In Brief

Staff Reports

U.S. Defence Department Identifies 14 Benefits For Legally Married Same-Sex Couples

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon today identified a total of 14 benefits where members may designate beneficiaries of their choosing, regardless of sexual orientation.

"We’ve now validated an additional six,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez. “While these are not ‘new,’ now that we’ve confirmed these additional benefits, we’re updating the Quick Reference Guide to ensure all are aware of their beneficiary options. The Defence Department is engaged in a careful and deliberate review of the possibility of revising the eligibility for additional benefits, if legally permitted," she added.

The 14 benefits identified for members to designate whomever they wish as beneficiaries are:

-- Service Members Group Life Insurance beneficiary;

-- Post Vietnam-era Veterans Assistance Program beneficiary;

-- All-volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program – Active Duty Death Benefit beneficiary;

-- Death Gratuity beneficiary;

-- Final Settlement of Accounts;

-- Wounded Warrior Designated Caregiver;

-- Thrift Savings Plan beneficiary;

-- Survivor Benefit for retirees;

-- Casualty Notification;

-- Escorts for Dependents of Deceased or Missing;

-- Designation of Persons Having Interest in Status of a Missing Member;

-- Veterans’ Group Life Insurance beneficiary;

-- Person Eligible to Receive Effects of Deceased Persons; and

-- Travel and Transportation Allowance: attendance at Yellow Ribbon Reintegration events.

Eligibility for a number of other benefits is restricted by federal law including the Defence of Marriage Act.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis reacted to the Pentagon's announcement Friday afternoon saying:

“Unfortunately, today’s announcement does nothing to move the ball forward on the issue of providing equal benefits, recognition, and family support for legally married gay and lesbian families. The benefits outlined today were, in fact, available even before the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ Again, SLDN calls upon Secretary Panetta to confer now all the benefits and recognition he is authorised to extend to gay and lesbian service members and their families under current law.”

SLDN filed a federal lawsuit in U. S. District Court in Boston Thursday on behalf of current and former service members seeking equal recognition, benefits and family support for equal sacrifice and service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

“We are not advocating any special treatment for the families of gay and lesbian service members or veterans, but we want to underscore that all military families should be treated the same when it comes to recognition, benefits and family support,” said Sarvis.

New Hampshire Grass-Roots Coalition Forms To Fight Repeal of State's Same-Sex Marriage Law

CONCORD, New Hampshire -- A grass-roots campaign to stop lawmakers from repealing New Hampshire's same-sex marriage law was launched Thursday by a bipartisan coalition of business, civic, and community leaders, and the state residents who support equality rights.

A spokesman for the new group-Standing Up for New Hampshire Families- told reporters that the GOP lawmakers need to have their focus solely on creating jobs, assisting businesses, and reinvigorating the economic climate in the state and not on repealing the law that has been in effect almost two years which legalises same-sex marriages.

Former New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick, who is now currently dean of the University of New Hampshire Law School, is a supporter of the new group. Justice Broderick issued a statement Thursday coinciding with the announcement saying "it would be tragic to turn back the clock to the dark days of discrimination, intolerance and false stereotypes."

Standing Up for New Hampshire Families plans to operate a phone bank to call lawmakers urging them to vote against the bill.

New Hampshire lawmakers on Tuesday moved another step closer to repealing the state’s 15-month-old same-sex marriage law.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 11-6 to recommend eliminating gay marriage rights for same-sex couples, and to instead establish civil unions for any unmarried adults competent to enter into a contract, including relatives. The committee also recommended killing a second bill that would have simply repealed the gay marriage law.

The bill would not enact the same civil unions law that was in effect before gays were allowed to marry. That law granted gays all the rights and responsibilities of marriage except in name. The proposed civil unions law would be open to any two adults and would let anyone refuse to recognise the unions. It also would allow anyone to discriminate against such couples in employment, housing and public accommodations based on religious or moral beliefs.

The full House will now vote on the bill in early January. If passed, it would than go before the State Senate, and a public hearing would be held on the proposed legislation.

Supporters said the two proposed repeal bills would not apply to gay marriages that have already occurred, but would stop new ones. More than 1,500 New Hampshire gay couples have married so far under the current law.

But opponents said the law has conflicting provisions that appear to bar the courts from recognizing same-sex relationships as valid, while declaring gay marriages in effect before the repeal took effect to remain valid.

Irena Goddard, chairwoman of the Hopkinton Republican committee, said she was born in the former communist Czechoslovakia. She called the repeal bill "misguided legislation" brought by people using scare tactics to push a social agenda instead of on ways to improve the economy.

Republican businessman Craig Stowell said the replacement measure is not a compromise and would enshrine in the law the views of a few.

Stowell, co-chairman of the group's business and civic leadership council, said he got involved because he wants his gay brother to have the right to marry the person he loves in New Hampshire when he is ready.

It is also a personal fight for Dan Innis, dean of The Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. Innis, 48, entered into a civil union with his partner, Doug Palardy, 37, two years ago and converted it into a marriage last year when New Hampshire's gay marriage law took effect.

"It's wonderful to be accepted," he said, adding that it would sadden him if lawmakers repealed the law and sent a message to people that only some are welcome in the state.

It also would create a separate class of gays whose marriages are recognized and those barred from being able to get married, he said.

The couple owns the Ale House Inn in Portsmouth and sees a mix of clients -- gay and heterosexual -- who stay there, he said. If New Hampshire repeals the gay marriage law, some might not feel welcome, he believes.

"People will be watching us," he said. ~ The Associated Press via The Boston Globe

New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont and the District of Columbia issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. New York is the latest state to legalize the unions