From the Associated Press:
Two Republican congressmen on Wednesday denounced a same-sex ceremony held at the Army’s Fort Polk training base in Louisiana, saying it violated Defense Department policy. Following last year’s repeal of its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, the Defense Department said chaplains at military installations can officiate any private ceremony, as long as it’s not prohibited by state and local laws. Louisiana law does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions.
Fort Polk spokesman Scott Stearns said the two women took part in a commitment ceremony last month. Everyone at the base chapel understood it was not a marriage ceremony, he said.
U.S. Rep. John Fleming, R-Minden, said in a statement the “marriage-like” ceremony performed by an Army chaplain shouldn’t have been allowed on the base. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., said the ceremony violated Defense Department policy.
You’d think these guys would have something better to do then ‘crash’ a committment ceremony. Guess this was easier than getting their states’ unemployment rate lower.
You can read the statements of Rep. John Fleming and Rep. Todd Akin via their websites. The AP says they learned of the ceremony through “‘constiuent contact.'” Conveniently, both Representatives have a contact section to their websites.
