The Louisiana National Guard struck a deal with the Pentagon to process military benefits for same-sex spouses without running afoul of the state’s ban on gay marriage, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.
The state plans to grant some National Guard members temporary federal status in order to handle their enrollments, according to the Post. The Louisiana National Guard originally planned to ignore the Pentagon’s directive to process military benefits for gay couples in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act.
Similarly, last week the Texas National Guard approved a procedure that allows federal personnel to process benefits for same-sex couples without running afoul of that state’s ban on gay marriage.
Georgia and Mississippi are now the only states that continue to bar same-sex National Guard spouses from registering for military benefits, according to the Post.