Wanna Know What Just Made This 6'1" 275 lb He-Man Cry?

[DonRedwood]

Tears are running down my cheeks like two little creeks and for some reason I can't seem to quit.

The military of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA just gave two week leaves to their gay members who are stationed in states that won't allow them to marry their partners. Two weeks of leave to gather your family in a state that allows such things, marry, maybe even a quick little honeymoon before being sent back to battle, or desk duty, or whatever. That marriage also will now allow benefits to your spouse.

Yes. Our Military just did something amazing.

An act of kindness.

After so many hard fought battles for civil rights, after so many court cases just to be treated like other Americans, after just one nasty-hard-fought-campaign after another...much of it hateful and painful. And today an act of kindness. In just a few short years we have come so far.

To offer a few weeks off to start a new life. Can you imagine how many lives just changed and shifted in an instant?

I cannot imagine another President, another administration, will ever, EVER compare to President Obama and how he has treated the gay people in this country. Under his leadership the military has truly gone above and beyond in how they have handled gay integration. I thought electing a black American President would help this country heal. I thought that President would be a great civil rights leader with a place in history no matter what. But President Obama has earned his place as a great leader in Civil Rights... and today's announcements by the military should seal that matter without a doubt.

My tears are drying up a little, finally. But this is a pretty amazing day for gay Americans. Its one of those days where we got a little bit closer to the dream that "all men are created equal". I hope you can all enjoy the importance of it.

I think this calls for a smilie....

[Ilsa]

1. Our SecDef did this?

Our SecDef and CiC? Awesome!!!

[DonRedwood]

2. I'm not sure... I was just turning on the TV

just heard the announcement part. I'm assuming it was fromsomewhere in the Pentagon.

[Historic NY]

28. A few months back the masses here were decrying the POTUS

for naming him.....imagine that!!

[NCarolinawoman]

42. I've always kind of liked the guy, when it comes to military matters.

Unlike most Republicans, he was an actual combat soldier who was wounded. He does not love or glorify war. He actually seems to care about the soldiers, themselves.

[MADem]

81. And he was enlisted, as well. It's a distinction and a difference.

We've had officer SECDEFs before, but he's the first from the rank and file.

[donquijoterocket]

85. enlisted man infantry

Who did,yes, see actual combat up close and personal.No REMF paper shuffler here.Sometimes he seems like a character out of O'Brien's The Things They Carried.To my mind certainly a better qualification for SecDef than anything McNamara,or most since might have boasted.

[SkyDaddy7]

79. President Obama!!

Without him NONE OF THIS would be happening!

Thanks President Obama!!

[Wounded Bear]

3. Wow...I sure hope this is true...

It does give one hope in a dark world.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. Here's an article...

The Pentagon will announce today a plan to extend all military benefits to same sex couples, an unnamed source told NBC News.

The changes will grant military members leave explicitly to travel to states where gay marriage is legal, and also allow same-sex couples base housing privileges.

<snip>

NBC says the latest move could go into effect as early as Sept. 3.

Same sex couples were granted partial benefits, including survivor benefits and access to things like base grocery stores and other facilities, in early June even before the DOMA repeal, by order of then-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.


http://www.businessinsider.com/pentagon-gay-troops-equal-benefits-2013-8

[DonRedwood]

6. merci!

[NYC_SKP]

5. Here's a link to some of the background on this:

http://www.newser.com/article/da81k8no0/pentagon-plan-would-grant-benefits-to-same-sex-spouses-but-deny-them-to-unmarried-gay-couples.html

Pentagon plan would grant benefits to same-sex spouses but deny them to unmarried gay couples
Same-sex spouses may get military benefits
By LOLITA C. BALDOR | Associated Press | Aug 8, 2013 2:10 AM CDT in Politics

A draft Defense Department memo obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press says the department instead may provide up to 10 days of leave to military personnel in same-sex relationships so they can travel to states where they can marry legally.

The memo from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to top defense leaders, if implemented, would reverse an earlier plan that would have allowed the same-sex partners of military members to sign a declaration form in order to receive limited benefits, such as access to military stores and some health and welfare programs.

The recent Supreme Court decision extending federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples eliminates the need for such a plan, Hagel said in the draft.

"As the Supreme Court's ruling has made it possible for same-sex couples to marry and be afforded all benefits available to any military spouse and family, I have determined, consistent with the unanimous advice of the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that the spousal and family benefits far outweigh the benefits that could be extended under a declaration system," Hagel wrote.

snip

"Although we have bases and installations in all 50 states, not all state laws are equal when it comes to same-sex marriage," a defense official said. "That is why we are looking at providing extra leave for same-sex couples who want to get married to travel to a state where same-sex marriages are legal." The officials were not authorized to discuss the memo publicly, so spoke on condition of anonymity.

