Today’s the first day that same-sex couples can apply for benefits from the military. But the head of the Texas National Guard says that because the Texas Constitution defines marriage as between one man and one woman only, his agency can’t process applications. He’s directed same-sex couples to go to federally run bases to file.
Pentagon officials said Texas appeared to be the only state that planned to turn gay and lesbian couples away on Tuesday, the first working day that gays in the military may apply for benefits. The Department of Defensehad announced it would recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where they are legal following the U.S. Supreme Court decision throwing out the Defense of Marriage Act. …
National guard officials in Florida, Michigan and Oklahoma — all states that ban gay marriage — said they will follow federal law.
The Texas National Guard won’t actually deny these families benefits, though. The agency is just forcing them to jump through an extra hoop.
