RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – The Virginia National Guard is extending federal benefits to qualified spouses of gay service members, Gov. McDonnell said on Thursday.
Delegate Robert Marshall (R) wrote a letter in response that providing benefits to same-sex couples would violate the state constitutional ban on gay marriage, according to the Washington Post.
Gov. McDonnell issued the policy in response to a Supreme Court decision that struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act.
McDonnell said he is going to follow the rules, regulations and policies issued by the Department of Defense, since 90 percent of the guard’s funding comes from the federal government.