[DonRedwood]

7. This effects several of our friends...we are just thrilled!

[NYC_SKP]

8. It's excellent news, but also kind of funny in what it seems to do. Freepers will freak out!

If they wanted to, they could claim that Obama is FORCING gays to get MARRIED!!11!!

Essentially, if they want benefits they have to get married just like straight couples, which seems reasonable to me, though I like domestic partnerships for all if they want not to marry.

[DonRedwood]

9. It is very broad as well...

and now those married couples will be married AND recognized, at least by the US Gov. in all those red states.

And those red states accept military ID, etc. so now suddenly, the red states are having to deal with gay people with rights...

And how can they recognize Military ID of gay spouses but not of spouses in their own state?

Craziness shall ensue, i'm sure.

[SunSeeker]

10. K & R

[gopiscrap]

11. That is excellent

[Cracklin Charlie]

12. This President has not yet begun...

To build his legacy.

March On, President Obama!

Nice post, DonRedwood!

[DonRedwood]

14. Yeah, you are right Charlie...he's got nothing better to do

than to try to make things better.

It is kind of exciting to think of what all he might accomplish.

[stonecutter357]

15. K&R

[great white snark]

16. Out-friggin-standing DonRedwood!

Safe travels to all our LGBT brothers & sisters.

Now I'm off to cry some happy tears.

[TxDemChem]

37. I'm beyond words right now.

I wish all of our uniformed brothers and sisters a wonderful marriage.

[ProSense]

17. It's a beautiful thing!

Marriage equality is coming to the military

by Laura Clawson

How far we've come since the military was clinging to Don't Ask Don't Tell just a few short years ago, and the Defense of Marriage Act was making marriage unequal even for same-sex couples married legally in states that honored their relationships:

The Pentagon plans to 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 and housing, the official said.

In addition, the official said 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.

Kudos to the Pentagon for giving the leave needed to make marriage a possibility for people stationed in bastions of inequality—let's hope it's not needed for long, but for now it puts access to marriage in reach for more service members.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/14/1231158/-Marriage-equality-is-coming-to-the-military

Pentagon To Announce Equal Benefits For Married Gay Couples

The Pentagon is expected to announce Wednesday that married gay military service members and their spouses will be offered the same benefits as straight married couples as early as September, NBC News reported.

Also included in the announcement will reportedly be a "marraige leave" program for gay couples. Service members stationed in one of the 37 states where gay marriage is illegal will be allowed to take up to 10 days of leave to travel to one of the 13 states or Washington, D.C. where gay marriage is legal.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/pentagon-to-announce-equal-benefits-for-married-gay

[Spitfire of ATJ]

18. Here's the announcement memo, suitable for framing....

http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2013/docs/Extending-Benefits-to-Same-Sex-Spouses-of-Military-Members.pdf

[MadrasT]

30. Thanks for that link.

OK, now I'm crying too.

[DonRedwood]

57. lovely!

[Number23]

67. That is fantastically awesome. So happy to hear about this. First the DoS now the military

[Hekate]

19. You just made my day. I'm grinning from ear to ear.

Jumping up and down crowing: "Told you so!" Like this:

toldyaso! toldyaso! toldyaso! toldyaso! toldyaso!

[rurallib]

20. I can't help to be amazed at how quickly and how far things have swung

talk about a dam bursting.

[Half-Century Man]

21. I grew up as a Military dependant.

And served my term after graduating High School. So, I spent the first 23 years of my life in the military. I see the service as my hometown.

No slums, universal health care, Fully desegregated, clean, orderly, consumer goods at fair value prices not greed driven mark ups, schools are held as equal in value, and now the full integration of same sex families (with provisions to start said families).
My hometown fucking ROCKS.

[William769]

22. Kick & recommended.

[Sissyk]

23. This calls for a big Kick and Rec

and a smilie!!

[arely staircase]

24. that is the change I voted for!

?w=580

[Agschmid]

25. Kick + Rec.

[JohnnyLib2]

26. Thinking back to Army days in the 70s-----

This is astounding!

K & R with delight

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

27. Some people at DU won't forgive the president for his past mistakes.

Any time he does right by the LGBT community--no matter what it is--these same people move the goal posts, or they'll bring up the fact that he had Donnie McClurkin on stage with him. Or, that he invited Rick Warren to the Inauguration. (They conveniently ignore the fact that he also had Melissa Etheridge and her partner, along with other gay rights activists on that very same stage. None of that matters for them, though.)

It doesn't matter what this president does. It probably wouldn't even matter if he himself came out as gay. They'd find something else to go after him on.

Change takes time. It doesn't come overnight. My parents, their parents, their parents before them and generations of black Americans can tell us all: Civil Rights did not happen overnight. Those rights took time. They required hard fought battles, even lives lost.

