Pentagon Extends Benefits to Same-Sex Married Couples

Good news from the Pentagon:

The Pentagon will extend to legally married same-sex couples the same privileges and programs that are provided to legally married heterosexual couples, including benefits tied to health care, housing, and family separation allowance, compensation paid to military members when their dependents can't live with them at their permanent duty station.

...On Tuesday, a senior official told NBC News that service members who are stationed in one of the 37 states where same-sex marriage is illegal will be offered up to 10 days of leave so they can travel to one of the 13 states, plus the District of Columbia, that grant same-sex marriage licenses.

Wednesday's announcement made no specific mention of the 10 days of leave, but did say, "We recognize that same-sex military couples who are not stationed in a jurisdiction that permits same-sex marriage would have to travel to another jurisdiction to marry. That is why the department will implement policies to allow military personnel in such a relationship non-chargeable leave for the purpose of travelling to a jurisdiction where such a marriage may occur."

Woot! Good news for Darrell Revels and Dylan Kirchner, and the many other servicemembers in same-sex marriages or relationships. Unfortunately, questions do remain in other areas, such as spousal benefits for veterans in same-sex marriages. Feel free to discuss all aspects of these developments in comments.