How the Defense of Marriage Act Is Harming One Military Couple

By Lauren Santa Cruz and Katie Miller | February 21, 2013

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The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell created a pathway for gays and lesbians to serve openly in our armed forces, but the victory was, unfortunately, limited. Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, a law which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman for the purposes of the federal government, same-sex military spouses are not eligible for nearly 100 spousal benefits freely available to other military spouses. This inequality harms our military families and weakens our entire force.

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Lauren Santa Cruz is a Videographer for the Center for American Progress. Katie Miller is a Special Assistant for the LGBT Research and Communications Project at the Center.

The opinions expressed in this video do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Marine Corps or the Department of Defense.

See also:

• Collateral Damage: How the Defense of Marriage Act Harms the Troops and Undermines the U.S. Military by Katie Miller

Music credits

“Tumblin Down” by CDK (ft. Kirkoid)
“Seven Hundred Beats” by Duncan Beattie
“Adopt a Black Dog” by Gurdonark