We have so much more work to do until there is full, basic human rights guaranteed for ALL people and especially the LGBT community.

The fight continues, and I fully believe that we will be victorious. But we must be willing to accept that this is the process and oftentimes the process is slower than we want it to be.

Congratulations! This is agreat day for the LGBT community and for all of us!!

[cadaverdog]

39. So does this mean you are going to give him a pass

On the Trans Pacific Trade Partnership? There's lots more on Obamas plate that may bring tears to your eyes.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

45. Straw man. This thread is about the LGBT community. I'll listen if you have a substantive response

about the OP's topic at hand.

[Bluenorthwest]

72. I think this thread is about good news for gay people in the military. It is about the news

while your post was about flaws you see in the gay community. You provided a narrative no one on this thread was suggesting, and you claimed it was not your narrative but that of some horrible gay folks. Your post, very off topic.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

88. Bluenorthwest, we both have been down this road before, and you should be ashamed of yourself.

You know darn well that there was absolutely NO disparaging remarks in my post directed at the LGBT community. You also know that I'm a staunch supporter of the LGBT community.

Really, if you want to debate the merits of what I wrote, do that. But don't make shit up.

Shame on you!

[HardTimes99]

74. This thread is about human rights writ large. Any move like this that advances the cause of human

rights should be unequivocally and enthusiastically supported.

This is the Obama I voted for, channeling a bit of the old Harry S. Truman (racially integrated the services by EO).

Bravo!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

89. Absolutely!! We still have more work yet to do, but I'm happy that progress has been made.

Thanks for your thoughtful sentiment.

[JoePhilly]

70. I think President Obama is always thinking long term.

I remember the endless threada around here about how President Obama was never ever going to allow DADT to end. Not just that he was against it. But that he was never going to let it end. They demanded an executive order.

Then when the legislation passed, they said that it would never be implemented. When he had the military set up a review to figure out how to start managing the logistics they claims that he was secretly using that review to stop the actual implementation.

Then, he as going to slow walk it. Delay it from happening. Then in just a couple months, it was done. Gone.

He ended it in a way such that its never coming back.

He's doing the same with DOMA.

And here in this article, his administration isn't just allowing something good to happen, they are actively fostering it.

I hope he gets the credit he deserves. The approach he's taking will end DADT, DOMA, and ultimately lead to all states having to recognize same sex marriages, and this specific event is part of that long term thinking.

States like NC who have good size military bases and laws preventing gay marriage, will find themselves squeezed by this.

[Glorfindel]

29. Thank you for posting this. I never imagined I'd live to see such a thing.

Absolutely awesome!!!

[DonRedwood]

58. Me too. I did not expect to see this EVER. Two weeks off to go marry a gay husband...

Woah.

[DevonRex]

31. Oh, wow. OMG.

[awoke_in_2003]

32. this is good to hear. nt

[nolabear]

33. Love wins!!

I swear, I'm gonna get a tattoo. I'm SO happy the grownups are doing some good.

[wryter2000]

34. OMG, that's amazing

Who expects this kind of kindness and generosity from the military.

[jmowreader]

43. It's happened before

Integration of the military went a long way toward killing the Jim Crow laws.

It will be entertaining to watch the effects of this policy change on states like Texas, Virginia and North Carolina, which have both gay marriage bans and huge military bases.

[DonRedwood]

59. Very true. THe military is also heavily investing in solar power...lol...wow...the military is prog

ressive!

[jmowreader]

65. More than you think

They are working hard to remedy their environmental sins of the past.

[calimary]

66. NICE! And imagine that. I would not have expected it!

Some VERY welcome news! Thanks for posting this, DonRedwood! At least we're embracing the 21st Century in at least part of the American mindset. Kinda neat that it's from the most presumably macho end of things - the military of all places! Whooda thunkit? Nice to see forward motion! This, too, happened on President Obama's watch. Consider the alternative - would we be seeing this kind of evolution if romney had won last November? Seriously?

[wryter2000]

76. Good point! n/t

[mountain grammy]

35. I'm crying along with you! Hagel has redeemed himself to me and many others

and that's good. He was a good choice, Republican that he be.

The military often leads the way. In 1958, we were stationed at the Marine base in Cherry Point, NC. Our neighbors were black. Base housing was integrated. Not so much anything else in NC.
Sometimes military bases are an oasis of reason in those dark red states. And yet, so many military people follow the Republican crap.. go figure. Think it might be the non stop fox noise from the teevee and the radio tuned in on armed forces networks?

[NJCher]

36. What an incredible surprise!

Bravo Chuck Hagel!


