Pentagon officials say it's ok for military chaplains to perform same-sex marriages

“A military chaplain may participate in or officiate any private ceremony, whether on or off a military installation, provided that the ceremony is not prohibited by applicable state and local law,” a memo released Friday said. “Further a chaplain is not required to participate in or officiate a private ceremony if doing so would be in variance with the tenets of his or her religion.”

Some members of Congress oppose the Defense Department’s decision saying it violates the federal Defense of Marriage Act of 1996.

There is no official word whether married same-sex military couples would qualify for the same benefits as heterosexual, married military couples.