First for the US Army, as a male soldier weds his groom on base
Sergeant Alastair Smith, 36, of the 2nd Battalion ‘The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment’, married civilian Aaron Weston on British forces territory in Dhekilia, Cyprus, becoming the first gay couple to get married on a British military base overseas.
According to an Army lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender website, Sgt Smith was previously married to a woman, with whom he had children. He was described as an assistant intelligence officer in Cyprus.
Speaking about the ceremony, Sgt Smith said:
According
to reports, this is not just the first gay wedding on a British military base
overseas, it is also understood to be one of the first ever at a UK army base.
The wedding – which took place on September 10 - was approved and officiated by Air Vice Marshal Mike Wigston, the commander and administrator of the Army's sovereign base area.
The wedding – which took place on September 10 - was approved and officiated by Air Vice Marshal Mike Wigston, the commander and administrator of the Army's sovereign base area.
According to an Army lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender website, Sgt Smith was previously married to a woman, with whom he had children. He was described as an assistant intelligence officer in Cyprus.
Speaking about the ceremony, Sgt Smith said:
'As well as having the great honour of being
able to serve in an Infantry Battalion in the British Army, it's also an honour
to be able to commit myself to my husband with the full backing and support of
the British Army in the unique environment that Cyprus offers. In a country
that is pushing forward on matters of gender and equality, both Cyprus and the
SBAA have been massively supportive. 'We are proud to be able to serve and live
in this community.
When he
was a Corporal, he wrote in an army blog:
'When I joined the Army, coming out would have
meant getting kicked out, but by the time I had established myself and my
Battalion found out, it no longer meant a career death sentence. As a result I
was afraid to come out, got married and had children. Now my children know
Daddy is gay and they all love and adore my partner.'
Sgt
Smith, who revealed his sexuality at a Corporal mess function, wrote in his
blog:
'Rumours had been flying round and I thought
'why hide it any longer'. 'So I said to someone 'Yeah I'm gay, is there a
problem with that.' 'Two of the biggest Corporals in our mess started to walk
over to me, and I had a 'fight or flight' instinct, but I noticed they were
both smiling. They stuck out their hands and shook mine telling me I must have
been the bravest man in the world to 'come out' firstly in an infantry
battalion and secondly in the Corporal's mess. He said no one in the military
had seen his family unit 'as any different from any other family on the patch'.
He also added: 'The Army has always had banter and I can give as good as I get.
'That said I've never had anything malicious said to me and I have never felt
any different to any other soldiers in my Battalion.'
In a
statement, the Ministry of Defence said:
'The first-ever British Forces Overseas
Territory same-sex marriage has taken place at Dhekelia's Fisherman's Cove in
Cyprus.' They said Air Vice Marshal Wigston made the decision to allow the same
sex marriage, while Sgt Smith was overjoyed to be able to celebrate the
ground-breaking day with his husband, surrounded by his friends, family and infantry
colleagues'. Sgt Smith's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Davies
said: 'I am delighted that Sergeant Smith and Aaron were able to get married on
the Dhekelia coastline – a cracking choice. 'On behalf of the Battalion and
wider 'Tigers' community, we wish them the very best of happiness for the
future.'
His Platoon Commander, Captain Dan Cole and other friends and
colleagues also congratulated the couple.
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