WASHINGTON, DC - The American Military Partner Association ( AMPA ), the nation's largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of America's LGBT service members and veterans, today highlighted the challenges that continue to remain for LGBT service members, veterans, and their families on the three-year anniversary of the end of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" ( DADT ).
On today's anniversary, AMPA celebrates the huge amount of progress made for our military families over the last three years, while recognizing the important challenges that still remain. Although our LGB servicemembers can serve openly thanks to the successful repeal of DADT, and their spouses have been recognized by the Department of Defense ( DoD ), the entire AMPA community is still working to gain full equality for all LGBT servivemembers and their families.
"We've certainly come a long way, but still have a long way to go," said Ashley Broadway, Director of Family Readiness at AMPA. "For the sake of our families, two of the most important issues we need the Secretary of Defense to take action on are updating the Defense Department's official non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as remove the outdated medical regulations which prevent our transgender service members from openly serving."
Recently, AMPA submitted a list of the numerous challenges that continue to remain for LGBT military spouses and their families after repeal of DADT to the DoD Military Family Readiness Council. Included in this list were:
1. Transgender Service - Outdated medical regulations prevent transgender service members from openly serving. This impacts not just the service member, but the entire family. An estimated 15,000 transgender service members currently serve in silence.
2. Non-Discrimination Policy Despite the repeal of DADT, the Defense Department has yet to update its official non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation. LGB service members are left with very limited options in dealing with issues of discrimination and harassment. In stark contrast, sexual orientation is included in the DoD non-discrimination for civilian employees.
3. Overseas Command Sponsorship There continue to be delays in updating Status of Forces Agreements with host nations so that same-sex spouses are able to be "command sponsored" and accompany their service member and family to overseas duty stations. Most notably, delays with Germany, a nation with relationship recognition of same-sex couples, are greatly impacting LGB service members receiving orders there.
4. Military Chaplain and Counseling Support Same-sex couples continue to face discrimination when trying to access counseling and other family support programs through uniformed military chaplains due to discriminatory policies required by outside endorsing agencies.
5. State Discrimination - Numerous challenges impact our families who are stationed in many non-marriage equality states, including denial of in-state tuition for same-sex military spouses, tax implications for couples who cannot file jointly, and a host of other issues.
6. Denial of Veterans Benefits As service members transition from active duty, same-sex couples in non-marriage equality states are denied full and equal access to many earned veterans' benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs ( VA ). Legally married active duty service members living in non-marriage equality states are also denied access to the full backing of VA home loans. In August, AMPA filed alawsuit against the Secretary of the VA challenging the VA's regulations. The challenge is now pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit [AMPA v. McDonald, No. 14-7121 ( Fed. Cir. 2014 )].
For more information about the American Military Partner Association and LGBT military spouses and their families, please visit our home on the web atwww.MilitaryPartners.org .
The American Military Partner Association is the nation's largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of America's LGBT service members and veterans. Founded and led by same-sex military partners in 2009 as the Campaign for Military Partners, AMPA has grown to over 30,000 members and supporters and is committed to education, advocacy, and support for our "modern military families."