First Military Base Same-Sex Wedding Held

Two men became the first same-sex couple to marry
on a military base when they held their wedding
ceremony last month at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-
Lakehurst in New Jersey.
Tech Sgt. Erwynn Umali and his partner, Will
Behrens, married June 23 on the base where Umali,
an active member of the Air Force, had been
stationed. It was a decision that would have been
unthinkable just nine months ago, before the law
requiring them to keep their relationship a secret
was repealed.
"We asked [about holding the ceremony on the
base], and they were very open about it, but [said],
'No one has ever asked us this question before,'"
Umali said in a Facebook chat hosted by Slate. "We
did not get any push back from the base or
leadership. All they asked was that we be patient
because this was the very first one."
Both men say this positive reaction is the same sort
of response they have gotten since going public with
their relationship to Umali's peers in the military.
After Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repealed last
September, Umali decided to open up about his
relationship with Behrens.
At a farewell luncheon hosted for him on his military
base before he left for a special assignment, Umali
came out in a very public way. In a speech in front of
40 fellow airmen, he thanked his partner and fiancé.
His fellow airmen responded with a standing ovation,
according to Slate.
About 150 friends and family attended the
ceremony, which was officiated by Evangelical
Lutheran Church Navy Chaplain Kay Reeb.
Not everybody has been so accepting of their
relationship, however. Both men grew up in strict
religious families. Behrens' parents don't approve of
his homosexuality, and Umali's parents in the
Philippines are still struggling with his
homosexuality.
Both Behrens and Umali were previously married to
women, and both have two children, all of whom
were at the wedding.
"One thing that we know and want to show our kids
is to be true to yourself and love everyone no matter
what," Umali said. "This is a victory for us because
our kids still love us and we love each other and that
is what they see."
The family of six all went to Disneyland after the
ceremony.
Despite their civil union, the federal Defense of
Marriage Act means they don't have the same legal
rights as heterosexual married couples, something
they say they would like to see changed.
"It is our goal to see equality, but we also know that
our country is not quite there yet," Behrens said.
DOMA prevents Umali from extending his military
heath care to Behrens' children, and when Behrens'
visits Umali on base, he still needs a guest pass.
For now though, the newlyweds are just happy to be
able to live their lives in the open, beginning with
sharing a first kiss and a first dance in front of their
family and friends at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-
Lakehurst, Behrens in a tuxedo, and Umali in his Air
Force uniform.
"I never thought I'd be able dance with a man like
this on a military installation," Umali said.
"We fully understand we are going to have more
battles, however, they only make us stronger,"
Behrens said. "We have gone through a whole lot
already and we are ready for the future and to push
forward."
ABC NEWS
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN