Ed O'Keefe over at the Washington Post seems to be the first person to pick up on this story:
The Navy is revoking guidance to its chaplains about conducting same-sex marriages at military chapels following an uproar by Republican lawmakers and social conservatives claiming the move would violate a law prohibiting federal recognition of gay marriage.
Two days ago on DailyKos, lostboyjim, told us about the Navy's decision to allow chaplains to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies on bases in States where it is legal. I followed up yesterday with further info, including the news that 62 Republican Representatives were crying foul. Seems like those cries worked.
Basically, it sounds like the Armed Forces need to get all their duck's in a row. You can't have one arm of the Armed Forces unilaterally making this decision. Obviously, someone in the Air Force or the Army or even possibly the DoD as a whole decided to slow things down. The news did not come out of the Pentagon but from the chaplain who originally released the guidance:
But he reversed course late Tuesday, saying he was suspending his guidance “pending additional legal and policy review” and closer coordination with the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Activists should be warned that Republicans plan to add related amendments to this year's defense authorization bill - a meeting that is supposed to take place today. This obviously isn't the last word on the subject.
Yesterday, I made the supposition that the original decision was based on a little known law, DoD Instruction 1015.10:
The minimum drinking age on a DoD installation located in a State (including the District of Columbia) shall be consistent with the age established by the law of that State as the State minimum drinking age.
This change in policy happened back in the 1980's and set a precedent for the military to follow State Law. However, the law is written specifically for drinking age. I am sure we will need to see one written specifically for same-sex marriage before this is all said and done. It would probably be easier just to repeal DOMA in the first place. However, I would love to see some brave Representative present an amendment today calling for the military to allow same sex marriage in States where it is legal. Wouldn't that be something to see?