Pending the Department of Defense’s final motion to recognize gay military service men and women, Navy officials will be trained to officiate over same-sex civil ceremonies.
The announcement, made by Navy officials this past Monday, stated that training protocols related to the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ have been updated to include guidelines for civil ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples. According to NPR on behalf of The Associated Press, Eileen Lainez, a spokeswoman for the Pentagon, said the Defense of Marriage Act does not specify any restrictions on the types of ceremonies a military chaplain may perform; and while the military will not force chaplains to officiate over same-sex unions if it goes against their religious convictions, there will also be no prohibition on such ceremonies.
Navy chaplains would be able to perform same-sex unions in naval facilities such as chapels or catering centers; however, the ceremonies would only be permitted in states that legally recognize such unions between gay couples. As it stands today, the San Diego gay naval community would not be able to participate in unions performed by a Navy chaplain.
Lainez’s statement and the Navy’s subsequent decision to adjust training materials to include information on same-sex unions mark the latest developments in a slow but steady progress towards implementing the repeal of DADT. Training is currently under way to prepare troops for the change, and final implementation is due to take effect 60 days after both the president and his primary defense advisors deem it safe to lift the ban.
At this point, neither the Army nor the Air Force has implemented similar training procedures. The Air Force did note, however, that it is aware of the issue at hand and planning to review current training protocol to assess whether or not any change is necessary.
Update:May 11, 2011
As of today, the Pentagon has revoked statements permitting the use of Navy facilities for same-sex marriage ceremonies and chaplains’ authority to officiate over such unions.
Today’s decision comes in response to the new guidelines detailed above, and the subsequent opposition voiced by social conservatives in defense of DOMA.
The Washington Post reports that Navy Chief of Chaplains Rear Admiral Mark Tidd is suspending previous statements “pending additional legal and policy review” and further collaboration with other defense branches.
