OutServe-SLDN announces support for the Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act

(WASHINGTON - March 25, 2015) – Statement by Matt Thorn, Interim Executive Director of OutServe-SLDN on the reintroduction of the Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act in the U.S. House of Representatives this morning by Representative Dina Titus (1st District NV):

"OutServe-SLDN strongly supports U.S. Representative Dina Titus in her introduction of the Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act. We have seen great progress in recent years with DOMA being struck down by the Supreme Court and marriage equality sweeping the nation.  Unfortunately, the Veterans Affairs Department is still lagging behind in ensuring equal treatment and protections for same-sex couples.

Representative Titus's legislation will amend sections of Title 38 of the US Code to ensure that all military and veteran families have access to their earned VA benefits, regardless of their state of residence. This is a critical step that will help to make sure that every member of the U.S. military and their family has the same access to the benefits that they have earned in their service to our country.

This bill will extend important benefits to thousands of deserving military spouses.  We should not allow military families to be denied the respect, dignity and protections that they have earned because of the state they live in or because of their sexual orientation.  We fully support this important legislation and urge Congress to act quickly to advance this common sense legislation."

OutServe-SLDN (OS-SLDN) is a non-partisan, non-profit, legal services and policy organization dedicated to bringing about full LGBT equality to America's military and ending all forms of discrimination and harassment of military personnel on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.  With more than fifty chapters and 6,000 members around the world, OS-SLDN supports a professional network of LGBT military personnel and strives to create an environment of respect in the military with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity. OS-SLDN provides free and direct legal assistance to service members and veterans affected by the repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and the prior regulatory ban on open service, as well as those currently serving who may experience harassment or discrimination. For more information, visit www.OutServe-sldn.org.