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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOklahoma Drops National Guard Benefits For All Couples To Avoid Serving Same-Sex Couples
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) announced earlier this month that state-owned National Guard facilities will no longer allow any married couples to apply for spousal benefits, regardless of whether they are same-sex or different-sex. The Supreme Courts decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act means that servicemembers with same-sex spouses are now eligible for federal benefits. Fallins unusual tactic is designed to avoid having to recognize those couples, which she asserts would violate Oklahomas constitutional amendment limiting marriage to one man and one woman:
FALLIN: Oklahoma law is clear. The state of Oklahoma does not recognize same-sex marriages, nor does it confer marriage benefits to same-sex couples. The decision reached today allows the National Guard to obey Oklahoma law without violating federal rules or policies. It protects the integrity of our state constitution and sends a message to the federal government that they cannot simply ignore our laws or the will of the people.
This decision directly contradicts an order from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordering states to provide same-sex couples with the federal benefits they deserve under the law. All married couples will now have to travel to one of the five federal facilities in Oklahoma to apply for benefits. Incidentally, the states facilities were built almost entirely with federal funds and 90 percent of the Oklahoma Military Department which includes the National Guard is funded by the federal government.
Fallins tactic mirrors other attempts to punish an entire group to avoid serving the gay community. When marriage equality came to the District of Columbia, Catholic Charities decided to stop offering partner benefits to all employees to avoid having to provide them to any employees same-sex spouse. In various states, Catholic Charities has also abandoned all adoption services to avoid having to provide them to same-sex couples.
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/11/19/2970531/oklahoma-national-guard/
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)I had not heard that about Catholic Charities, either.
Wow. Evil.
William769
(55,145 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)who CLOSED the schools for FIVE years instead of integrate(!)
Of course the county set up some "private" schools so the white kids could still get educated...
http://www.vahistorical.org/collections-and-resources/virginia-history-explorer/civil-rights-movement-virginia/closing-prince
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Thanks for making the vast universe of my ignorance just a tad smaller.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)And mercifully for the Commonwealth, he went on to serve as a doctor in VA for 36 years...
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Laelth
(32,017 posts)Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. These folks are nuts, but this should serve as a warning to us.
It's clear they're willing to destroy America in order to save it from ... heaven forbid! ... Democrats.
How do we work with that?
-Laelth
William769
(55,145 posts)CanonRay
(14,101 posts)You fight it, and hope they die out.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)slimeball.
Can the Guard members sue?
MattBaggins
(7,904 posts)Always hatred first
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)hatrack
(59,583 posts)And the seething hate
It just can't wait
To explode and splatter us again!
Oklahoma,
Where there's Inhofe, Coburn and now this!
Where I'll never shop
Or ever stop
Even if I have to take a piss.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Not. O. K!!!!!!
CanonRay
(14,101 posts)stop and take a dump in Oklahoma. It'll make you feel good.
NickB79
(19,233 posts)A waste of valuable fertilizer.
gollygee
(22,336 posts)to do something like that.
riversedge
(70,187 posts)Joey Liberal
(5,526 posts)She's an evil person. This will hurt many guard members, but she doesn't care..............
mythology
(9,527 posts)How utterly classless.
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)CFLDem
(2,083 posts)We are about building people up. I wonder which side Jesus would prefer?
Red state Morons
TeamPooka
(24,221 posts)MH1
(17,600 posts)Mary Failing and the scumbag politicos who prop her up are a complete waste of carbon.
Cha
(297,154 posts)I certainly hope so.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Historic NY
(37,449 posts)in a months they will be crying.
noamnety
(20,234 posts)Kudos to them for finding a strategy to make that happen.