Studds’ Husband Denied Pension

Total bullshit:

For the first time the surviving spouse of a member of Congress is being denied death benefits.

Dean Hara, who married former Massachusetts Rep. Gerry Studds shortly after same-sex marriage was legalized in Massachusetts in 2004, has been disqualified for benefits under the so-called federal Defense of Marriage Act

Studds, he first openly gay member of Congress died Saturday due to a blood clot in his lung. He was 69.

Beloved by his constituents, who stuck by him after he was censured when a relationship with a 17-year-old page was revealed ten years after it happened, Studds served the same district for twelve terms, until he retired. Hara, as his spouse, should be eligible to collect more than half of his pension for the rest of his life (Studds collected about $114,337 annually). But because they're gay, Hara’s getting nothing—even though Studds contributed to the pension fund for the entirety of his 12 terms and the state he served has legalized same-sex marriage.

"A gay spouse will not receive any sort of pension or annuity or anything like that," Chad Cowan, a spokesperson for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which administers the congressional pension program told the Lowell, Massachusetts Sun.

Meanwhile:

Bob Ney (R-Ohio) who pled guilty last week to conspiracy charges and faces up to 10 years in prison for taking bribes will receive about $29,000 a year from his pension for the rest of his life — even while he is in prison.

Quite the priorities we’ve got in America, huh?

And, btw, this is a perfect example of why the whole "states' rights" argument regarding gay marriage is utterly stupid.