A memo released Friday by the Department of Defense allows military chaplains to perform same sex marriages – only if the chaplain agrees to do so.
"A military chaplain may participate in or officiate any private ceremony, whether on or off a military installation provided that the ceremony is not prohibited by applicable state and local law," the memo says.
But the memo also says "A chaplain is not required to participate in or officiate a private ceremony if doing so would be in variance with the tenets of his or her religion."
The longtime ban on openly gay service members in the military, known as "Don't Ask Don't Tell," was officially struck down on Sept. 22. In the 18 years it existed 14,000 homosexual service members were discharged.
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