Gay service members from Army soldiers to Air Force officers who want to marry their fellow service members will not be enjoying the benefits of heterosexual couples in the military.
1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act - which defines marriage for federal program purposes as a legal union between a man and woman - prohibits the Defense Department from extending those benefits to gay couples, even if they are married legally in certain states according to the Pentagon.
The military's policy denying benefits to same-sex couples could change if legal challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act prove successful. The Obama administration has said it will not defend DOMA in court.
