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WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill that would prohibit military chaplains from performing same-sex ceremonies and would prevent military installations from being used for such ceremonies.
The amendment, which was introduced by U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), requires that no money spent on the military will be used to “contravene” the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal law that defines marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman.
U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa)
King said a Sept. 2011 authorization by the Defense Department that said, “A military chaplain may participate in or officiate any private ceremony, whether on or off a military installation, provided that the ceremony is not prohibited by applicable state and local law,” was “not just permission,” but that it “implied encouragement to conduct same-sex marriages on our military bases.”
“This amendment prohibits the use of military facilities or the pay of military chaplains for being used to contravene the defense of marriage act,” King said.
Army veteran and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis said the language in King’s amendment offers nothing new, as federal funds can not be spent in contravention of federal law.
“With this amendment, the Congressman is wasting Congress’ time and energy by restating current law in an attempt to infringe upon the rights of chaplains to practice their own faith and relegate gay and lesbian service members to second-class status by restricting their use of military facilities,” said Sarvis.
“Clearly, Congressman King doesn’t understand what the Defense of Marriage Act actually does. It does not prohibit a chaplain from performing a same-sex ceremony that is consistent with the tenets of his or her faith, and it does not prevent the use of military facilities for private religious ceremonies.”
U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) called the amendment “discriminatory” and said it had no place in the appropriations bill.
“We should have a debate on the effects of DOMA on our service members and their families,” Dicks said, “but introducing this contentious and discriminatory amendment is not the place.”
The Defense Authorization Bill provides for the budget and expenditures of the U.S. Department of Defense.
The Republican-controlled House approved the amendment 247-166, and now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Filed under: National Headlines
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What an idiot!
They are a disgusting bunch
smh this is crazy!!!
Another reason to emigrate.
wtf is wrong with this country assholes
It pains me to see news like this. :(
Another reason to cut spending by stopping congress from being paid!
Legalize Gay…We aren’t going away.
too bad the Senate won’t pass it. Can they focus on ‘real’ issues?
I wish they would be like “all gay marriage is legal, and all gay rights are granted”. Stop with this bullshit. We just want equality.
LMAO :-{P}
house is stupid
so if i am thinking correctly they cant stop whats already happening till the Senate allows iit?
Unbe_uckinglievable.
Because gay soldiers didn’t fight in wars to be treated this way.
Forgive my language, but that is absolute bullshit. You serve and protect our country and deserve at least that paltry benefit (though you absolutely deserve so much more).
Half of this bull is $$$$$ but in the long run it saves $$$ when everyone is equal.
They’re trying to hold on to whatever they can to appease their constituents.
This assholes are just putting forth legislation that will get nowhere in the Senate so they can campaign on it when recess comes in August. It’s all fun and games to put other people’s loves and lives on the line in the pursuit of their CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.
do they seriously expect this to pass the senate? lamentable waste of taxpayer time and money.
They appear to be pandering to their conservative power base, knowing they can blame the Democrats & moderates in the Senate when it fails. They accomplish nothing in the arena of law, while boosting their own popularity and scapegoating their opponents. Cynical, but that’s politics.
If it wasn’t a hazard with snipers, I’d love to go fight in a bright pink uniform.
im sure piink would make the enemy thing wait what is that and why am i shooting at it
Of course…the military’s OK with this. But a few bigoted men in power have to ruin it for everyone who simply want to profess their LOVE to the partner they’ve chosen to spend their Life with. Amazing!
asshats.
backlash begins…
In Hawaii we were ahead of the times when we staged the 1st Gay Pride Parade on Fort Derussy (army base) in 1990
again the gop is bigot led
These people don’t give a Damn about anyone cept themselves.
this is what you get when citizens are convinced religion belongs in politics and enough of them fall for it at the expense of the religious freedoms of all.
this is disgusting and un-american! the house is screwed up anyway!
Ok folks another effort by GOP to screw with gay people rather than find solutions to real problems (but then again they are the real problem)
And he’s IOWA’s representative. . .one of the few states that allow SSM. Bet that sticks in his craw every day.
Schmuck!!!
the HOUSe of REPS DOES NOT REPRESENT AMERICA it REPRESENTS BIGOTRY and HATRED
do they mean the US republican house?
Total crap!
Fail!
Well, the House is mostly a cesspit pandering to the tiny but hugely vocal Christian version of Al Qaeda currently. If this hasn’t taught most of us by now that we can’t be complacent with our votes, nothing will till those pathetic excuses for humanity find some way to strip every last right from us as the lunatics have proposed. Ok kids, you need to get off your angry soapboxes, dirty your hands a little bit and start getting involved in the political process–the very thing that sends a cold sweat down the backs of your average misogynistic, immigrant-hating, old, wealthy Anglo-Saxon Teapublicans. Do your research, find the moderate and LGBT-friendly candidates and work to influence votes locally. It is our Democracy too, much as the haters are loath to admit and they know that till the last couple of years they could count on our general apathy and inaction to keep the bigots in power. Don’t enable ignorance and hatred anymore by just standing by. Speak at the voting booth and everyone might be pleasantly surprised at how much smoother things might run with the hateful space cadets out of the way in Congress. Just remember, we all the government we so richly deserve in the end based on our actions.
What the freak they cant do that.