Two US Army Captains Have Become The First Same-Sex Couple To Marry At The Army Base Where They Met

The times they are a-changing in the US military. The two helicopter pilots got married at the military academy where they first met each other.

It's probably fair to say that the military hasn't always been the most accepting place if you are a bit different.

In fact, until very recently if you was gay, lesbian, or bisexual in the US Army you had to hide your identity from your co-workers so there could be no discrimination or harassment of gay, lesbian, or bi forces members.

This system - called 'Don't ask, don't tell' (DADT) - came into force after regulations were changed to allow LGBT people into the armed forces in the first place.

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The DADT system was scrapped in 2011 and thankfully things have come a long way since then too.

Now two helicopter pilots have become the first active soldiers of the same sex to marry at the military academy that they met at.

Captain Daniel Hall and Captain Vincent Franchino got hitched last Saturday at West Point military academy at a huge service attended by a whole load of their fellow military officers.

They were even given a sabre salute as they left the chapel in New York dressed in their blue US Army uniforms.

They met at West Point in 2009 (when the DADT rules were still in place) and only found out that they were both gay through mutual friends. They've not always had it as easy as they do now, either.

Captain Franchino said: "It's been a bit of a bumpy road for us. We've experienced everything from people feeling awkward around us to being called faggots while holding hands and walking down the street, stuff like that."

The military's rules and regulations also made things difficult at first, according to Captain Hall.

He said: "Though we were attracted to one another, we couldn't say or do anything about it. It's really frustrating when two people have feelings for each other but are not allowed to act on them.

"We were serving under a policy that was telling all of us - perfectly capable soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines - to lie about ourselves."

There could be some testing times ahead too - they've both been stationed abroad in different countries recently with Captain Franchino having spent the last year in Europe on duty.

He continued: "We've just grown accustomed to being apart at times. It's a part of who we are; a part of what we do, so we simply accept it."

Fair play to you, LADs. And people say that there is never anything nice in the news.

Topics: LGBT, US News

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a freelance journalist and LADbible contributor. He graduated from University of London with a BA in Philosophy before studying for a Masters in Journalism at the University of Salford. He has previously written for the M.E.N Group as well as working for several top professional sports clubs. Contact him on [email protected]

@TPWagwim