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Amanda Fulton via Associated Press
Brides Penelope Gnesin, seated, and Brenda Sue Fulton, a West Point graduate, hold hands during their wedding, Saturday at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
Cadet Chapel, the landmark Gothic church that is a center for spiritual life at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was hosting its first same-sex wedding Saturday.
Penelope Gnesin and Brenda Sue Fulton, a West Point graduate, were exchanging vows in the regal church in an afternoon ceremony attended by around 250 guests and conducted by a senior Army chaplain.
The two have been together for 17 years. They had a civil commitment ceremony that didn't carry any legal force in 1999 but had longed hoped to formally tie the knot. The way was cleared last year, when New York legalized same-sex marriage and President Barack Obama lifted the "Don't ask, don't tell," policy prohibiting openly gay people from serving in the military.
The brides both live in New Jersey and would have preferred to have the wedding there, but the state doesn't allow gay marriage.
"We just couldn't wait any longer," Fulton told The Associated Press in a phone interview Saturday. They wanted to get married quickly also because Gnesim, 52, is a breast cancer survivor with multiple sclerosis, USA Today reported.
Cadet Chapel, Fulton said, was a more-than-adequate second choice.
"It has a tremendous history, and it is beautiful. That's where I first heard and said the cadet prayer," Fulton said, referring to the invocation that says, "Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half-truth when the whole can be won."
The ceremony will be the second same-sex wedding at West Point. Last weekend, two of Fulton's friends, a young lieutenant and her partner, got married in another campus landmark, the small Old Cadet Chapel in West Point's cemetery.
Fulton has campaigned against the ban on gays in the military as a board member of two groups representing gay and lesbian servicemen and servicewomen. She graduated in 1980 in the first West Point class to include women.
“I was just a small town kid awed by West point and I loved the Army. I was so proud that we created a legacy that opened doors for so many young women leaders to serve and make our army stronger,” Fulton said in a statement posted to YouTube. “Gay and lesbian soldiers no longer have to hide their lives and their families – makes them stronger, makes our army stronger, makes our military stronger.”
Fulton said the only hassle involved in arranging her ceremony came when she was initially told that none of West Point's chaplains were authorized by their denominations to perform same-sex weddings.
Luckily, she said, they were able to call on a friend, Army Chaplain Col. J. Wesley Smith. He is the senior Army chaplain at Dover Air Force Base, where he presides over the solemn ceremonies held when the bodies of soldiers killed in action oversees return to U.S. soil.
The couple planned on adding other military trappings to their wedding, including a tradition called the saber arch, where officers or cadets hold their swords aloft over the newlyweds as they emerge from the church.
Sue Fulton, who married Saturday at West Point's historic Cadet Chapel, discusses the significance of the end of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy in the military.
NBC's Isolde Raftery contributed to this report.
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The clams are abumpin at West Point.
I absolutely love how this upsets the teabaggers and members of the American Taliban.
Congratulations to the happy couple! And in a few short months they'll have full federal rights when DOMA is struck down.
It is entertaining to watch, isn't it? Like watching the circus clowns without the price of admission.
Just hilarious ,you two.If we were the 'American taliban' as you put it,it doubt you'd have the balls to say anything about it.Let's hear your view.Gay ,straight,trans.Daddy left ot become a mommy.And yes,i am one of those who protest so much i must be gay.
I wouldn't compliment "pained" by saying he is gay. Ignorant, insecure and intolerant seem such better descriptions of his words which foam of illiteracy.
You do seem obsessed with the sex lives of gay people.
Well, the great bard did say, "Methinks he doth protesteth too much." Just saying, pained1.
And, there's plenty of research to indicate the most vocal homophobes are actually using a defense mechanism to prevent them from dealing with their own latent homosexuality.
