A Pentagon announcement yesterday that it will open military commissaries and child-care facilities this year to the same-sex partners of service members propels a wave of gay rights issues sweeping onto the national agenda.

Even as Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was announcing the changes in military benefits, the U.S. Senate was debating a renewal of the Violence Against Women Act, which for the first time would extend federal protection to homosexual partners suffering domestic abuse. A vote is expected today. Read the full article here »