Same-Sex Lt. Col. Spouse Experiences Discrimination

According to the Association of Bragg Officer Spouses website, they were founded upon four principles: Charity, Friendship, Hospitality, and Support.

Fort Bragg's social and service organization for officer's spouses has done many great things for the community, but is their decision to oust a same-sex officer's spouse wishing to apply for membership going against what they are built on?

Although the Army still considers same-sex married couples 'single' for benefits and entitlement purposes, should the group's cornerstone principles be revamped?

In Sunday's Fayetteville Observer report a well written opinion piece on the group discriminating against Ashley Broadway (see photo), a newly married Army spouse, also made national headlines last month when the conflict first arose.

Broadway might be a newlywed, but she is not new to the Army and its lifestyle. She has spent the past 15 years next to Lt. Col. Heather Mack, assistant chief of staff for the 1st Theater Sustainment Command.

Since the "don't ask, don't tell" law took effect 14 months ago, the Defense Department has kept in place policies that bar spouses of same-gender couples from having military identification cards, shopping on base, living in base housing or participating in certain family support programs.

Mack and Broadway are expecting their second child this month.

Should the Association of Bragg Officer Spouses relook their membership polices and change their core principles?