Navy stops plan to allow clergy on naval bases to perform same-sex weddings
Wed. May 11, 2011 7:54 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
Washington, D.C. -
The Navy is backing down -- at least temporarily -- from a new policy allowing clergy on naval bases to perform gay and lesbian wedding ceremonies inside base chapels.
As part of the post-"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" guidance for sailors, the Navy had sent out a memo last month saying it would be acceptable for gays and lesbians to use chapels and churches on naval bases for weddings.
But 63 members of Congress wrote to the Navy to complain, and late Tuesday, the policy was put on hold.
Chief Navy Chaplain Rear Adm. Mark Tidd said the policy had been "suspended until further notice pending additional legal and policy review and interdepartmental coordination."
The congressmen, led by Rep. Todd Akin (R-Missouri), wrote to the Secretary of the Navy complaining that the military was "picking and choosing" when it comes to what laws to follow -- and insisting that the Defense of Marriage Act is the law of the land.
"This new guidance from the Navy clearly violates the law," the letter states. "While our President may not like this law, it is unbelievable that our Navy would issue guidance that clearly violates this law. While a state may legalize same-sex marriage, federal property and federal employees, like Navy chaplains, should not be used to perform marriages that are not recognized by federal law."
President Obama seems to more than "not like" DOMA; he's told the Justice Department to stop defending it in court.
As part of the post-"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" guidance for sailors, the Navy had sent out a memo last month saying it would be acceptable for gays and lesbians to use chapels and churches on naval bases for weddings.
But 63 members of Congress wrote to the Navy to complain, and late Tuesday, the policy was put on hold.
Chief Navy Chaplain Rear Adm. Mark Tidd said the policy had been "suspended until further notice pending additional legal and policy review and interdepartmental coordination."
The congressmen, led by Rep. Todd Akin (R-Missouri), wrote to the Secretary of the Navy complaining that the military was "picking and choosing" when it comes to what laws to follow -- and insisting that the Defense of Marriage Act is the law of the land.
"This new guidance from the Navy clearly violates the law," the letter states. "While our President may not like this law, it is unbelievable that our Navy would issue guidance that clearly violates this law. While a state may legalize same-sex marriage, federal property and federal employees, like Navy chaplains, should not be used to perform marriages that are not recognized by federal law."
President Obama seems to more than "not like" DOMA; he's told the Justice Department to stop defending it in court.