Tag Archives: Pentagon

Via Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade: Maj. Jon Craig, a National Guard Bureau spokesperson, said Georgia had agreed to process applications to grant same-sex spouses military IDs last week in a decision along the lines of Texas and Louisiana. “With Georgia, what it came down to was the authorization to put some state employees on temporary federal status,” Craig …

Via the Associated Press: National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Kazmierzak said Thursday that federal employees will handle benefit enrollment requests for same-sex couples at Guard sites around Louisiana, so service members don’t have to travel to federal military installations for processing. Kazmierzak said the U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer in Louisiana, who handles federal property and federal financing for …

GOP Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin today announced that ALL married couples, including straight ones, will be denied marriage benefits at the state’s National Guard bases. Last month Fallin threatened to sue the federal government rather than comply with the edict handed down by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. In announcing the decision, Fallin said “Oklahoma law is clear. The state of …

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 …

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 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 …

Sometimes it feels like we’ve moved to a different planet.

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 …