Hagel blasts states on same-sex benefits policy

[kpete]

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Thursday sharply criticized U.S. states that are defying the Pentagon by refusing to allow National Guard facilities to issue ID cards that enable same-sex spouses of military members to claim benefits.

“This is wrong,” Hagel said in remarks prepared for delivery in New York.

“Not only does this violate the states’ obligation 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,” he said.

Hagel said these states’ policies are unfair. He said he ordered the chief of the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Frank Grass, to “take immediate action to remedy this situation.”




http://www.armytimes.com/article/20131031/NEWS05/310310041/Hagel-blasts-states-same-sex-benefits-policy

[Bluenorthwest]

1. As Senator, Hagel voted against any and every LGBT rights issue he saw, Human Rights

Commission gave him the worst marks possible. Chuck is one of the men who constructed the inequality and injustice he now affects to oppose. He's all about Chuck.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. You were very anti-Hagel ealier this year

now he's making you look foolish.

Too funny.

[Tx4obama]

2. The nines states are...

Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/11/01/2872741/defense-secretary-orders-states-provide-sex-benefits-national-guard-servicemembers/