Cher

[Auntie Bush]

46. But Chuck Hagel couldn't have done it without Obama's permission.

[beac]

38. HUGE K&R for this!!

[cliffordu]

40. Yeah, but what about Donnie McClurkin or whatever his fucking name was.....

And that asshole from that 'church' out in the valley, who's paster gave some kind of halfwit incantation at the Inauguration?
What about them???

Obama is a homophobe and don't you forget it.

[DonRedwood]

60. OH

oh...the sarcasm thingy.... i was almost kind of offended and working on a response when I finally saw that dripping up above...

[cliffordu]

83. Sorry about that. Hope you didn't get any on your shoes......

[TheJames]

41. I'm sorry,

but I think that this is a sop, thrown to distract us. Do you notice that the "advances" are only on "social issues"?

[yewberry]

44. Don't make the good the enemy of the perfect.

This administration is far from perfect, but we should welcome the good when it happens.

This is *good*.

[Hekate]

52. You're off to a bit of a bad start here...

... but I'm sure you'll find friends. Meanwhile, go piss on somebody else's good news.

On this issue, what is happening is GREAT. The ripple effect from the military bases into outlying communities is going to be earthshaking.

[DonRedwood]

61. thanks for the back up :0)

[MadrasT]

75. Nothing wrong with advances on social issues

I will cheer every single one

And your scare quotes do not belong

This is a big fucking deal

I am bitterly disappoined in this administration most of the time but this is a huge win

[Enrique]

80. that's kind of my general attitude

i actually do think these advances are worth celebrating, but my celebration is grudging, in the same way that my appreciation of for example Joe Lieberman's good stances on social issues is. A president Joe Lieberman, or a moderate Republican president, could have taken such an action. I would give them grudging credit for it, but I wouldn't break down in tears over it, and neither would anyone else here.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

47. I am overjoyed to read this wonderful news, my dear DonRedwood!

So many lives, shifted in an instant...

Congrats to ALL!

[DonRedwood]

62. Very nice to share such good news!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

48. Stars & Stripes coverage...

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/dod-announces-full-benefits-to-married-same-sex-couples-1.235284

Check out the wonderful comments. (And a few clueless ones)

[ismnotwasm]

49. K&R

[akbacchus_BC]

50. K&R, hope those were tears of joy!

I celebrate with you also, best news ever.

[spanone]

51. k&r....

[RobertEarl]

53. Fantastic

Never give up. When it comes to equality and rights, we must never give up.

[TDale313]

54. Very good news.

Happy to k&r.

[freshwest]

55. Making me cry, you big old meanie! No, I celebrate with you, Don! Read of this earlier. Thanx Obama!

[JimDandy]

56. I love it when the Obama Administration does something good.

because many of his decisions have been disheartening to me these last five years. This one deserves huge accolades, though, so...

Y....E....A....H!

[DonRedwood]

63. What a thrill DU! I came home from work and this is number one.

I'm glad everyone is happy to hear the news!

[Hekate]

64. Happy hugs

[Bonobo]

68. Sexist.

Size and absence or presence of a penis does not affect the tear ducts.

[MsPithy]

69. Best wishes to all

the happy newlyweds!

[niyad]

71. k and r for some wonderful news--much joy and happiness to all.

[Bluenorthwest]

73. Very happy about this. Until there is actual, national equality people will have to

bug out to States with equality in some circumstances.

[rhett o rick]

77. Great news. nm

[meti57b]

78. My thanks to the military of the USA!!!!!!!

Extremely Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Diclotican]

82. DonRedwood

DonRedwood

Congrats - it is a small step, or a great step of it for anyone who want to be accepted as they are - regardless of their sexual orientation.. If you are fit to be sendt out for war - then you should be fit enough to marriage the one you love, and care for.

Diclotican

[JustAnotherGen]

84. What a lovely thing

To read.

[Rozlee]

86. Wonderful. As a vet, I'm happy I lived to see this day.

Although I wish it had happened sooner. But, baby steps just turned into a sprint. The finish line is in sight, but there's still a ways to go. How does the military feel about adoption rights for their gay troops? About transgendered GI's? The military has taken a great step forward considering the fact that many fundamentalists Christian officers have had a rigid hold on many military institutions and are probably seething about the progressive strides being made on behalf of our gay service members.

[ladyVet]

87. Oh, awesome!

This 5'2" fat crazy woman is crying, too. May my LGBT brothers and sisters be planning their trips to the chapel as we speak. I wish I could perform same-sex ceremonies here in Talibornagain North Carolina.

I've got to say, I have my problems with Obama, but I'll give him his props on this. It's something I feared I wouldn't see in my lifetime, and here it is. This will be a big step towards legalizing same-sex marriage throughout the land.

[DonRedwood]

90. Hey ladyVet, may the son of a lady Vet welcome you to DU!

Son of a Wave, to be exact.

Welcome to DU, we need more voices from the South joining us!