Tag Archives: National Guard

From the Louisville Courier-Journal: Despite Kentucky’s ban on gay marriages, Gov. Steve Beshear has decided to allow spouses of gay National Guard members to apply for federal marriage benefits. Kentucky Adjutant General Edward Tonini recommended the state follow Defense Department policy and a U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling, and Beshear affirmed it, said Kerri Richardson, the governor’s spokeswoman. “They’re service members …

The New York Times reports: While a majority of states ban same-sex marriages, most are not fighting the new policy. But Pentagon officials say that in addition to Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia have balked. Each has cited a conflict with state laws that do not recognize same-sex marriages. (A West Virginia official said, however, that the …

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryan says that he will defy Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who has ordered state National Guard units to grant benefits to the spouses of gay military members.  Bryant’s stand sets up a showdown with the Pentagon at a time Mississippi is trying to hang on to its military installations and is seeking to show it is a …

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that he was ordering all National Guard units to comply with Pentagon policy regarding spousal benefits for gay soldiers. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin may go to court to stop him. Alex Weintz, spokesman for Gov. Mary Fallin, said she “is working with Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to evaluate the legal options available …

As I’ve reported several times, National Guard units in several states have refused to grant spousal benefits to legally married gay couples, claiming that state laws supersede federal military policies. That’s going to stop. From a speech given last night by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel: Today, I directed the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Frank Grass, to …

“As we’ve already seen in places like Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi, not every state is willing to roll over and ignore its own marriage policy. The National Guard offices there have already started bucking the Pentagon and refusing to process requests from same-sex couples for benefits like ID cards and other privileges. Major General John Nichols, the commanding general of …

Via press release from John Perez, openly gay Speaker of the California Assembly: In a series of firsts, a delegation from the California National Guard, led by its Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, took part in L.A. Pride, joining Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), the first openly gay person elected Speaker, in yesterday’s Pride Parade. This …