As repeal of the policy known as “don’t ask, don’t tell” was occurring “uneventfully,” critics of repeal repeatedly noted that the other shoe had yet to drop on certain points of controversy.
For example, how would the military handle the potential of homosexuals wanting to attend marriage seminars or retreats — when the chaplains who lead them may not affirm a homosexual lifestyle, and the troops who attend them may theologically disagree with homosexuality?
It would seem the shoe finally dropped — and homosexual advocates have claimed “discrimination.”
For its part, the Air Force appears to have been the first service to publish explicit guidance on how to handle such situations:
When you advertise a [Marriage Care] retreat, announce the chaplain who will be leading the event and the chaplain’s endorser. If the chaplain is permitted to train same-gender couples in a MC event, then you may register all eligible married couples. However, if the chaplain is not permitted to train same-gender couples in a MC event, be prepared to offer…a MC event at another base or at a later date to a same-gender married couple.
If a same-gender married couple will be attending a MC event, make this known to the other couples as they register. If those couples choose not to register for this event, be prepared to offer them…a MC event at another base or at a later date.
As was discussed at the time, the Air Force has recognized Read more
