After Repeal Of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Pockets Of Difficulty For Equality

[xchrom]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/after-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell-equalitys-sticking-points



WASHINGTON — Although the military’s ban on out lesbian, gay and bisexual service ended without much fuss in 2011, the secondary issues of running a military that treats those service members and their partners equally has proven a more difficult task.

From states and countries that bar recognition of same-sex couples’ marriages to military chaplains whose beliefs, they say, prevent them from including same-sex couples in couples’ retreats, to treatment of LGB cadets at a military academy, the recent talk about “gays in the military” has focused more on the few problem areas that have arisen.

Particularly since June’s Supreme Court decision ending the ban on the federal government recognizing married same-sex couples, the Pentagon is finding pockets of difficulty in advancing its new policy — enunciated by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in an August memo — that “t is now the Department’s policy to treat all married military personnel equally.”

Several states — including Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas — remain unwilling to process military ID cards for same-sex spouses of National Guard members at state facilities, citing state constitutional bans on recognizing same-sex couples’ marriages. This comes even after Hagel said at the end of October that all states “will be expected” to treat all married service members equally.

[idwiyo]

1. Disgusting. Human Rights issues are State matter, not damn local government's.

Marriage Equality is Human Rights issue and shouldn't be even allowed to be challenged on individual state/province/WhatFukingEver level.

[LuvNewcastle]

2. We're going to have to fight that battle sooner rather than later.

It's unconstitutional for one state not to recognize a marriage performed in another state. The Constitution says that contracts in one state must be honored in all states. We'll probably have to go back to the Supreme Court and get them to tell those states that they can't ignore same-sex marriages any longer, but it's got to be done, the sooner the better.

The federal government recognizes same-sex marriages now. The states who are defying the Constitution don't have a leg to stand on. I hope Obama doesn't have to send troops down here again, but if that's what it takes then so be it.

[idwiyo]

3. Agree on all points.