JACKSON, Miss. – The Pentagon has started to recognize same sex-marriages after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage act over the summer. That poses a problem from Mississippi because it is in violation of state law.
The problem arises when the state has to process enrollment information for military ID’s to same sex spouses.
“The people of the state of Mississippi passed an amendment to the Mississippi constitution not recognizing gay marriage. We are in a conflict. I can’t violate my oath of office to uphold and protect the constitution of the state of Mississippi even though someone from the Pentagon is telling us to do that,” said Governor Phil Bryant.
“I would be more concerned about the war on terror if I was the Pentagon, or the men and women that are putting their lives on the line in foreign lands to protect our liberty than I would about punishing states that are not violating their constitution regarding traditional marriage.”
Legal experts say that court challenges are likely and the Pentagon could even exert pressure by withholding funds from Guard bases.
