Texas National Guard Agrees To Grant Benefits To Gay Military Spouses [View all]
Source: AP/via TPM
ASSOCIATED PRESS – NOVEMBER 27, 2013, 7:29 AM EST
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The Texas National Guard will immediately begin letting same-sex couples register for benefits after the Defense Department approved a new procedure for enrolling National Guard members and their dependents for benefits.
"We're going to go back to business as usual. It will be full service," Lt. Col. Joanne MacGregor, a Texas Guard spokeswoman, told the San Antonio Express-News, referring to the decision that came late Tuesday.
The Texas National Guard commander had ordered the Texas Military Forces, the umbrella command of all Texas National Guard units, not to process any applications from same-sex couples. Maj. Gen. John Nichols had said the Guard was a state agency bound by Texas law, which doesn't recognize same-sex marriage.
That had placed five National Guard facilities in Texas off-limits for same-sex couples seeking benefits until late Tuesday.
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