Don't Ask, Don't Tell

I am going to talk a little politics mixed with some sociology in this post, so you've been warned.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the military policy about gays serving has been repealed in the last few days.  Now, what I'm going to be writing about has nothing to do with what side I am on.  This isn't what my discussion is about.  My point about the repeal is how the military and US government is going to work in marriage into the whole repeal.

Now, I know many of you are thinking "the repeal has nothing to do with gay marriage." Ok, you're right. On the surface it does not. I guess what I'm talking about is the possibility of an even larger outcry for legalizing gay marriage within the country. 

Here's where I am coming from. When you are in the military, if you are married you receive BAH, which pays for your housing expenses.  Your spouse is allowed to take part in your health care through the military. You are allowed to live on base housing together.  Your spouse is recognized as your legal dependent.

Now that gays are allowed to openly serve (openly being the key word) I have a feeling that there is a good chance that in the next couple of years they will be clamoring for rights for their partners to be included in the rights that heterosexual military couples share. 

Why? Well, I think that many gay service members will begin to see the injustice of the system.  At least more so than they already do. They may have a long term partner, one they have been committed to for years (and probably longer than many privates have been to their spouses....), yet they are not capable of receiving the same benefits simply because they do not have a piece of paper that you pay $60 to file and $20 to register for down at the courthouse. 

I think that with the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" there will be a greater push for gay marriage to be legalized, so that these men and women, who sacrifice their lives for their country, are able to provide for the one they love.

Let's face it, the institute of marriage, as far as control by the government is concerned is a reactive policy.  People have been living together and separating for thousands of years.  It is only under government that it becomes part of the jurisdiction of the law. Really, marriage and commitment is a matter of the human heart and its emotions.  Government has sought to control it throughout the centuries.  I think it is only a matter of time before gay marriage is part of the law and I believe that the repeal of this act will be a stepping stone for gay rights activists. 

Feel free to react.