{"id":26506,"date":"2013-11-15T01:35:36","date_gmt":"2013-11-15T04:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/?p=26506"},"modified":"2016-11-26T00:23:34","modified_gmt":"2016-11-26T03:23:34","slug":"secdef-blasts-states-not-granting-homosexuals-id-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/2013\/11\/15\/secdef-blasts-states-not-granting-homosexuals-id-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"SecDef “Blasts” States Not Granting Homosexuals ID Cards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel “blasted” nine states<\/a> whose National Guard bureaus have refused to process requests for homosexual benefits at their state facilities.\u00a0 In his Oct 31\u00a0speech to the Anti-Defamation League<\/a>, Hagel said<\/p>\n

several states today are refusing to issue these IDs to same-sex spouses at National Guard facilities.\u00a0 Not only does this violate the states\u2019 obligations under federal law, but their actions have created hardship and inequality by forcing couples to travel long distances to federal military bases to obtain the ID cards they\u2019re entitled to.<\/p>\n

This is wrong.\u00a0 It causes division among our ranks, and it furthers prejudice, which DoD has fought to extinguish, as has the ADL.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The situation is intriguing, because by calling these states “wrong,”<\/a> Secretary Hagel appears to be calling the citizens who voted state laws into place “wrong.”\u00a0\u00a0If a state has a constitutional amendment<\/a> that refuses to recognize a homosexual relationship — an amendment passed by the citizens of the state — it naturally follows that the offices of the state, including its National Guard, would adhere to those laws.<\/p>\n

Secretary Hagel continued:\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Today, I directed the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Frank Grass, to take immediate action to remedy this situation.\u00a0 At my direction, he will meet with the Adjutants General from the states where these ID cards are being declined and denied.\u00a0 The Adjutants General will be expected to comply with both lawful direction and DoD policy, in line with the practices of 45 other states and jurisdictions.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There\u00a0may be\u00a0a Federalism issue at play, as\u00a0Secretary Hagel says the states are not outright preventing\u00a0homosexuals from getting IDs, they’re only telling them to go to federal<\/em> facilities.\u00a0\u00a0The relationship among the non-federalized National Guard (a Title 32 organization) and the US Department of Defense (a Title 10 organization) can\u00a0sometimes be complicated;\u00a0it is unclear whether the DoD has the authority<\/a> to order a\u00a0state’s National Guard\u00a0to act in a way\u00a0that might violate its own constitution or laws.\u00a0\u00a0Secretary Hagel promises to “take further action” if the states do not “comply.”<\/a><\/p>\n

Secretary Hagel also ordered General Grass to “meet with the Adjutants General,” but those AGs may not be able to take action without authorization from their governors.\u00a0 In response, Oklahoma said<\/a> it\u00a0would begin processing such paperwork at National Guard facilities — but only federally-owned<\/em> facilities.\u00a0 Texas did the same<\/a>.\u00a0 Louisiana took a slightly different path and federalized “employees at National Guard sites<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

The homosexual advocacy group American Military Partner Association praised Secretary Hagel’s stance against the “rogue” states<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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