Marine Corps to spouse clubs: Allow same-sex members or you don't operate on base
It apparently takes more than a few good men, according to the U.S. Marine Corps. It takes all kinds of people to support military families, including same-sex spouses of service members.
CNN published a story this week about a woman married to a female lieutenant colonel at Fort Bragg who believes she was rejected from an officers' spouse club because she's gay. Late Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Vaughn Ary advised Marine Corps legal staff such clubs conducting business on its bases must admit same-same spouses. If they do not, the clubs will be barred from meeting on any Marine Corps installation.
Ary wrote that clubs cannot discriminate against any member because of "race, color, creed, sex, age, disability, or national origin. We would interpret a spouse's club's decision to exclude a same-sex spouse as sexual discrimination because the exclusion was based upon the spouse's sex."
Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. Jeffrey Sanborn, told CNN earlier this week that he could do nothing about Ashley Broadway's rejection by the Association of Bragg Officers' club because the group was private.
Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Eric Flanagan, who provided a portion of the memo to CNN, said, "We expect that all who are interested in supporting Marine Corps Family Readiness would be welcome to participate and will be treated with dignity and respect."
Broadway told CNN she was happy about the decision but said that the spouse club has still not reached out to her. "I hope that the Pentagon and Secretary of Defense will take some action on this," she said. "They can step in and change some policies too so this wouldn't be a problem for any service member no matter their branch."
The Defense Department has said that it must follow federal law set forth in the Defense of Marriage Act, a law passed in 1996 that denies many benefits to same-sex spouses. The military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy was repealed in 2011, allowing members who are gay and lesbian to be open about their sexuality without facing legal rebuke.
This week, Broadway was named one of several nominees to be Military Spouse of the Year 2013. Tens of thousands of military personnel will vote on the nominees.
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/10/marine-corps-to-spouse-clubs-allow-same-sex-members-or-you-dont-operate-on-base/?hpt=hp_c2
I can add and subtract with the best. But your comments are non sequitur. The discussion is about the membership policy of the spouses' club.
Actually, all ONE person has to do to get something changed (laws, policies, etc) is complain.
In an effort to be "tolerant" and "inclusive", whomever has the policy or rule in place, will change it to accommodate that single person, and the rest of the folks involved can rot.
We're actually discussed this on the board before: Sacrifice the many for the needs of the few.
A lot of that going around these days.
All one has to do, in order to get legislation passed, or policy changed, etc, etc, is get 51% of "the people" on their side.
Sorry. Didn't think I needed to explain the statement.
And the 49% of the people that DIDN'T want the measure passed, or the policy changed, can go suck an egg, because there was a vote, or an election, or whatever the case, and they lost.
Again, sorry. Didn't think I needed to explain the statement.
"Nope... just 51% of them. The other 49% can rot. Right?"
?????
"... I don't think it is necessary to "win over" everyone to make change or progress...."
Nope... just 51% of them. The other 49% can rot. Right?
Well.....for starts, try putting laws in place and then worry about "trying" to win over the masses. I don't think it is necessary to "win over" everyone to make change or progress.
One step forward and three steps back pretty much describes it. But how can you make someone accept you for who and what you are? How long have blacks been fighting for equal treatment, or latino people for that matter. It is a process and as history has shown us, sometimes a long and arduous one.
Its one thing to pass laws, its quite another to win over the masses and while I empathize with this woman, this is part of that process that happens it seems.
""This is about more than a spouse who wants to get into a club," says UCLA Law School's Aaron Belkin, who helped write the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell."
"This is about the Defense of Marriage Act and all the inequalities that come with it. It's about asking the question: Is the military really going to be serious about giving fair and equal treatment?"
Yes....absolutely. I am pretty sure it goes beyond just wanting to "belong" to a club......I am sure she is fighting this for the principle of the situation. Being rejected from this club is a part of the whole RIDICULOUS situation.
I can't imagine that she'd feel comfortable after the response she's gotten. I'd never want to be in that club if I were she.
I agree though there is the principal of the thing.
Certainly not a battle I would take up with all the issues facing us today.
I understand her initial desire to be in the club. But, after the treatment she received I would have thought she'd have changed her mind and would have wanted nothing more to do with it.
""I thought, 'Here's a chance to make some close friends who would really understand me,' " Broadway said. "And I could get very active in events that help other families like mine. I was excited, really excited, to be a part of this group."
I think this was really the reason for her..She just wanted to be a part of a group that she could be understood and relate to..Too bad they are IDIOTS...
Col. Sanborn says his power is limited? That's a first. I thought those guys were omnipotent.
Yeah, I agree. What confuses me is why in the world she might still be interested in becoming a member there. I can't imagine that she'd feel comfortable after the response she's gotten. I'd never want to be in that club if I were she.
Mike
I swear we take one step forward in this country to just take 6 steps backwards...This is a blessing in disguise for Ashley...She doesn't need to be around or associated with a group like that!...SMH!
CNN's many attempts to get the club's side of the story have been unsuccessful. Two women who confirmed that they belonged to the club chose not to comment.
A December 12 letter on the club's homepage reads: "In response to recent interest in the membership requirements of our organization we will review the issue at our next board meeting." The letter doesn't indicate when the meeting will happen.
In the wake of the controversy, the group's website has password protected all its links. "They've locked themselves off to the world!" says Strzalkowski. "No one should be that high up on their pedestal."
Bragg brass says their power is limited. That's because, according to Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. Jeffrey Sanborn, the club is a private group, not a military one. Sanborn declined an interview with CNN, but he e-mailed statements saying he explained that in person to Broadway and her wife.
Officially, Sanborn has the power only to ensure "all private organizations operating on Fort Bragg comply with Department of Defense and Army regulations and with U.S. laws."
And the spouse club's bylaws, constitution and conduct do comply with DOD regulations.
"C'mon, really? That's a little disingenuous," said UCLA's Belkin. "When you're the commander at Fort Bragg, you are close to having God-like status in your community."
Sanborn could deny the club access to the base, Belkin said.
"He could tell service members not to participate. There are a lot of ways to send a signal that you disapprove."
At home this week, Broadway and Mack are busy around the house. Mack is days away from giving birth. Broadway talks as she heads home from a visit to the doctor.
After all this, does Broadway still want to be part of the Association of Bragg Officers' Spouses?
"Honestly, I'm torn," she said. "Each day that goes by, they are saying they don't want me. I check my spam folder every day to make sure I haven't missed a message from them.
"I wonder if it would be best if I focus on a group who would value me."
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/08/us/fort-bragg-same-sex-spouse/index.html?hpt=hp_t2