Comments on: Gay military group excluded from White House event

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:37:14 +0000

Nicholson is a Republican and a idiot!

By: Rick Mangus

Rick Mangus — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:02:04 +0000

CORRECTION: savior not savor

By: Rick Mangus

Rick Mangus — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 03:56:08 +0000

Hey guys and gals it’s like this, Obama is not your friend or as many of you think he’s a savor, he’s a typical dishonest politician, so get over it, drones!

By: Joel

Joel — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:19:35 +0000

What does any of that have to do with this article? Yes, DOMA is another challenge. But, Servicemembers United has made a point. There is no reason a representative for the gay military community could not have been present at this function. One has to wonder how intent Obama is to get rid of DADT. He has the political authority to do it ever since he signed the legislation in December, yet here we still are.

By: WildGreenYonder

WildGreenYonder — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:27:25 +0000

@wildblueyonder – Perhaps you should look into exactly what Servicemembers United is advocating for with respect to military family benefits, recognition, and inclusion and not make ignorant “wild blue” assumptions. They didn’t play the victim card. In fact, they bravely STOOD UP for gay service members and gay military families by challenging the White House to include them in an event that every other (straight) gay military group was a part of. Even SLDN cowered to the administration and said that gay military families didn’t deserve to be represented by a civilian representative at a White House military families event. That was shameful and goes to show that SLDN is out of touch with real gays service members and no longer has any relevance. Everybody knows about DOMA, wildblue… that’s why there are groups like Servicemembers United trying to find ways around for service members and their families until it is repealed.

By: Mikel McGrew

Mikel McGrew — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:38:35 +0000

Obama has shown time and again that he is homophobic. Methinks he doth protest too much!

By: Michael@LeonardMatlovich.com

Michael@LeonardMatlovich.com — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 02:11:07 +0000

While often critical of Servicemembers United’s sometimes too timid ways, they look like lions in contrast to the cowardly collaborationist mewing of SLDN. As for alleged military member, “wildblueyonder,” your attack on their entirely legitimate points and reductionism of post repeal reality prove it’s your head in the clouds…or somewhere lower. Yes, there are key benefits such as health care and Base Allowance for [private sector] Housing [BAH] that would be banned by DOMA because the definition of “dependent” to qualify pivots to it … though designating one’s partner as “live-in child care provider” might be a workaround for BAH.

The Pentagon Working Group Report makes clear it could justify access for gay couples to “military housing” but also unequivocally states that, emphasis mine: “Linking military family housing to the LEGAL CRITERIA for the ‘with-dependent’ Basic Allowance for Housing IS NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED, but it has been long-standing regulatory practice. For benefits such as these, the Department of Defense COULD legally direct the Services to revise their regulations to extend coverage to Service members’ same-sex partners.” Now get off your high horse and help fight for it.

By: wildblueyonder

wildblueyonder — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:08:37 +0000

I’m in the military and even though DADT is on the road to being officially repealed, Servicemembers United is being a bit disingenuous by playing the victim card. I’ve gone through multiple levels of training due to my position and one thing has been made clear: The Defense of Marriage Act will continue to pose problems for gays and lesbians in the military who are also married with children. The federal government does not recognize same sex marriage–which means gays and lesbian partners aren’t afforded the same rights and benefits as other dependents (unless both partners are in the military…and even then, benefits are gained only as members of the military).