WATCH: Military Major and Her Wife On How DOMA has Impacted Their Family

A Major and her wife plead for DOMA repeal in a new video from Freedom to Marry and SLDN. Major Shannon McLaughlin and her wife Casey McLaughlin explain how the defense of marriage act has negatively impacted their family. Moms to twins Grace and Grant, the McLaughlins tell the story of how they met over a decade ago, dated for a few months, lost touch and reconnected 10 years later via Facebook before falling in love, marrying and starting their family – a sweet story if ever there were one.

By Tracy E. Gilchrist @TracyEGilchrist

May 10 2013 7:13 PM EDT

A military Major and her wife plead for DOMA repeal in a new video from Freedom to Marry and SLDN.

In the video Major Shannon McLaughlin and her wife Casey McLaughlin explain how the Defense of Marriage Act has negatively impacted their family. Moms to twins Grace and Grant, the McLaughlins tell the story of how they met over a decade ago, dated for a few months, lost touch and reconnected 10 years later via Facebook before falling in love, marrying and starting their family – a sweet story if ever there were one.

But all has not been smooth sailing for the happy couple as Casey says she lost her healthcare insurance when she went on maternity leave. The couple wrongly assumed that Shannon’s military insurance would cover the family, but Casey was left uninsured because the couple’s marriage is not recognized federally.

“The military spouse is the person who holds together that military family and allows the military member to go out there and do whatever training and mission is necessary,” Shannon explains about how important it is to ensure that Casey is well cared for.

Watch Shannon and Casey tell their story below.