Kirtland Air Force Base begins recognizing New Mexico same-sex marriage

Courtney Schmelling and Sr. Airman Natalie Throckmorton married on August 28 in New Mexico. New Mexico is currently in flux regarding marriage equality as 8 counties have recently begun issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.  There is no specific law banning marriage equality in the state.

After initially being told 'no', she could not have a spousal military ID card based on her marriage in New Mexico because it was "not one of the states that have statewide legislative or judicial decisions allowing for same-sex couples to marry," Schmelling said that officials at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque changed their position and issued her the card.

Buzzfeed has an email by the American Military Partners Association confirming the change:

“Effective Sept. 3, the Secretary of Defense announced that all military departments will extend benefits to same-sex spouses of military members and retirees. On Sept. 5, military members and their same-sex spouses came into the 377th Force Support Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base with marriage certificates issued in New Mexico. Because civil authorities in New Mexico have only recently begun to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the guidance in hand for Department of Defense identification cards didn’t address jurisdictions in New Mexico. The issue of those ID cards was delayed while Air Force officials sought clarification,” spokeswoman Meredith Mingledorff wrote.

“Based on information received Sept. 6 from Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center on jurisdictions not covered in previous guidance, officials at Kirtland are issuing dependent ID cards to same-sex spouses of military members and retirees with valid marriage certificates from jurisdictions within New Mexico,” she continued.

(via Towleroad)