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US Navy Officer Married Partner Can Not Ask, Do Not Tell Ends
When Navy Lt. Gary Ross and his partner were looking for a place to get married, they settled on a site in Vermont, including the fact that the state is in the Eastern time zone.
So the two men were able to say their vows before the family and friends in the first possible moment, when the formal repeal of the military "do not ask, do not tell" policy. Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Partners, have been married for 11 years.
"I think it was a beautiful ceremony. The emotions that really touched me ... but finally official," Ross said.
Hours before the amendment took effect Tuesday morning, the U.S. military has also made final preparations for the historic political shift. The Pentagon announced it had accepted applications from candidates openly gay, although officials said they would wait one day before the exam.
Ross, 33, and Dan Swezy, a civilian, 49, traveled from their home in Tucson, Arizona so they can marry in Vermont, the first state to allow homosexuals to enter the civil union and one of the six have legalized gay marriage.
Ross has used his uniform and Ceremony begins 23:45 Monday Duxbury Moose Meadow Lodge, Log Cabin Bed and Breakfast perched on a hill about 15 km northwest of Montpelier.
The lodge said it was the first host state gay marriage in 2009.
Justice of the Peace Greg Trulson marriage proclaimed at midnight.
"It's official Gary" Trulson said.
Swezy and Ross was joined by a small group of close friends and relatives who shared the champagne with them after the ceremony.
Pentagon press secretary, George Little said Monday that the army is ready to end "do not ask, do not tell" policy, adopted in 1993 that homosexuals can serve until they openly acknowledge their sexual orientation. Commanders may not ask.
Last week, the Pentagon said that 97 percent of the army was trained in the new law.
In preparation for Tuesday to repeal all the military branches have spent several months updating the legislation. The elimination of the ban will also bring an end to all pending investigations, emissions and other procedures that were started under the old law.
President Barack Obama signed the law last December, July and certified that the removal of the embargo would not reduce the military capacity to fight. Some in Congress continue to oppose its repeal, saying it could undermine good order and discipline.
Current standards of personal conduct, such as those related to public displays of affection, will continue regardless of their sexual orientation.
There will be no immediate changes to eligibility for military benefits. All service members are already entitled to certain benefits, such as the appointment of a partner as a life insurance beneficiary or caregiver in the program of Wounded Warrior. Swezy but will not receive military medical insurance or access to a support group, where Ross is at sea
Gay marriage is an even thornier problem. Proposal of the Navy to train priests for civil unions between same-sex couples are legal in the countries where it was shelved earlier this year, more than five dozen MPs objected. The Pentagon has looked into the matter.
Ross, 2002 graduate of the Naval Academy, is a surface warfare officer in the Fort Huachuca. He expects to return to the sea the next spring.
He met Swezy early 2000, when Ross was still a student at the Academy. At that time, he did not think through the personal effects of the ban on military service members who are openly gay and lesbian. But his relationship with Swezy has grown, it has become important.
Their home in Tucson for about two hours commuting from Fort Huachuca, which lies near the Mexican border. Under "do not ask, do not say," Ross could not talk about his relationship with Swezy, but said that some of his colleagues had to know.
"Anyone with any moderate perception may have thought about it," he said.
When he goes back to work Thursday, Ross is not going to announce that he is married to a man.
"Although the law goes, it will always be the white elephant in the room until everyone comes to terms with it," he said.
Ross said at the end of "Do not ask, do not tell" will simplify many aspects of his life.
"It requires you to lie several times a day," said Ross of the old system. "Being in the military is very invasive. It will be a web excuses you do when you try to be as honest as possible, but you can not be honest."
He hopes to talk about his relationship will facilitate its work, too.
"If you stand before midnight on a surface ship, there is not much to talk about," he said. "It becomes very difficult to trust someone, you can not be honest."
AP
So the two men were able to say their vows before the family and friends in the first possible moment, when the formal repeal of the military "do not ask, do not tell" policy. Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Partners, have been married for 11 years.
Hours before the amendment took effect Tuesday morning, the U.S. military has also made final preparations for the historic political shift. The Pentagon announced it had accepted applications from candidates openly gay, although officials said they would wait one day before the exam.
Ross, 33, and Dan Swezy, a civilian, 49, traveled from their home in Tucson, Arizona so they can marry in Vermont, the first state to allow homosexuals to enter the civil union and one of the six have legalized gay marriage.
The lodge said it was the first host state gay marriage in 2009.
Justice of the Peace Greg Trulson marriage proclaimed at midnight.
"It's official Gary" Trulson said.
Swezy and Ross was joined by a small group of close friends and relatives who shared the champagne with them after the ceremony.
Pentagon press secretary, George Little said Monday that the army is ready to end "do not ask, do not tell" policy, adopted in 1993 that homosexuals can serve until they openly acknowledge their sexual orientation. Commanders may not ask.
In preparation for Tuesday to repeal all the military branches have spent several months updating the legislation. The elimination of the ban will also bring an end to all pending investigations, emissions and other procedures that were started under the old law.
President Barack Obama signed the law last December, July and certified that the removal of the embargo would not reduce the military capacity to fight. Some in Congress continue to oppose its repeal, saying it could undermine good order and discipline.
Current standards of personal conduct, such as those related to public displays of affection, will continue regardless of their sexual orientation.
Gay marriage is an even thornier problem. Proposal of the Navy to train priests for civil unions between same-sex couples are legal in the countries where it was shelved earlier this year, more than five dozen MPs objected. The Pentagon has looked into the matter.
Ross, 2002 graduate of the Naval Academy, is a surface warfare officer in the Fort Huachuca. He expects to return to the sea the next spring.
Their home in Tucson for about two hours commuting from Fort Huachuca, which lies near the Mexican border. Under "do not ask, do not say," Ross could not talk about his relationship with Swezy, but said that some of his colleagues had to know.
"Anyone with any moderate perception may have thought about it," he said.
When he goes back to work Thursday, Ross is not going to announce that he is married to a man.
"Although the law goes, it will always be the white elephant in the room until everyone comes to terms with it," he said.
"It requires you to lie several times a day," said Ross of the old system. "Being in the military is very invasive. It will be a web excuses you do when you try to be as honest as possible, but you can not be honest."
He hopes to talk about his relationship will facilitate its work, too.
"If you stand before midnight on a surface ship, there is not much to talk about," he said. "It becomes very difficult to trust someone, you can not be honest."
AP
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