Being LGBT in a straight world has it's consequences.

[William769]

Sham Marriage Marines in Confinement, Fined

Three Marines who pleaded guilty to stealing from the government by coordinating sham marriages were given bad conduct discharges Monday.

In July, Marine Cpl. Ashley Vice said she wanted to live off base with her civilian girlfriend, Jamie Murphy. Unmarried couples are prohibited from living together on base, and her low salary prevented Vice from affording off-base housing. However, because of "don't ask, don't tell," she could not marry Murphy, and then live off-base with her. In 2009, Vice worked out a deal to marry fellow Marine Cpl. Jeremiah Griffin so she could receive the $1,200 monthly stipend that is supposed to go toward off-base living expenses for straight married couples. A year and a half later, Murphy also married Marine Cpl. Joseph Garner.

In February, Vice was questioned about their actions. In June, she, Garner, and Griffin received their charges. No actions can be taken against Murphy because she is a civilian.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/10/18/Sham_Marriage_Marines_in_Confinement_Fined/

Yes what they did was against the law, thats why the laws need to be changed. DADT was just the beginning, there are still long hard battles to be fought for equality, hopefully stories like this will bring the issues to the forefront.

[Lex1775]

1. This isn't just an LGBT issue

Marriage fraud is pretty rampant in all the branches because the monetary benefits are so high. I had three guys in my unit busted for that within 6 months of each other. In Korea we had guys getting popped for sham marriages to Korean girls.

[William769]

2. A heterosexual can legally mary, a LGBT person cannot.

I would say fraud of what you speak of & fraud of what I posted about are two different things. I'm betting that the people in the article were allowed to marry who they loved, they would not be in the situation they are in now.

[closeupready]

3. Remember: not only can heterosexuals marry, THEY NEED NO REASON.

Frankly, many heterosexuals and homophobes have long maintained that the laws DO NOT PROHIBIT GAY PEOPLE FROM MARRYING OPPOSITE GENDER people.

Therefore, what is the "fraud"????

[closeupready]

4. Further to my point, I just now read comments to the article - look at the first one

Someone who claims to have known 20 such HETEROSEXUAL couples - none of whom, she claims, were investigated for 'sham' marriage. :puke:

[William769]

5. Good point. Thanks for pointing that out.

[MuseRider]

6. It is still a big old closet isn't it?

How long before people realize you can't box people in, give them no choices that they can use and stand outside that box and yell at them from every corner and every side?

Working to change this but damn, they sure make it hard. :hug: