Republicans load Defense Authorization Bill with anti-gay provisions
Thu. May 12, 2011 9:22 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Washington, D.C. -
Republicans tacked three anti-gay amendments on to the annual Defense Authorization Bill before passing it out of committee on Thursday.
The Baptist Press reported that the amendments would prohibit Defense Department personnel from officiating at gay weddings; would require the heads of all four branches of the military to certify that letting gays serve openly would not inhibit their ability to wage war and protect the country; and would require that all Department of Defense programs abide by the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
The firestorm came after the Navy issued guidelines to base chaplains last month advising them that they could perform same-sex weddings if they wanted, that base chapels could be used, and that same-sex weddings on naval bases would be given recognition as was mandated by local and state laws.
Rep. Todd Akin (R-Missouri) led 63 members of Congress in a protest letter, and the Navy backtracked this week.
Part of the problem is the legal uncertainty surrounding DOMA, which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. The Obama Administration has advised the Justice Department to stop defending it in court, on the grounds that it's unconstitutional.
But until it's thrown out by the Supreme Court, DOMA is still a federal law, and anti-gay members of Congress argue that the military shouldn't get to pick and choose which laws are followed.
The House Armed Services Committee passed the Defense Authorization Bill, along with the anti-gay amendments, on a 60 to 1 vote Thursday.
The Baptist Press reported that the amendments would prohibit Defense Department personnel from officiating at gay weddings; would require the heads of all four branches of the military to certify that letting gays serve openly would not inhibit their ability to wage war and protect the country; and would require that all Department of Defense programs abide by the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
The firestorm came after the Navy issued guidelines to base chaplains last month advising them that they could perform same-sex weddings if they wanted, that base chapels could be used, and that same-sex weddings on naval bases would be given recognition as was mandated by local and state laws.
Rep. Todd Akin (R-Missouri) led 63 members of Congress in a protest letter, and the Navy backtracked this week.
Part of the problem is the legal uncertainty surrounding DOMA, which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. The Obama Administration has advised the Justice Department to stop defending it in court, on the grounds that it's unconstitutional.
But until it's thrown out by the Supreme Court, DOMA is still a federal law, and anti-gay members of Congress argue that the military shouldn't get to pick and choose which laws are followed.
The House Armed Services Committee passed the Defense Authorization Bill, along with the anti-gay amendments, on a 60 to 1 vote Thursday.