Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 9, 2012)
®,F ^Jortlanb (Observer May 9, 2012 Page 5 Soldier Fights for Equality c o n t i n u e d f r o m fr o n t D O M A in court, after the O bam a A d m in is tra tio n d e te rm in e d th e policy w as unconstitutional. But even if D O M A is repealed. T itle 10 o f the U.S. C ode, w hich pertains to the A rm ed Forces, d e fines a spouse as a person o f the opposite sex and consequently p re vents spouses o f gay m ilitary m em bers and veterans from receiving the sam e m ilitary benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. It m eans that even if Sue and M ichelle w ere m arried in a state that recognizes sam e-sex m arriages, the o n e sp o u se p a sse s aw ay , th e o th e r N ational G uard held a retirem ent sp o u se re c e iv e s th e ir re tire m e n t cerem o n y fo r Leavy and the other pay fo r the re st o f h is o r h e r life. O regon soldiers w ho w ere co m p let B ut b e c a u se Sue and M ic h e lle ’s ing their honorable service. re la tio n sh ip is not c o n sid e re d fe d “ I got to introduce M ichelle as erally recognized, M ichelle w ill get m y w ife. I never thought I w ould see n o th in g , said L eav y . that day com e in m y m ilitary career,” F o r th e fu tu re, L eav y lo o k s fo r she said. w ard to the d ay h er m a rria g e and B ut w h en it cam e tim e to h o n o r p a rtn e rs h ip w ill b e co m e re c o g the sp o u se s o f re tire d m ilita ry , n iz e d by th e m ilita ry fo r e q u al M ic h e lle ’s nam e w as n e v er called. b e n e fits . “ M ic h e lle w as su p p o se d to g et S h e said th e re are o th e rs in the a sp o u sa l c e rtific a te o f re c o g n i A rm y an d in the c iv ilia n w o rld tio n ,” sh e said. “ It w as a p p ro v e d w h o h av e th e sam e b a rrie rs and by th e c h ie f o f s ta ff.” w an ts. “ I t ’s a sh am e. T h e re is a lot L e a v y said she w as h u rt w hen o f g re y .” B ut L e a v y re m a in s h o p e fu l. “T h e b ig o try is still g o in g to be th e re , bu t as m o re so ld ie rs sign up, th e ir v a lu es are g o in g to be d iffe re n t,” she said . “T h e y d o n ’t ju d g e . T h e re are so m e th a t do, but it is no t lik e the ‘old s c h o o l’.” B o th a g re e d th at it is h ig h ly u n lik ely gay m arriag e w ill be legal in th e m ilita ry a n y tim e soon. “ I ju s t d o n ’t u n d e rsta n d w hy w ho I lo v e sh o u ld a ffe ct the en tire n a tio n ,” said M artin . “ B ut sm a ll step s h a v e b een m ade,” Leavy said. “O ur partners can com e to w here you are deployed and give you a hug and a kiss. But w e still have a long w ay to g o .” Steve Sung Mayor He makes 6 promises in the voter's pamphlet, including cutting our sewer bills by 25%. Portland faces several mega-sized engineering projects, so more than ever we need a mayor with an engineering background. Steve Sung has that with 32-years of solid engineering experience. Vote for him so he can save tax money, our money. This ad furnished by the committee to elect Steve Sung fo r Mayor www.stevesung-for-mayor.com Ci'* i&ìgfc.' photo by M indy C ooper /T he P ortland O bserver Carol Marquez, M.D. Michelle Martin and her career-military spouse Sue Leavy are pictured departing a church after a wedding last year with family and friends. By law, the couple is in a domestic partnership recognized by the state o f Washington, but the union is not recognized by the military or federal government. federal governm ent w ould still deny m ilitary benefits to her spouse and child, like m edical care. O th er b en efits include retirem ent pay, h ou s ing assistance, fam ily separation benefits, and burial in national c em eteries. L ast m onth, the O regon A rm y so m eo n e in c o m m a n d said , ‘N o .’ T h e r e c o g n i t i o n w o u ld h a v e m ean t so m uch. “ B ein g th e re , an d at least b ein g re c o g n iz e d as h e r w ife, I w as o k ay w ith th a t, k n o w in g th e situ a tio n an d b e in g re a lis tic ,” M artin said. In a h e te ro se x u a l m a rria g e , if To Place Your Classified Advertisement Contact: Phone: 503-288-0033 Fax: 503-288-0015 e-mail: classifieds@portlandobserver.com Radiation Oncologist OHSU - Diverse in People and Ideas Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. Diversity maximizes our true potential for creativity, innovation, quality patient care, educational excellence and outstanding service Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. The knowledge of all for the care of one. Please explore our career opportunities at www.ohsujobs.com We are proud to be an equal opportunity, affirmative ac tion organisation. & HEALTH OREGON OHSU &SCIENCE UNIVERSITY «
