Military chaplains now allowed to perform same-sex marriages

[joeybee12]

The Pentagon has decided that military chaplains may perform same-sex unions, whether on or off military property.

The ruling announced Friday by the Pentagon's personnel chief follows the historic Sept. 20 repeal of a law that had prohibited gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

"A military chaplain may participate in or officiate any private ceremony, whether on or off a military installation, provided that the ceremony is not prohibited by applicable state and local law," a memo released Friday said. "Further a chaplain is not required to participate in or officiate a private ceremony if doing so would be in variance with the tenets of his or her religion."

The Department of Defense statement, issued by Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford L. Stanley, also makes clear that the Pentagon doesn't back the individual ceremonies, despite passing the ruling.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44730793/ns/politics/

:toast:

[cleanhippie]

1. Thats great news, but how will same sex couples have their marriage recognized

by the Military and receive the same benefits that hetero couples receive?

:shrug:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Similar thread in LBN

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=5011557&mesg_id=5011557

[MADem]

3. OK, now they need to get rid of DOMA, because the two actions are incompatible.

It's reprehensible that they are putting a chaplain in a position where, doing what he/she feels is right, that present-day military leadership has authorized, could expose him/her to discrimination in the promotion process down the road, should a nutter-Republican be elected as commander-in-chief.

Time to just jettison DOMA, the sooner the better. We need to take back the HOUSE to make that happen.