Missouri National Guard provides married same-sex couples benefits

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Intro:	In a state where gay marriage is banned, the Missouri National Guard is now providing benefits to same-sex spouses of military members.
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Wrap: The US Department of Defense announced last month that same-sex couples can apply for the same ID cards and benefits that opposite-sex spouses receive.

This went into effect September 3rd.

Currently, the Missouri National Guard has issued one same-sex couple's benefits.

First Lieutenant and Missouri Guard spokesperson John Quin says following the directive doesn't go against Missouri's ban on gay marriage.

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Description: "So as far as this goes, it's not a state benefit, it's a federal benefit, so that's decided by the federal government."

The governors of Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana have directed their state National Guards not to provide military benefits for same-sex couples.

All four states have gay-marriage bans.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christina Turner.

Intro:	Despite Missouri's ban on gay marriage, the Missouri National Guard is providing benefits to same-sex spouses of military members.
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Wrap: The US Supreme Court's decision on the Defense of Marriage Act ruled denying benefits to same-sex spouses of military members unconstitutional.

The US Department of Defense responded by ordering National Guards to issue military benefits to same-sex couples starting September 3rd.

First Lieutenant and Missouri Guard spokesperson John Quin says the Missouri guard is just following federal orders.

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Description: "If you have a valid marriage certificate and you bring it to an ID card, we call them DEER centers, then you can get your ID card the same as anybody else."

Governors in four states with gay-marriage bans directed their state National Guards to refuse same-sex couples' requests for military benefits.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christina Turner.

Intro:	Gay marriage is banned in Missouri, but the state's National Guard is providing benefits to same-sex spouses of military members.
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Wrap: Gay rights advocate Tracy McCreery says Missouri's National Guard is right to follow a federal order to provide military benefits to same-sex couples.

The governors of four other states with gay-marriage bans have directed their National Guards not to provide military benefits for same-sex couples.

McCreery says those states are forcing military personnel to jump through unnecessary hoops.

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Description: "I think that the states that are ignoring the federal directive are heading down a slippery slope, because almost all of the benefits going to these guard units come from the federal government."

McCreery works for PROMO, a statewide advocacy group.

So far, Missouri's National Guard has issued benefits for one same-sex couple.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christina Turner.