Three GOP States Block Same-Sex Spousal Benefits For National Guard

[Tx4obama]

Three GOP States Block Same-Sex Spousal Benefits For National Guard

The Obama administration determined this month that married same-sex couples are entitled to spousal military benefits, but three GOP-controlled states — Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi — have refused to grant them to members of their National Guards. Now advocates are urging the federal government to push back.

The leaders of OutServe-SLDN, an LGBT advocacy group composed of active and former military, sent a letter last week to Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, laying out the options for confronting those states. The authors argued that it was the U.S. Defense Department’s responsibility to make things right.

“You, as the responsible official for these activities, have authority to ensure systems are properly used to enroll all eligible applicants and ensure access to federal entitlements,” the letter, which was copied to Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff Martin Dempsey, said.

McClatchy News reported Tuesday on the three state National Guards’ refusal to implement the Defense Department’s order that married same-sex active-duty military personnel could receive spousal benefits. A Mississippi National Guard spokesman told the news outlet that the unit was “following state law,” which, like laws in 30-plus other states, bans same-sex marriage.

-snip-

Full article here: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/09/gop-states-block-same-sex-spousal-benefits-for-national-guard.php?ref=fpb

[blkmusclmachine]

1. The South shall rise again!

Assholes.

[JoePhilly]

2. Start moving military installations out of those states.

Just pick a couple and start.

They'll reverse course very quickly.

And if not, continue to move US military facilities out of those states until they do reverse course.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. And you know what pisses me off the most about this?

There are a contingent here on DU that blames Obama for everything when it comes to the lack of advancements made on LGBT issues. It is so infuriating. All they can do is bring Donnie McClurkin out of their mouths. They have nothing else. They hate the man so much that they have nothing. And here you have the Republicans blocking these benefits, but they'll say nothing about what the Republicans are doing; they'll blame Obama instead.

[William769]

4. What the fuck are you talking about?

Care to give some examples. Donnie is still a fucking asshole. President Obama has made great strides with the LGBT community.

It looks to me that your the one trying to force the wedge right now. I wonder why that is?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

6. He is a fucking asshole and Obama has done more for the LGBT community than anyone

So the next time anyone on DU denies that and brings up Rick Warren or McClurkin I expect you to shut them down because you will hear from those people. They do come out of the wood works. They deny that Obama has done much for LGBT. I argue with them all the time on the forum. Trust me. I know the fuck I'm talking about. Wait for it.

[Vanje]

8. "Them"

Nice.
I'll just be getting back to my wood works now. I live a place where they still call it the closet.
I wouldn't want to cut into the valuable time you could be spending arguing with "them".

My stomach is turning.

[Jamastiene]

9. What pisses me off the most about this is the fact that

Three GOP States Block Same-Sex Spousal Benefits For National Guard.

You mean to tell me that the chance of someone bringing up McClurkin pisses you off more than the fact that legal benefits are being denied to gay people by GOP controlled states?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. No. You don't get it. GOP fucking pissed me off. McClurkin pisses me the fuck off.

And those who bash Obama ALSO piss me the fuck off.

This president has done MORE for LGBT than ANY president in the history of this country and people still can't give him credit.

ALL these things piss me the fuck off!!

[NealK]

13. Oh we get it alright.

You didn't say: ALSO

What you said is: "And you know what pisses me off the most about this?"

[William769]

11. We keep knocking, but no one seems to be home.

[William769]

5. See this about Texas.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023676746

And for transparency sake President Obama was not harmed in the making of this post nor is he even mentioned in the article.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. I was holding my breath...glad OK wasn't involved.

This is the next (of many) battles that are coming down the pike.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. DAMN IT!

|Okla. governor tells Guard to deny same-sex benefits