Keith Quinones uncovers gay foreign service officers who aren't receiving the same benefits as their straight counterparts.



Where does one draw the line when choosing between their partner and their service to the country? Mary Glantz and Michelle Schohn have been partners for nearly 9 years.

Mary works for the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer (FSO), building peace and promoting core American values in other countries. Michelle went to graduate school and studied for a career in archaeology. Mary and Michelle, along with countless other partners, have been subject to unequal treatment by the US State Department.

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"I think you're sort of asked to choose your job over your partner," Mary said.

In 2002, Mary got posted to Azerbaijan said goodbye to her partner. Michelle chose not to go with her for a number of reasons, mainly because the lack of equality between partners and spouses.

"The department didn't offer to us the same benefits that they've offered to heterosexual married couples" Michelle said.

Spouses of heterosexual FSOs receive certain benefits to protect their safety and security while they're living abroad. Access to medical facilities, emergency evacuation assistance, should a threatening situation arise, and holding of a diplomatic passport and visa are just some of the benefits their spouses receive.

However, those same benefits are not available to the partners of same sex couples. Michelle felt that safety would be in great danger if she decided to go without those benefits. Mary feels her service to our country has gone unnoticed.

"They are asking me to go to fight for freedom and other things but they don't treat me with the same respect as they do to my colleagues" she said.

To beat the policies of the State Department, Michelle put her career in Archaeology on hold and chose to become an FSO.

"It's not fair...I gave up a career that I loved in order for us to be together" Michelle said.

They both felt it would be easier for Michelle to join in hopes of being posted together as two officers.

Acknowledgment of these issues has gone all the way up to the upper levels of the State Department. Michael Guest, the former Ambassador to Romania, went as far as quitting his job as Foreign Service Officer, to take a stand against the State Department.

"My government will pay for my pet canary to be transported overseas but they won't pay for my spouse to be transported," Guest said.

He feared what would happen with his partner on another overseas posting and decided to choose his partner. Although Guest loved his job with the State Department, he handed over his resignation in December 2007.

"I left not just because personal issues, for my partner, but for principle," he said.

All Foreign Service Officers equally put their lives on the line while overseas, heterosexual or homosexual. Why shouldn't their partners and spouses be treated in the same manner?

Glantz, Schohn, Guest, and the many other federal employees, all hope that the State Department decides to revise their policies to a more balanced system. Until then, FSOs must continue to either dedicate their support to their partner or to their country.