member who is Catholic is taught through the bible that homosexuality is wrong so marriage is between a man and a woman. Leviticus 20:13 (American standard verison) "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads”. Most LGB military are not religious because of the teaching of the

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