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Air Force Punishes Colonel Who Refused to Affirm Gay Marriage
Townhall.com ^ | October 17, 2017 | Todd Starnes

Posted on 10/17/2017 4:45:36 AM PDT by Kaslin

The Air Force has punished a highly-decorated and respected colonel after he refused to publicly affirm the same-sex spouse of a retiring subordinate.

Col. Leland Bohannon, who was on the verge of being promoted to a one-star general, was suspended from command and orders were handed down recommending he not be promoted.

“His career is likely over and he will likely have to retire as a colonel instead of as a general,” First Liberty Institute attorney Michael Berry told the Todd Starnes Show.

First Liberty Institute, one of the nation’s most prominent religious liberty law firms, is representing the distinguished military officer.

“This sends a clear message - if you do not have the politically correct viewpoint, you are not welcome in the military,” Berry said. “The military is no longer a place of diversity and inclusion if you are a person who holds to a traditional belief on marriage.”

Col. Bohannon has flown combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and he is the recipient of the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal.

Last May the colonel declined to sign a certificate of spouse appreciation for a retiring master sergeant’s same-sex spouse.

He was unable to do so because it would have caused him to affirm a definition of marriage contrary to his sincerely held religious beliefs.

Col. Bohannon sought the advice of his Command Chaplain as well as the Staff Judge Advocate. He was advised to request a religious accommodation. However, that request was returned six weeks later “without action.”

So, the colonel asked the Air Force Deputy IG to sign the certificate in his place.

“He went out of his way to make sure his Airman was accommodated,” Berry told the Todd Starnes Show.

But when the master sergeant learned Col. Bohannon did not personally sign the spouse certificate, the Airman filed an Equal Opportunity complaint.

The Airman alleged the devout Christian colonel had “unlawfully discriminated against him on the basis of his sexual orientation.”

The EO investigator determined the colonel had discriminated against the gay Airman – and went on to say that “even had the accommodation been granted, Col. Bohannon would nonetheless be guilty of unlawful discrimination.”

“You have a case where a decorated officer like Col. Bohannon demonstrates integrity and character to go out of his way to accommodate one of his Airmen and the Air Force will not do the same for him,” Berry told the Todd Starnes Show.

First Liberty Institute is urging the Air Force to reverse its decision – charging the military violated their client’s Constitutional rights.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: airforce; fagmarriage; romneyagenda; romneydecides; romneymarriage
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1 posted on 10/17/2017 4:45:36 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

I was really hoping to see an end to this kind of PC action with President Trump and General Mattis in charge.


2 posted on 10/17/2017 4:48:00 AM PDT by Vlad The Inhaler (Libtards wish anarchy and death for others, but not for themselves.)
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To: Kaslin

When God is ejected from the armed services, they will turn into the same cesspools as schools and universities. The painting of Washington praying is profound.. the story is even more profound.


3 posted on 10/17/2017 4:48:22 AM PDT by momincombatboots (White Stetsons up.. let's save our country!)
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To: Kaslin

I believe one of the goals of the same-sex agenda is to push practicing Christians out of the government.


4 posted on 10/17/2017 4:48:37 AM PDT by castlegreyskull
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To: castlegreyskull

>>I believe one of the goals of the same-sex agenda is to push practicing Christians out of the government.

Virtue Signaling may just be the Mark of the Beast. Of all nations, Christians are persecuted least in the USA. But the persecution is getting worse across the board. The Bible tells us to expect this. The Colonel’s reward is not a flag with a star on it.


5 posted on 10/17/2017 4:52:27 AM PDT by Bryanw92 (Asking a pro athlete for political advice is like asking a cavalry horse for tactical advice.)
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To: Kaslin

Hopefully Trump or Mattis will quickly fix this.


