Yesterday was Veterans Day in the U.S., today is the day of the federal holiday for honoring those who have served in our country’s military. This is the second year our country has celebrated this holiday during which gay and lesbians have been allowed to serve openly in the military, and be honored for their service just like their straight brethren. Despite predictions that this would have a disastrous impact on our armed forces, openly gay members of the army, navy, air force, and marines have been a non-event. Yup, another bogeyman who failed to materialize out of the dark but instead remained to thrive in the dark minds of bigots and homophobes.

Despite how you feel about the military engagements our country is involved in around the world, supporting the members of our military is universal. At least support for the rank and file. And at least the degree of support that requires nothing more than a bit of lip service. It’s nice that we have a holiday to honor our veterans, it’s a shame that we treat them in such a poor manner once their tours of duty have been completed. But that’s a bitch for another day.

Still basking in the warm afterglow of President Obama’s re-election (which really is the warm afterglow of the right-wing crazies defeat) I’m more inclined to look toward the future with positive thoughts. DADT is a horror of the past. DOMA will not survive the next four years. Before President Obama turns his home over to Hillary Clinton’s custodianship, our federal government will recognize the rights of same sex couples who have made a commitment to each other be that through marriage or civil partnership. And that too is a veterans’ issue.

In the past I have not been a big proponent of gay marriage. Partially because I’m not all that jazzed with the institution in the first place, and partially because there are other rights denied gay people that are much more fundamental. Like not being fired from your job for no better reason than that you are gay, or being denied housing because of who you choose to share your home with. My attitude changed earlier this year thanks to Mitt’s ill-conceived attempt at a sound bite while on the campaign trail.

I’m still not sure if it was due to an incompetent campaign staff, a stroke of genius on the part of the Democrats, or a cleverly disguised attempt at garnering the bigot vote, but Mitt ended up having a one on one with an elderly gentleman who happened to be a veteran. He also happened to be gay. The concern he addressed with Romney was the welfare of his partner, a man he had been in a loving relationship with for decades, once he was gone. The benefits he received as a veteran, which would transfer to his spouse in a straight relationship, would be denied his partner because the couple were of the same sex. Regardless of how the exchange ended up taking place, I thought it was the best face anyone has come up with for gay rights.

I’m not sure how any rational person could justify denying benefits given to those who have served our country in its military based solely on who that person chose to love. Unless you are a complete bigot. Or Mitt Romney. It is even a more questionable stance now that gays can serve openly in our military. I don’t see how you could legally accept someone into the armed forces knowing they are gay, have them serve their country, and then as a veteran treat them differently than you do straight veterans. To do so defines the word discrimination. This is the perfect type of case to use in the courts to strike down Bush’s Defense of Marriage Act. Even Romney seemed uncomfortable shitting on a veteran.

Maybe next year when we take the time out to honor our veterans, for the first time on our country’s history, we will be honoring all of them, not just the straight ones. I believe if it was the military’s call, we would be doing so already. They seem to have a much better grasp of what the word honor means than our politicians do.

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