On February 5, Clifford Rosky, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, was interviewed by FOX 13 News in response to an expected announcement from the Pentagon that certain benefits will be extended to the same-sex partners of service members.
As Rosky explains, a final benefits package has not yet been unveiled, because of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
“That says even if a same-sex couple is married legally in a states like Iowa or New York, that marriage won’t be recognized by our federal government,” Rosky said. “So the Defense of Marriage Act affects all same-sex couples who are married; they can’t file for joint tax returns, immigration status and if one of the members are service members then their spouse won’t be treated as a spouse by the federal government.”
Rosky predicted that the benefits will likely include access to military subsidized stores and some health and welfare programs.
To view the Fox 13 News story, including additional quotes from Rosky, click here.