Igor Volsky posts some excerpts from a DoD memo accelerating the timetable for DADT repeal.
The memo also directly addresses personal privacy, noting that “the creating of separate bathroom facilities or living quarters based on sexual orientation is prohibited, and Commanders may not establish practices that physically segregate Service members according to sexual orientation.” Citing the restrictions of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the memo says that there will be no changes “at this time” to eligibility standards for military benefits. Medical policies, duty assignments, and release from service commitments will also be left unchanged.
The memo concludes that once the ban is lifted, “The Department will not authorize compensation of any type, including retroactive full separation pay, for those previously separated ” under DADT.
There are basically three kinds of benefits, according to the Pentagon's report on DADT repeal: Those exclusive to spouses by law because of DOMA, those that are "member-designated," and those not that aren't banned by law from being extended to same-sex partners. Two of those often associated with arguments about same-sex couples, life insurance and hospital visitation, are actually in the middle category, and the report identifies the third as benefits that can be easily phased into the second.
Still, there are a number of benefits in the first, such as the Basic Allowance for Housing rate, that would be affected by DOMA's prohibitions. This will provide opportunities for court challenges to DOMA by extremely sympathetic plaintiffs. As I've written before, the logic of blocking same-sex marriage rights will only grow weaker with gays and lesbians able to visibly serve and bear the most solemn responsibilities of citizenship.
