Remember those states in which the National Guard was refusing to issue military IDs to same-sex spouses because of their state anti-marriage laws? Well, DoD is coming right back at them. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, in a speech to the ADL:
The states involved now number nine (it's spread, like a virus -- last time I paid attention to this, it was four or five): Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Indiana, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and West Virginia. Note that all have Republican governors and/or Republican majorities in the state legislatures. (I'm surprised Kansas isn't in the group.)
My guess is that at least one state AG will file suit to block the orders, with no hope of success. Whatever their feelings about same-sex marriage, they're up against the Supremacy Clause, and their ultimate commander is in Washington, not the local state house.
This is what the Republican party has become, and we've seen it in voting rights, reproductive rights (any guesses on which state is going to be the first to try to outlaw condoms?), and now gay civil rights. They'll chip away with restrictive state laws, frivolous law suits, anything they think they can get away with, hoping, I guess, that the tide will turn and the entire country will see the light.
And they're going to lose. Get ready for a big dose of Schadenfreude.
Via AmericaBlog.
The balance between security and civil rights sends an important message to the world. At the Department of Defense, we work to preserve America’s individual liberties as well as defend our freedom.
When the Supreme Court issued its decision on the Defense of Marriage Act this summer, the Department of Defense immediately began working on providing the same benefits to all eligible spouses, regardless of sexual orientation. We did it because everyone who serves our country in uniform should receive the full benefits they earned, fairly and in accordance with the law. Everyone’s rights must be protected.
This means that all spouses of service members are entitled to DoD ID cards, and the benefits that come with them. But several states are refusing to issue these IDs to same-sex spouses at National Guard facilities. Not only does this violate the states’ obligations under federal law, their actions have created hardship and inequality by forcing couples to travel long distances to federal military bases to obtain the ID cards they’re entitled to.
This is wrong. It causes division among the ranks, and it furthers prejudice, which DoD has fought to extinguish.
Today, I directed the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General 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.
The states involved now number nine (it's spread, like a virus -- last time I paid attention to this, it was four or five): Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Indiana, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and West Virginia. Note that all have Republican governors and/or Republican majorities in the state legislatures. (I'm surprised Kansas isn't in the group.)
My guess is that at least one state AG will file suit to block the orders, with no hope of success. Whatever their feelings about same-sex marriage, they're up against the Supremacy Clause, and their ultimate commander is in Washington, not the local state house.
This is what the Republican party has become, and we've seen it in voting rights, reproductive rights (any guesses on which state is going to be the first to try to outlaw condoms?), and now gay civil rights. They'll chip away with restrictive state laws, frivolous law suits, anything they think they can get away with, hoping, I guess, that the tide will turn and the entire country will see the light.
And they're going to lose. Get ready for a big dose of Schadenfreude.
Via AmericaBlog.
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