Oklahoma Gov Denies Benefits To All National Guard Spouses To Avoid The Gay Ones

Governor Mary Fallin (R) of Oklahoma has decided that she would rather no one in the National Guard in her state get benefits than to grant benefits to same sex couples. To restrict benefits from all National Guard members is unprecedented, but she is not the first governor to say she will deny same sex couples in the National Guard benefits.

After key provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act were struck down by the Supreme Court, the?Department of Defense instructed military facilities to?begin enrolling same-sex spouses?of service members in military benefits programs starting September 3, 2013. The governors of four states- Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma- all instructed their state National Guard programs to defy the order under the premise that the National Guard is under state control. As such, if the state has a law outlawing gay marriage it is the governor’s belief that state law trumps the federal directive.

In September, Governor Fallin and the other three ordered their states not to enroll same sex spouses for benefits at state facilities. Governor Fallin’s spokesperson?Alex Weintz said at the time:

Because of that prohibition, Gov. Fallin’s general counsel has advised the National Guard not to process requests for benefits of same-sex couples. Gay couples that have been legally married in other states will be advised they can apply for those benefits on federal facilities, such as Tinker Air Force Base, rather than state run facilities.

At the beginning of the month Governor Phil Bryant made the news when?U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel called Mississippi out as one of nine states (Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia)?currently defying the Department of Defense directive. He stated:

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.

Governor Fallin was very explicit in her latest statement:

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 is not a new tactic.It is only new in that it is being used with our military service members as political pawns. Catholic Charities did basically the?same thing?when marriage equality came to Washington D.C-simply stopped offering benefits to all workers instead of recognizing same sex unions. ?The non profit has also?stopped adoptions?in several states to try and avoid placing children in same sex households.

It is disgraceful for a state governor to withhold benefits that are paid for by federal tax dollars from soldiers who volunteer to be called to duty in times of need. In fact, more than 10,000 National Guard and Reserve officers have been overseas since we went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The GOP better start finding some policy to run on because they are clearly getting desperate when it comes to the culture wars.

Edited/Published by: SB

 

 

Laurie Bertram Roberts is the president of Mississippi National Organization for Women, a feminist activist, full spectrum doula and writer in Jackson, MS. Her family suspected she was trouble when at age 8 she preferred reading weekly news magazines over girly magazines. Her early fascination with liberal ideals, women's rights, was not quite welcome in her conservative fundamentalist Christian home. She is incredibly passionate about reproductive justice and fighting all forms of oppression. When not speaking truth to power she is likely hanging out with her children watching sci fi or doing other nerd like things.