Policy MIL Religion

MilitaryChaplains May Perform Gay Weddings

The Defense Department issued new guidelines September 30, 2011 that allow military chaplains to officiate at same-sex weddings, on or off military installations, in states where such weddings are allowed.

Chaplains are not required to participate in a same-sex wedding, if it violates personal or religious beliefs, the Pentagon said. Since the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prohibits the federal recognition of same-sex marriages, the department wouldn't endorse them, it added.

Change is coming 6 states, DC, and some countries were our DOD employees are located now allow same-sex marriage. The Obama Justice Department has stopped defending the DOMA in court and President Barack Obama has called for its repeal.

Gaining for same-sex couples the same housing, medical and family support benefits that are available to opposite-sex couples is one of our Equality goals. Federal law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice currently prevent that.