Marine Commandant: Marines May Allow Straight Soldiers to Live Separately from Gays Over ‘Moral Concerns’

Back in March, Marine Corps Commandant General James Conway said that he wants separate quarters for gay troops: "I would not ask our Marines to live with someone that is homosexual if we can possibly avoid it."

Yesterday, in a Pentagon briefing, Conway reiterated that sentiment:

On a different, but related subject, Conway suggested that if the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” law is repealed, the Marines may consider allowing Marines not to share quarters with homosexuals.

Conway said the Marines may make such housing arrangements “voluntary” to accommodate any “moral concerns.” He said many Marines are “very religious” and because of their moral concerns “don’t want to room” with homosexuals.

But Conway stressed that if the law is repealed, the Marines would take the lead in implementing it. “We cannot be seen as dragging our feet. We’ve got two wars to fight. We’ll implement it and move on,” said Conway.

You may recall that in July, when the first troop survey went out, there was concern about language that referred to "facilities adjustments" and Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell tried to allay those concerns:

"…we’re asking these questions because in our engagements with the force thus far, this has been an area of some concern. Now we need to test it to see if that holds for—if it really reflects the concerns of the force, and which members of the force. Is it older members? Is it younger members? Are they, you know—which ones? And, and then along with this information, the working group will make some recommendations about how to deal with those concerns. It could be, as I said, who knows? This could be dealt with through education programs, through training programs, or it may require 'facilities adjustments.' But no one, no one is considering 'separate but equal' bathing or living facilities for you know, gay and straight troops. That’s just not ever a consideration. Absolutely off the table."

As for "facilities adjustments," Morrell told CBS he meant things like shower curtains.

Sounds like Conway is talking about more than shower curtains.