ALL men are gay who are against it right?That's it! thx.You mistake my desire to keep at least a reverence of our rite,our secular rite,that despite being shat upon,needs no further insult.The fact that everyone,everyone knew what you meant when you said 'marriage' ,'husband' ,'wife', and now don't know,is ludicrous.By all means,you too can ruin this institution.God forbid[merely a saying] you should choose new words,but that's ok,we will.So we will have new words that mean 'marriage','husband','wife'-for heterosexuals.Words that already fit,words that have had this meaning for centuries.I realize it is taxing to have your quotes and statistics you have to cut and paste,sorry.Remember,this isn't hating gay people,denying their existence,wishing them ill,or allowing anyone to be bullied.It is simply noting YOUR intolerance for most peoples' way of thinking.Yes most peoples way. Please as any social issues arise,let us know other things that need renaming. The gross part is okaying 'gay marriage' opens up the rite to every screwball warped variant of lgbt under the sun.Don't tell me you haven't encountered someonewho is like,as an old acquaintance said"I may be gay but I'm not THAT queer',about a freak[insensitive].PS,didn't invoke religion]
PPS this is msnbc,not the world,or even the country
WRONG. The majority of Americans support equality.
PS: What's your problem with punctuation and the space bar? Are you allergic?
Thank you pained...i rest my case
That darn punctutation ,there I go draggin' my knuckles.And your case is @!$%#
pained1
Pained, there is a huge difference between "against it" and "total obsession about it".
Keep going pained1. You are doing an excellent job of supporting our observations.
I'm a straight man. I don't think about sex between gay folks much at all, not nearly as much as you do.
The reason why you're obsessed with gay sex is called "reaction formation". What you fear and hate is what's within you, not what's within other people.
Too bad for you that the courts -- and the majority of Americans -- disagree with you. It seems that the "@!$%#" is on the other foot (namely, YOURS).
Offer what you will.'reaction formation', @#$@,what ever.You can say that most people are behind this.You have many people who pay lip service to it.Good for you.Your gay children,uncles,aunts I'm sure truly appreciate your support.This isn't about gay sex-is that your slip showing?Gay sex is none of my business or anyone elses.You seem to think support <100% = hating,that would be more reflective of your own issues and feelings. Calling something it isn't is what bothers me.ID G A F about what bible thumpers or folks conjuring up angry god are saying. It is too bad that you folks believe the letter of the law is the same as the spirit,it isn't.The constitution backs you,doesn't mean it's right.Enjoy
Treating all Americans equally under the law isn't the right thing to do?
I guess that's why you're a teabagger - you think you deserve special rights and privileges, and are upset when the people you hate get the same legal rights you already enjoy.
you correct.thank you.teabagger sounds like what you like,to give.That is a stupid name btw.And I voted for BHO x 2.If you want to make it physical,np
Congratulations Ladies!
Although many posters clearly see homosexuality as a threat to society I think we are going to see a lot of positives come out of wider acceptance of gay marriage. Marriage strengthens the fabric of society by creating a legal bond to provide care to one another. Couples can also work together just like straight couples to grow and adapt through lifes challenges. I look forward to the day when gays don't feel pressured to start relationships with straight people they can't possibly love. How many more people will have to find out after 10 or 20 years that not only is their marrige over but it was a lie from the beginning??? Tragic...
I wish them health and happiness!
Can't they find some lesbians who both look like women? What's up with that? lol
Are you volunteering for the job, Lori?
This is awesome. The world is basicaly falling apart but socialy speaking in the united states we live in very good times.
"The fact that everyone,everyone knew what you meant when you said 'marriage' ,'husband' ,'wife', and now don't know,is ludicrous."
