Tag: National Guard

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News Round-Up: April 24, 2019

David Hernandez

Some news item you might have missed:

• Out singer/songwriter and American Idol alum David Hernandez found my favorite place in Puerto Vallarta – Mantamar Beach Club. If you look behind him in the lower right hand corner, you can see the cabanas hot hubby Michael and I always spend our days in 🙂

• File this under ‘Birds of a feather…’ One of the co-founders of Students For Trump has been arrested for pretending to be a Manhattan lawyer and taking thousands from would-be clients.

• Five states – California, New Mexico, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington – have announced they will refuse to impose Donald Trump’s trans military ban and therefore not remove trans people from their National Guards.

• Donald Trump says his administration is “fighting all the subpoenas” claiming the Democrats are hoping to “luck out” by going after him. If you’re innocent, why hide anything?

• Former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was told not to bring up any concerns about  Russian forms of interference in the 2020 election in front of Donald Trump because he “equated any public discussion of malign Russian election activity with questions about the legitimacy of his victory.”

• Fox’s Empire will feature the first black gay wedding on network television; and it may be Jussie Smollett’s last episode.

• Today is True Colors Day – launched by Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors United organization in an effort to raise public awareness about LGBTQ youth homelessness, and to provide supporters with simple ways to make a difference.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than non-LGBTQ youth. While many factors contribute to LGBTQ youth homelessness, identity-based family rejection is the most commonly cited reason.

The cast of FX’s Pose sat down to make this video for True Colors Day about how we can change our culture to one of love and acceptance.

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Louisiana: National Guard won’t process same-sex spousal benefits

Like its neighbor, Texas, Louisiana will not be processing spousal benefits for married same-sex couples at National Guard facilities:

National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Kazmierzak said Maj. Gen. Glenn Curtis, the state’s adjutant general, issued the directive Wednesday.

Kazmierzak cited the state’s constitution.

“The state of Louisiana’s constitution does not recognize same sex marriage, nor does it allow a state official to take part in an act that recognizes same sex marriage,” he said.

Kazmierzak said the Louisiana National Guard isn’t denying same-sex benefits. He said guard personnel can seek to file benefit requests with eight federal military installations ar ound the state for processing.

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Texas National Guard refuses benefits to married same-sex couple

Tuesday marks the first day that the U.S. armed forces started offering partner benefits, including military IDs, to troops with same-sex spouses after a period of implementation this year. In the wake of the Supreme Court decision against the Defense of Marriage Act, gay troops are now eligible for major spousal benefits, including health and pension benefits as well as equal access to housing.

Alicia Butler, an Austin, Texas, attorney, said she was rejected when she tried to register with the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS, the military’s health benefits system, when she applied on Tuesday at Camp Mabry, where her spouse, Judith Chedville, a nurse and Iraq war veteran, is stationed as a member of the National Guard.

“We were told that Texas would not register us into the system and would not issue an ID card for me,” Butler said. “We were told that if she was active duty they would do that for me, but not for a National Guard member because she’s part of the Texas National Guard.”

The explanation the couple was given, Butler said, was that they were denied because she and her spouse are the same gender. Butler said she and her spouse were legally married in California.

The American Military Partner Association, an LGBT military group, says it was leaked guidance indicating that Texas Military Forces, or the Texas National Guard, wouldn’t honor the U.S. armed forces’ plan to begin offering partner benefits to gay troops because the Texas Constitution prohibits same-sex marriage.

“The TXMF is a state agency under the authority and direction of the Texas state government,” the guidance states. “Therefore, the TXMF must consider that the Texas Constitution and Texas Family Code 6.204 conflicts with the DoD policy extending benefits to same-sex spouses. Due to this potential conflict, we are unable to enroll same-sex families into DEERs at our state supported facilities until we receive legal clarification.”

Similar to what Butler and Chedville were told, the guidance says troops who are affected by this issue should seek a federal facility to apply for benefits.

“However, the TXMF remains committed to ensuring its military personnel and their families receive the benefits to which they are entitled,” the guidance states. “As such, we encourage anyone affected by this issue to enroll for benefits at a federal installation.”

More at the Washington Blade

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Shirtless Henry Cavill shows how his workouts got him to ‘Superman’ shape

Henry Cavill demonstrates how his work outs with Mark Twight of Gym Jones got him in “Super” shape for his starring role in Man Of Steel.

This promotional tie-in with the National Guard is to promote the new movie and the National Guard’s themes of work ethics and respect for power.

And you get to see more of Henry Cavill shirtless. There’s that…

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National Guard marches in LA Gay Pride parade

National Guard marches in Los Angeles Gay Pride parade
National Guard marches in Los Angeles Gay Pride parade

In a series of firsts, a delegation from the California National Guard, led by its Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, took part in L.A. Pride, joining Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), the first openly gay person elected Speaker, in yesterday’s Pride Parade. This marks the first time a U.S. National Guard force has directly outreached to the LGBT community at Pride.

The California National Guard also had its first-ever recruiting booth at the Pride Festival following the parade. Several of the Guardsmen marching alongside Speaker Pérez and Maj. Gen. Baldwin are gay and were marching openly for the first time as members of the Armed Forces.

“The overwhelmingly positive response to the California National Guard from Pride participants today was matched only by the respect and enthusiasm the Guard showed toward our community,” Speaker Pérez said. “Today makes it absolutely clear the Guard is committed to including and reflecting all the people they serve.”

“We are a performance-based force, and one’s sexual orientation shouldn’t affect their ability to serve and excel,” said Maj. Gen. Baldwin. “Duty to one’s state and nation – not sexual orientation – is the defining trait of our soldiers and airmen.”

(Via press release from John Perez, openly gay Speaker of the California Assembly)

National Guard marches in Los Angeles Gay Pride parade

(h/t JMG)