LGBT issues in the military

by Stephen Wardlaw, USA (R)
Op-Ed

Many of the LGBT community would be forgiven if, after thinking they would not see the end of discrimination, now think that SCOTUS will end the persecution of gays in June. However, the history of minorities in this country is otherwise. Bigotry often must literally die out as the generation that will not change must pass.

The military, which changed to a diverse force with the repeal of DADT (alas, with the exception of transgender service members), did so with hardly a murmur. Even the Marine Corps, which looked to be the least welcoming, saluted and carried out their orders.

Shamefully, the only part of the military that has threatened resistance is the Chaplain Corps. Although the promise of wholesale resignations of chaplains turned out to be less than a whimper, the Southern Baptist Convention and the Archdiocese of the Military Services (Roman Catholic) has decreed strict standards for their chaplains when they encounter gay service members and their dependents. Not only are they required to refuse weddings for same-sex couples, among other rites, but they are instructed by word and deed to remind LGBT persons that they are broken, sinful people, over and over again.

The guidelines are interestingly similar for both churches; I will use the Catholic ones for illustration. A Catholic chaplain is to decline to counsel non-Catholic members of his own unit if they are gay, and Catholic service members are to be reminded of church teaching before counseling.

In retirement or change of command ceremonies, the partner of LGBT officers is not to be referred to or prayed for. Funerals are a difficulty since tradition is strongly in favor of burying almost everyone but one can almost read between the lines that the writer wishes they could say that. (Sadly, one hears of civilian churches where, in the middle of the funeral, the casket has been shown the door.)

I cannot see that actually following these will be anything but a tragedy for soldier and chaplain alike. If I were a commander and found out that my chaplain was refusing to even talk to LGBT personnel, there would be consequences. Although it may be that they cannot overtly be dinged for this, I can write an OER (an officer efficiency report) that sinks their career without any grounds for protest.

There are at least three national organizations that are supporting service members, even now. The Forum on the Military Chaplaincy is seeking to rebalance the chaplain corps, which is currently over strength in fundamentalist chaplains, to engage the endorsers of faith groups over pastoral care of LGBT personnel, and to interface with church leaders on the subject. The Forum was a significant player in the repeal of DADT. Out Serve/Servicemembers Legal Defense Network continues to help members of the military on legal matters, benefits and other issues. American Military Partners Association assists service members, their partners, and children in family issues.

These efforts need to be supported as much as marriage equality.

The Gayly – March 8, 2015 @ 11:10am.