No pain see you miss understand every one who supports marriage equality knows quit clearly that marriage is between two people that love each-other you are the one who is confused not every one else
You've suborned those words.That's ok,we'll make new ones.The fact that you don't know those words doesn't change their meanings.Since the pro gay crowd loves snarkiness I'd have to ask- How are Mr. and MRS.,or Mr. and Mr., Or Mrs. and Mrs. understood doing? It is too bad those fools that wrote the constitution weren't able to foresee how stupid people would become.They might've offered up something about 'gay marriage'.They also neglected to write that the sky is up,sod goes dirt side down,and the sun comes up in the east,they just ASSUMED we'd knew that stuff
Pained, what great evil is going to come out of allowing gay people equal marital rites? You may not understand why same sex couples are attracted to each other. You may think it is disgusting. So what? I bet a lot of folks would gag if they had to watch my middle aged butt doing the horizontal bop! That's why we close our drapes! LOL!
If you are not born with instincts I pity you. F'rinstanceChaz bono,a woman with their dick cut off,is called a man.How GD revolting.The dignity would be for many to live in quiet solitude rather than sully something that is noble.If you don't understand then...
I am born with instincts to emotionally connect with other human beings. The qualities I look for in friends are honesty, kindness, sense of humor and a genuine concern for their fellow human beings to name a few. Whether someone is masculine or feminine and how that relates to what is between their legs is irrelevant.
So, how is traditional marriage being "sullied" by gay marriage?
To All Great Men- Women Who Have Made The Ultimate Sacrifice - R.I.P.
SEMPER FI
CHURCH of SATAN Rules Our MILITARY !
Romans 1:18-32
King James Version (KJV)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
The last verse says it all, the homos might as well fantizised that they're commiting their vile acts of homosexual behavior with Jesus Christ himself. Is there any doubt where these people are going to end up?
Is there any point to that tripe, outside of proselytizing?
Too bad for bigots like MWG that our laws and government are not based on such fairy tales.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21......Kill your disobedient children!
MWG is not a Christian. He/she is a Paulist.
They tend to be nasty, angry people.
Has anyone noticed how briefly NGCNews had this topic posted on your browser. Someone switched it over to MSNNews which doesn't have the option of a open forum discussion. I've been seeing a lot of topics from MSNNews lately where there's no possibility of a discussion. Of course, they do show tweeter and facebook as options but how much national attention do they get?
See, what is funny to me is the intelligence of the religious community. It is no coincidence that non-religious people generally have higher IQ's, I can cite these studies for you if you'd like. You are what we call Bible Parrots. You have the critical thinking skills of a snail. If all you can do is quote the bible, what's the point? It isn't even an argument, it's just quotes from a book that we 1. don't believe in, 2. are certainly not afraid of and 3. think more people should read it from cover to cover, there would be far fewer christians in the world.
After years and years of seeing people like you constantly preach and preach and preach irrelevance, hypocrisy, hatred and down right emotional ignorance at an astounding level, I honestly don't mind seeing it anymore. Why? Simple. The more people like you the more you scare away potential christians and people who actually do at least some critical thinking. That's right, nothing scares people away from christianity more than christians. You are a shining example of this.
Please carry on quoting your book and preaching damnation, the non-religious community is reaching unprecedented numbers. :)
God created gay marriage. Otherwise it won't exist.
Disgusting deviant behavior to bad so sad.
You're so right, Mike -- bigotry like yours is both disgusting and deviant.
Wow whats next showers togather!!oh never mine i like that lol, but realy this @!$%# sucks for all
Slippery slope argument is pretty stupid. Maybe when people start learning to act like humans rather than morons you can get that.
Well, she wasted her time praying the "cadet prayer". Not sure why she is quoting that, when she chose the "easier wrong".
God allows people to choose to live their way or His way, then
the Judgment and eternal Heaven or Hell to pay for their decision.
So, which god?
Odin? Thor? Zeus? Vishnu? Amaterasu? Quetzalcoatl?
Wow.
What will those crazy devil worshiping christians do next?
I feel as if I am in some kind of hell.
Gay marriage at West Point.
The world has truly come to an end. I can see it. I can see the end of the world. It is upon us.
Gay Marriage at West Point.
Go West is such a good song! It is simply the best!