Several news organizations including CNN and Mother Jones Magazine (thanks mary jane) are now reporting that the United States Navy is going to allow gay marriages to be performed on base by its chaplains.
"Consistent with the tenets of his or her religious organization, a chaplain may officiate a same-sex, civil marriage: if it is conducted in accordance with a state that permits same-sex marriage or union; and if that chaplain is, according to the applicable state and local laws, otherwise fully certified to officiate that state’s marriages...if the base is located in a state where same-sex marriage is legal, then base facilities may normally be used to celebrate the marriage. This is true for purely religious services (e.g., a chaplain blessing a union) or a traditional wedding (e.g., a chaplain both blessing and conducting the ceremony)."
Naval chaplains who theologically oppose gay marriage are not obliged to perform the ceremony, which will only be allowed in states where gay marriage is allowed by law. The Navy will also not be extending health and other marital benefits to married same-sex partners.
I'm not sure what the point is if they're not extending benefits (especially since the government does extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees), but it once again shows to how gay marriages are still not on equal ground as straight marriages.
Still, this a very interesting turn of events.
I'm not sure what the point is if they're not extending benefits (especially since the government does extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees), but it once again shows to how gay marriages are still not on equal ground as straight marriages.
Still, this a very interesting turn of events.
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