Tag Archives: military

Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed: A federal judge in California on Thursday found that, as with the ban on federal recognition of same-sex couples’ marriages, federal veterans’ benefits laws that limit those benefits to opposite-sex spouses are unconstitutional. Finding no rational basis for the definitions in Title 38 of the U.S. Code that limit provision of veterans’ benefits to opposite-sex …

With an interview with Allyson Robinson.

“What you wear, what color you are, your religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity has no basis on whether you are a CRIMINAL or NOT.  For this person, whether male or female to use gender identity to act ‘BADLY’ is a slap in the face to me and everyone who does not fit the ‘Binary Gender Norm.’ It is …

First in a coming web series. While the policy was in effect, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT)—the law that banned LGB Americans from serving openly in the nation’s military—addressed sexual orientation not gender identity. The repeal of DADT had no effect on transgender service-members who still serve in silence. It has and continues to be legal to “ask” if a …

Via the Washington Post: A military judge on Wednesday morning sentenced Army Pfc. Bradley Manning to 35 years in prison for leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. Manning, 25, was convicted last month of multiple charges, including violations of the Espionage Act for copying and disseminating the documents while serving as an intelligence analyst …

The Family Research Council has launched a campaign demanding that the Pentagon reverse its plan to allow gay soldiers to take up to ten days leave to get married in another state.  FRC vice president Peter Sprigg this week characterized the policy as an unfair “homosexual honeymoons” plan that discriminates against straight couples. From the FRC Action Center: This special …

Hit the full-screen icon and enjoy!

We heard about this last week and now it’s official. The Pentagon plans to extend to legally married same-sex couples the same privileges and programs that are provided to legally married heterosexual couples, including benefits tied to health care and housing, the official said. In addition, the official said that service members who are stationed in one of the 37 …

USA Today has the caption: A Navy sailor returning from a six-month deployment emerged from his submarine, dropped to one knee and proposed to his boyfriend during the homecoming celebration in Connecticut for USS New Mexico. About 200 people were gathered at the dock of the Naval Submarine Base New London where Machinist’s Mate Jerrel Revels proposed to Dylan Kirchner. …

Raw Story reports: The audience at a town hall event held by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) on Thursday was none too responsive to a young atheist blogger’s questions for Burgess regarding atheist military chaplains. Video posted by Daniel Moran, who goes by the name The Barking Atheist online, shows that when he pushed Burgess on his vote for a ban …

The American Family Association is ever so pissed that the Pentagon is considering granting leave to gay soldiers who need to travel to another state in order to marry. No registration is required to take part in their poll.

According to a report issued yesterday by Associated Press, the Pentagon is considering granting up to ten days leave to gay soldiers who need to travel to other states in order to marry. According to a U.S. official, the memo is under legal review by the Justice Department, and the Pentagon will not be able to take any action until …

The wingnut-o-sphere is outraged about an Army Times report that gay US soldiers deployed to Afghanistan are using Craigslist to hook up with each other.  Military investigators are busting those caught. Agents with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Afghanistan are tracking service members who are hooking up in the war zone via Internet sites such as Craigslist and busting …

The Pentagon has rejected a demand from the wingnut group Morality In Media, who claims that on-base sales of Penthouse and Playboy violate federal decency standards. The group contends that the display and sale of adult magazines in military exchanges amounts to a violation of the Military Honor and Decency Act of 1996, which prohibits the sale or rental at …

The Palm Institute has received a $1.3M private grant to study transgender military service. Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed: Indra Lusero, the project director of the Palm Center’s Transgender Military Initiative, has commissioned 16 scholars to conduct 11 studies investigating “whether and how the U.S. armed forces could include transgender troops without undermining readiness”—in areas ranging from privacy and medical …

Not only did uniformed members of the military march proudly in San Diego’s pride parade yesterday, the event saw its first-ever same-sex wedding. After seven years together, Liz and Tricia Woodley had waited long enough. Under the eaves of a simple, open-air gazebo, amid thousands of rainbow-hued celebrants, the Temecula couple exchanged vows. It was the first legal same-sex marriage …

Via press release: Lt Gen Jackson has approved Air Force Reservists to wear their service dress uniform if they choose to participate in a special military contingent leading the 39th Annual San Diego Pride Parade this Saturday, June 13th. The following provisions shall be observed: 1. Members may only participate in personal, off-duty capacity; and, members adhere to proper appearance …

Via press release from San Diego Pride: As the city gears up for this weekend’s annual San Diego LGBT Pride festivities, Marines and sailors with I (First) Marine Expeditionary Force have received authorization to wear approved uniforms in the 39th annual Pride Parade on Saturday, July 13 at 11 am.  This follows authorization by the Department of Navy, Navy Region …