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.

[Eleutheria5]

You may kiss the catcher.

[Vanders9]

On an ethical code level, nothing at all. After all, if it is no longer acceptable to censure certain faith positions or certain expressions of sexuality, then there is no moral ground for denying any of them, which for the traitors who wish to destroy Western Civ completely is the whole point of this exercise. Once "anything goes", then "everything goes", as in goes downhill.

I've met with and dealt with and fought these people before, and I would advise folk not to be sidetracked by these antics, important though they may be in their own right. Ultra-progressives and marxists care only about destroying capitalism, free-markets, and traditional liberal (classic sense) democratic societies. They don't give a toss about gay marriage, social justice, womyn's rights, nuclear disarmament, green politics, or any other of the current crop of "trendy" leftist causes. To them, all such issues are mere tools to achieve their ultimate objective, and we should never forget it.

[fwdude]

Only a significant drop in recruitment and retention will result in DADT or a ban on homosexuals to be reinstated.

No, it won't; because the multiple negative effects that are surfacing NOW aren't being allowed to see the light of day.

Until we get a sane CIC, the insanity will continue until the military is destroyed.

[fwdude]

You’re one of the sane minority, Kazan. Neither will I vote for a radical Leftist for president, either of the “D” or the “R” brand. Doing so enables and confirms liberalism. I will be voting, but it will be for a conservative, even if he doesn’t win.

We will have a Leftist in the White House in January regardless, that much is a certainty. The best strategy we now have is to work harder than ever to elect as conservative a Congress as possible.

[fwdude]

Can you picture a military of ALL women that is effective and respected in the world the way a military of all men was just a few short generations ago was? Honestly, can you?

There are fundamental differences between men and women, differences that matter. To ignore these differences to our own peril is the epitome of political correctness, which is destroying this country, and the world.

[fwdude]

Romney will CONTINUE the sodomization of the military depicted in this article... and worse. He has explicitly stated so and demonstrated his willingness to do this and so much worse in his oversight in the first state to counterfeit marriage with his "blessing."

And yet, that is apparently fine with you. I, and thankfully others like Kazan, find this unacceptable.

[newzjunkey]

Everything about that top photo is odd starting with the woman officiating the ceremony.

[robowombat]

Homos have always been around in the services and not particularly closeted either. Butch senior female NCO’s were a cliche thirty years ago and many helped a lot of new company grade officers learn how to actually run their units. In my second tour in VN there was one black fellow who was about as open as could be He used to comment ‘my family named me Sylvester. What did they expect me to be?’ He was a good guy and understood those who had girl friends didn't want to be cruised.

What we have now is official recognition of queerness which will son become demands for ‘protected class’ status for gays and demands for the first ‘openly gay general or flag officer’. This is the real goal of the queer rights campaign. To become one of the groups who can claim to be more equal than others. For the armed forces this is going to be poison for unit coherence and morale and it is going to open the services to that lovely gay custom of wolf packing. Something you don't find out about in diversity training.

[onedoug]

If there’s ever a reinstatement of the draft, homosexuals will be the first to start screaming they’re are being discriminated against.

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

I just vomited on my keyboard.

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

I just vomited on my keyboard.