Navy Chief Chaplain Reverses Recent Policy On Same-Sex Marriages In Base Chapels

The Navy yesterday reversed its recently announced policy (see prior posting) that would have permitted Navy chaplains to perform same-sex marriages and civil unions in Navy chapels.  Navy Chief of Chaplains Rear Adm Mark Tidd said he was suspending the earlier guidance pending additional legal and policy review and closer coordination with the other branches of the military. The Los Angeles Times reports today that a letter from 63 House members to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus asked for reversal of the policy, saying that it violates federal law-- the Defense of Marriage Act. The Washington Post reported yesterday that members of the House Armed Services Committee are expected to introduce amendments to the defense authorization bill that would prohibit the use of Defense Department facilities for same-sex marriages, even if state law permits them.