On Thursday Servicemembers Legal Defense Network sued the federal government on behalf of legally married, same-sex service members, veterans, and their spouses, seeking equal recognition, benefits and the same support as married heterosexual couples who serve in the military. This lawsuit challenges the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as well as U.S. Code Titles 10, 32 and 38.  The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Boston says the government’s Defense of Marriage Act violates their constitutional rights and asks the military to recognize their legal marriages.

“SLDN’s actions are in keeping with an overall strategy to gain true equality for LGBT service members,” said Danny Ingram, National President of American Veterans for Equal Rights, a veterans service organization working to secure equality for gay service members.  “Because benefits are such a crucial part of military service, including everything from health care to survivor benefits and PX privileges to family moving expenses, there is no way that anything resembling equality will be achieved without access to full benefits by gay and lesbian partners and their children”, Ingram said.  “All we’re asking for is the same benefits and security for our families as the military already gives to our heterosexual comrades.”

AVER is the national Veterans Service organization dedicated to serving the needs of LGBT veterans and service members, and advocating for our equal benefits.

Contact:
Danny Ingram
AVER President
president@aver.us

Denny Meyer
AVER Public Affairs
718-849-5665
publicaffairs@aver.us