Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyNovember 1st, 2013
Since the Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act last June, the Defense Department has been rushing to implement policies designed to treat legally wedded same-sex couples equally with married couples generally. But several states have refused to issue Defense Department ID cards to same-sex spouses of National Guard members. Those states include Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, in a speech to the Anti-Defamation League, has announced that he is putting a stop to such discriminatory practices:
“Today, I directed the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Frank Grass, to take immediate action to remedy this situation. At my direction, he will meet with the Adjutants General from the states where these ID cards are being denied. The Adjutants General will be expected to comply with both lawful direction and DoD policy, in line with the practices of 45 other states and jurisdictions.”
A senior defense official told the Washington Blade that the Pentagon has some critical leverage to deploy against recalcitrant states:
“These are federal ID cards paid for with federal funding to provide federally mandated benefits,” the official said. “I’m not going to speculate on our legal options.”
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Lindoro Almaviva
November 1st, 2013
This article has an innacuracy that needs to be corrected:
Bill Browning from Billerico is reporting that Lt. Col. Cathleen Van Bree, spokeswoman for the Indiana National Guard, provided a statement to the Indianapolis Star on Friday saying that Indiana began processing same-sex benefits Oct. 3.
Lt. Col. Van Bree argues that Associated Press made a mistake when they reported that the Pentagon cited Indiana among the nine states that are non-complaint with the Pentagon’s policy.
I think it is important to point this out.
enough already
November 2nd, 2013
I do not understand why these states were permitted this open rebellion for this long.
This country is not a conservative Christian theocracy. Christians must be enjoined from imposing their hatred upon the rest of us in America.
If they want to live in a hate-driven theocracy, they are welcome to go to Iran.
I have yet to find even one word in the Constitution of this republic which grants Christian hatred towards Teh Gayz precedence over our civil and human rights.
Jay
November 2nd, 2013
I hope that Secretary Gates and General Grass are prepared to kick some ass. The National Guard of Georgia said that they would not obey Gates’s order. Gates should ask President Obama to nationalize the Georgia National Guard and then fire the leaders who refuse to obey DOD policy.
Steve
November 2nd, 2013
TexASS and Oklahoma have already announced that they will still refuse. The latter even threatened legal action although they don’t have a case.
Odie
November 2nd, 2013
First of all, all any of these people have to do is go to an active duty military base to get what they need. Secondly once you take that into consideration you see that all this really is…is a childish effort to inconvenience people.
Also, Refusal to obey a lawful order (which this is) is a prosecutable offense all by itself under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Oklahoma and Texas laws do not overrule either Federal Law or the UCMJ.
Both the President and the SEC-DEF are part of the military chain of command. In the National Guard, the Governor of the state is also part of that but below the other two. Court Martial one or two of these mother fucking idiots who is refusing to obey the chain of command and you will see this crap stop real quick.
Regardless of what it is, we should not tolerate people not doing the job they enlisted (or were elected or hired) to do. I am sick and tired of so much tolerance for fools in America.
enough already
November 3rd, 2013
I think this is a teachable moment.
President Obama should quietly point out that there are several options available to him, but he wants to work with the governors instead of imposing anything.
Therefore, effective immediately, all federal monies which are even remotely tied to the National Guard in each of these seditious states has been withdrawn.
Close all the National Guard facilities. Point out that no emergency help will be rendered through the National Guard (nasty weather season is coming, too).
Announce the loss of federal transfer payments to these confederate states in clear terms: So and so state loses so and so many 100 million dollars in salaries and aid, beginning right now.
And, for once, let’s hope that my party keeps it’s spine firmly glued in place and stands up loudly and clearly against FAUX news and the hateful Christian preachers – it was money which brought the Confederacy to our knees the first time, it will be money which does so again.
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