Sally Ride was the first American woman in outer space. Upon
hearing the news of her death last week, media outlets and
celebrities alike celebrated Ride as a hero. But under federal
law, Ride’s domestic partner of 27 years will not receive death
benefits or Social Security payments. Is that any way to treat a
hero? Even though the majority of Americans now support the
right of same-sex couples to marry and more states are embracing
marriage equality, 1,138 federal benefits, including Social
Security and family medical leave, are still denied to same-sex
couples even if they’re married because of the Defense of
Marriage Act enacted in 1996. And while 60% of Fortune 500
companies offer domestic-partnership benefits to employees — so
unmarried same- or opposite-sex partners qualify for health
insurance, paid family leave and more — the federal government
does not. According to NASA documents, Sally Ride’s domestic
partner Tam O’Shaughnessy could receive life-insurance payments
if Ride designated O’Shaughnessy a