Tag Archives: Pentagon

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R-Duh) is defying the Pentagon and has ordered local National Guard facilities to deny benefits to married same-sex couples. Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz said the governor was following the wish of Oklahoma voters, who approved a constitutional amendment in 2004 that prohibits giving benefits of marriage to gay couples. “Because of that prohibition, Gov. Fallin’s general …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 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 Department of Defense welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision today on the Defense of Marriage Act. The Department will immediately begin the process of implementing the Supreme Court’s decision in consultation with the Department of Justice and other executive branch agencies. The Department of Defense intends to make the same benefits available to all military spouses – regardless of sexual …

“President Obama is continuing his war on free speech. With the IRS trying to intimidate and silence conservative groups, and the Justice Department digging into the phone records of reporters, it’s no surprise that the president also wants to deny First Amendment rights to our Armed Forces. With its statement, the White House is now endorsing military reprimands of members …

(Via JMG reader Eloise)

Source.  (Tipped by JMG reader Elise)

In what may signal a change in policy, the Pentagon has recognized the gender change of a Navy veteran. Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed: In a short letter dated May 2, a Navy official told Autumn Sandeen, a veteran and transgender activist: “Per your request the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) has been updated to show your gender as …

“To any member of the armed services who is harassed, demeaned, reprimanded or charged by this Obama Pentagon with obeying Jesus – with endeavoring to ‘recruit or convert’ others to His exclusive saving grace – we at Liberty Counsel are delighted to say, ‘We’ve Got your back!’ Pro bono. Free of charge. How are we able to do this? Through …

President Obama has not ordered the military to change any of its rules regarding proselytizing, but thanks to bullshit claims spread by Fox News, Liberty Counsel, FRC, and many others, all of Teabagistan thinks there’s a new plan to court martial Christian soldiers.  In fact, the current regulation against aggressive proselytizing was instituted during Bush II’s second term. To their …

From a Family Research Council petition to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel: Reports indicate that senior Pentagon officials have recently consulted with radical secularists to formulate a policy that would put military chaplains and other leaders who “promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion” in danger of court-martial. Our brave troops …

The support group for military LGBT families has denounced San Francisco Pride for naming imprisoned WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning as one of this year’s grand marshals. Via press release: “Manning’s blatant disregard for the safety of our service members and the security of our nation should not be praised,” said Stephen Peters, president of AMPA. “The LGBT military community is …

Imprisoned WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning has been named one of this year’s grand marshals for San Francisco Pride. Pride’s electoral college, which is made up of former grand marshals, has selected Army Private First Class Bradley Manning as its choice for grand marshal. Manning has admitted to leaking 700,000 classified U.S. government documents to WikiLeaks and is facing court-martial. He …

A newly-published study by the Palm Center reveals no negative impact on “military readiness, unit cohesion, recruitment, retention or morale” from the repeal of DADT. The authors of the study, who included professors at U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Marine Corps War College, arrived at this conclusion after soliciting the views of 553 …

“The uniform of our country was allowed to honor a display featuring men dressed as women, people in virtually no clothing at all and in your face advocacy of every aspect of homosexuality. How low will this present administration stoop before Americans say ‘we’ve had enough’? Here’s how the decision went down: there were concerns that some military members would …

Watch the Pentagon’s Pride event live here. (Via Towleroad)