In a letter to U.S. Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) dated Sept. 4, Attorney General Eric Holder informed the Republican House Speaker that President Obama's administration will extend veterans benefits for married same-sex couples.
This comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s June 26 ruling that struck down a key portion of the Defense of Marriage Act, and the Internal Revenue Service's Aug. 29 decision to allow same-sex married couples to file federal taxes together and share Medicare benefits.
Based on the court ruling, the administration will no longer enforce policies that restrict veteran benefits to legally married opposite-sex couples.
Atlanta activist Danny Ingram, who was discharged from the military under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and serves as president of American Veterans for Equal Rights, is set to testify May 31 before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Washington, D.C.