The Stars and Stripes highlights the issues with open homosexuals trying to obtain official status while serving with US forces in Korea:

Romel Ballesteros can drive on post, drop his sons off at school, sign in guests and use the bank. But he can’t put gas in the family car or shop for groceries.

The stay-at-home father of two won’t even be allowed to watch his sons visit Santa Claus at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan’s post exchange during the Christmas season.

The reason?

Ballesteros is married to a man…

The article seems to imply the US military is to blame: 

the U.S. military refuses to grant him the ration privileges that would let him enter and shop at commissaries and exchanges, citing a possible conflict with the Status of Forces Agreement…

According to interviews with same-sex spouses, USFK’s handling of the issue has been haphazard, with military officials not fully explaining why the SOFA may prevent ration cards from being issued or when the matter might be resolved…

In short, South Korean culture still considers homosexuality taboo, and homosexuality is still criminalized within the Korean military.  There are sensitivities, then, in the American military “advancing” beyond its host nation in sexual liberties.

US Forces Korea ultimately reversed their restrictions without substantial explanation.

DADT repeal was a “non-event” often claimed to be modeled on the way the rest of the world did things.

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