Posted on 06/15/2005 5:51:20 AM PDT by Ramonan
HALIFAX -- The Canadian military has marked its first same-sex wedding, two years after the Defence Department issued guidelines on the contentious issue and more than a decade after gays were allowed to join the Forces.
Two servicemen, who do not want to be identified, exchanged vows May 3 at the chapel at Canadian Forces Base Greenwood, N.S., in front of 45 friends and a United Church minister.
Lt.-Cmdr. David Greenwood, the base's head chaplain, helped arrange the ceremony but couldn't preside over it since he is an Anglican.
He said the fact the couple decided to hold their wedding at the military chapel might encourage others to step forward and make their vows official in a setting that not long ago had a policy of excluding them.
"I think there was a sense that many people thought they would never have seen something like this in their lifetimes -- and not in a negative way, but in a positive way," Greenwood said yesterday from his base office.
"So they might be able to provide some comfort and solace to someone who might be in fear or in peril."
The couple, one a sergeant and the other a warrant officer who are both in their late 30s, approached the chaplain about the possibility of holding the ceremony on the base. They went through a marriage preparation course and a United Church minister was found to conduct the service.
Greenwood said there was no resistance by military or religious officials to the wedding. He added it was simply a matter of time before someone made the request.
I think I'm going to hurl.
Are they gonna live in base housing or share a dorm room?
Bad precedent setting.
Whatever is left of Canukistan military is F'ed. No wonder their submarines cought fire.
A nation that guts it's military, justifies inaction in the face of evil, chastises it's closest ally and neighbour for doing the very thing it is supposed to do will in the end stand for everything and nothing. This is a travesty nothing more.
Doesn't it feel good for singles to see the opposite sex doing this. (Ladies?)
There would be a massive revolt if this ever happend in my Navy in one of my chapels. All bets would be off.
Aren't you just filled with pride Canada?
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