Texas Nat’l Guard pressured to grant benefits to gay troops

The Texas National Guard is being pressured to revisit its policy blocking gay troops from enrolling at state-run facilities to receive spousal benefits as one LGBT legal group is seeking a response within 10 days.

In a letter dated Sept. 13, Paul Castillo, staff attorney for Lambda Legal, writes that Texas Military Forces — which comprises the state national guard — should change its current policy because it ”fails its troops and their families.”

“The discriminatory treatment of lesbian and gay spouses of service members, including those in the Army National Guard in Texas, is illegal,” Costillo writes. “It also is detrimental to good order, discipline and morale and fails to accord all soldiers dignity and respect — guiding principles of the military.”

The letter — addressed to Texas Adjutant General Maj. Gen. John Nichols — requests a response from Texas Military Forces within 10 days. The Texas National Guard didn’t respond to the Washington Blade’s request to comment on the letter this week.

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/09/14/texas-natl-guard-pressured-grant-benefits-gay-troops/