6 posted on 10/17/2017 4:59:17 AM PDT by wastedyears (Anime is real.)
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To: Kaslin

Get all the homos OUT of the military


7 posted on 10/17/2017 5:01:35 AM PDT by uncbob
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To: Vlad The Inhaler

Mattis is a political creature. That was proven in the Haditha trial when he engaged in UCI against those Marines in order to convict them.

I opposed his elevation to secdef.


8 posted on 10/17/2017 5:11:15 AM PDT by xzins (Retired US Army chaplain. Support our troops by praying for their victory.)
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To: Bryanw92

The Christian persecution in America is in stealth/non-violent mode now. However, I can see behind many on the lefts mask to know they want us dead for “the good of mankind.”


9 posted on 10/17/2017 5:11:24 AM PDT by castlegreyskull
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To: Vlad The Inhaler

Unfortunately, Mattis is not interested, and Trump is hobbled by his campaign promise to “protect” LGBT perverts in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting. The Colonel will be rewarded by God on the Judgement Seat of Christ, but not by this world. The world hates men like this good officer, because the world hates Christ.


10 posted on 10/17/2017 5:16:05 AM PDT by SkyPilot ("I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6)
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To: momincombatboots

An Appeal to Heaven


11 posted on 10/17/2017 5:22:31 AM PDT by smileyface (Things looking up in RED PA! I love President Trump!)
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To: Kaslin

We will lose the next real war because of this nonsense. Abortion, LGBT, Drugs, Divorce rates.....it will happen unless we turn it around as a people...fortunately God is patient...but even He has a timeline.


12 posted on 10/17/2017 5:22:34 AM PDT by Dont tread and Live
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To: Kaslin

So the military is still promoting sex perversions.


13 posted on 10/17/2017 5:30:32 AM PDT by I want the USA back (*slam is a violent political movement that hides behind the illusion of religion.)
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To: Kaslin
"if you do not have the politically correct viewpoint, you are not welcome in the military”

The corruption of the military is the tour de force of those who intend to destroy the U.S.A. from within.

If President Trump is to save America from self-destruction, he MUST replace the military High Command with men who have not been corrupted and who have not succumbed to the Decadence of Western Civilization, and he MUST assure that mission of the military--viz. the protection of the United States--not be attenuated or misdirected.

14 posted on 10/17/2017 5:45:10 AM PDT by Savage Beast (Those who want to repeat history try to prevent others from knowing it.)
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To: Kaslin

Disgusting - Liberty is dying and the sheeple don’t even know it. They are being lulled into not only accepting government official censorship of beliefs, but mandating you must “affirm” other beliefs.


15 posted on 10/17/2017 5:48:09 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: Kaslin

If he’d been Muslim, would they dare try this crap?


16 posted on 10/17/2017 5:49:01 AM PDT by A_perfect_lady
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To: Kaslin
Col. Leland Bohannon is a hero. He is a man who will sacrifice his career rather than violate his principles.

Such a man of principle stands as a guiding light to other people of principle and integrity in this dark, murky world of decadence, evil, mendacity, and corruption.

This is a world whose people desperately need such a guiding light.

17 posted on 10/17/2017 5:49:26 AM PDT by Savage Beast (Those who want to repeat history try to prevent others from knowing it.)
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To: uncbob

Common sense says to remove all homos from not only the military but all positions of influence and power within our society.


18 posted on 10/17/2017 5:54:56 AM PDT by T-Bone Texan (Trump's election does not release you from your prepping responsibilites!)
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To: momincombatboots

Just look at today’s West Point.


19 posted on 10/17/2017 6:00:45 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: T-Bone Texan
Common sense says to remove all homos from not only the military but all positions of influence and power within our society.

In a perfect world that would be true. Unfortunately we don't live in that world. I do think a petition should be started to oppose what happened to the Colonel-Almost General.

A moral affirmative trumps political correctness. But being right doesn't always mean winning.

20 posted on 10/17/2017 6:04:00 AM PDT by Boomer (The dem party has become the North Korea of American politics; unreasonable, dictatorial, fascist.)
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