Troops Sue Against Gay Marriage Ban

Now that “don’t ask, don’t tell” is gone, a group of gay service members is filing suit against the Defense of Marriage Act, claiming that the federal ban on gay marriage prevents them from accessing benefits provided by the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Massachusetts Army National Guard Maj. Shannon McLaughlin and her wife are the lead plaintiffs, along with five other troops and two Army and Navy veterans. They plan to file today in federal district court in Boston, the same court that ruled last year that the act is unconstitutional.