With repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ couple says 'I do' in first gay union on U.S. military base

New York Daily News ^ | July 19, 2012 | Erik Ortiz

[Zakeet]

Tech. Sgt. Erwynn Umali, 34, and civilian Will Behrens, 35, held their wedding at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in N.J. in June

When Tech. Sgt. Erwynn Umali and civilian Will Behrens wanted to seal their commitment in a civil union in New Jersey, they chose a venue that nine months ago would have been unthinkable: a military base.

The grooms said their vows on June 23 before 150 guests at the chapel at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst — the first time a civil union or gay wedding has been held in such a facility in the United States.

While the couple says there’s still a larger battle to be won before they can live in true domestic bliss, they hope the significance of that ceremony will not be lost on others in the military who want to live openly.

“It’s a struggle that Will and I have gone through and so many people are going through,” Umali, an active-duty serviceman in the Air Force, told the Daily News on Wednesday. “Now I can introduce Will as my partner or my husband instead of my friend or my boyfriend. We don’t have to live in fear.”

[Snip]

At their wedding last month, Umali wore his Air Force uniform, Behrens dressed in a tux.

Navy Chaplain Kay Reeb, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, officiated the union.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

So what would stand in the way of Satan worshipers holding a black mass at a base chapel? Or people holding Festivus events?

[Tzimisce]

I don’t even recognize this country anymore.......

[yldstrk]

disgusting

[olezip]

“It’s a struggle that Will and I have gone through and so many people are going through,” Umali, an active-duty serviceman in the Air Force, told the Daily News on Wednesday. “Now I can introduce Will as my partner or my husband instead of my friend or my boyfriend. We don’t have to live in fear.”

Men living together are friends. It is plain silly for them to pretend that they are "married."

What an astounding lack of common sense, and foolishness for anyone over five years old playing with a dress up pretend wedding.

[rockabyebaby]

So so sad to hear this.......disgusted too.

[Gertie]

When you vote 3rd party, you are throwing a vote away, this is what happened when Ross Perot and his ego got carried away. It's a two-party system, change that first, in the meantime, don't cut off your nose to save your face, in other words, wake up....

[NKP_Vet]

The “minister” was there for show. The sodomites already had a civil union contract but wanted their degeneracy “blessed”, and this sicking “minister” did it for them. That a military chapel was used for this dog and pony show is utter bullsh*t.
and I think against regulations. But if the base commander says a word about it he will be on the next flight to
Thule, Greenland.

[EEGator]

I heard the base in Thule has a great gym.

[USAF80]

Why would people even go. That is feeding the bs.They can’t force you to go to any weddings unless you are honor guard and if everyone revolted they would back off.

[OldGoatCPO]

What would you expect from ELCA or Epissonbible types in its disgusting.

[Hoffer Rand]

So what would stand in the way of Satan worshipers holding a black mass at a base chapel? Or people holding Festivus events?

Nothing. They already have regularly scheduled Wiccan services at the Air Force Academy Chapel.

[Apparatchik]

Three words: "Sodom and Gomorrah"

Everything else follows.

[Vaquero]

its over...the Grand Republic is dead.

[familyop]

"The new military will be faggots, women, and PC liberals."

It will be regarded and talked about as being generally homosexual. Potential enlistees should reconsider the consequences. After the economic collapse and default process, employment policies might be far more conservative. Big government spending is essential to supporting political correctness.

[Vaquero]

...Or people holding Festivus events?

[EEGator]

I’m glad I got out when I did. If I was still in, a dishonorable discharge would be in my future.

[madprof98]

This was not a legal marriage. According to the article, it was a "civil union," the only form of legal gay partnership in NJ, at least for now. Meanwhile, the happy couple are planning to wed again in NY state, which (as we all know) has such loathesome sell-out Republicans in the legislature that they voted to allow two men to "marry."

So what's the point of the article. Here it is:

But now, even as they live openly, the federal Defense of Marriage Act keeps them from having the same rights as straight married couples.

The article also points out that both these guys were previously wed to women; in fact, one of them was still married when they started dating. It does not mention kids, but I expect these two would have had no problem ditching a houseful of them.

[familyop]

Me, too. I refused to reenlist with my first combat engineer unit (cbt. light, National Guard), after a social worker who transferred from the Navy was put in charge of my combat platoon. Very young commander at the time told us to leave, if we didn’t like it. Ate the hell up. Word was, after I left, most of the younger soldiers in the unit left, too. Went to try a combat heavy (construction) unit for one year after that. Naw. Working civilian jobs while being in the Guard became nearly impossible. Decided to get on out for good.

When I go to work, it’s not for playing social politics. That includes civilian lines of work. I only show up to do the work.

Let the debt-riding, government and government-linked bosses lay and take the consequences with what they’ve preferred over the past few decades (weirdos). I’m off the plantation and don’t need ‘em any more.