Air Force Tech. Sgt. Erwynn Umali, a San Diego native, and Will Behrens became one of the very first same-sex couples this weekend to unite in a civil union on a military base, according to the Associated Press.
Navy chaplain Kay Reeb performed the ceremony. Reeb and Umali both serve at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.
Umali and Behrens released a statement that said, in part:
"We hope to be an inspiration to others in the LGBT community that struggle with the challenge of marriage equality. And that this issue is not just about the military, but the equal sacrifice and shared burdens of our loved ones who are civilians."
San Diego television station KFMB reports the ceremony is the first-ever of its kind on a military installation.
