A real-life controversy is giving Lifetime’s Army Wives a run for its scandalous money.
Ashley Broadway and wife Heather Mack – a lieutenant colonel stationed at Fort Bragg – were married in November, a few months after the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”
But Broadway has been denied membership in a base club for officers’ spouses, with many believing this ban is solely due to her sexual preference.
Broadway was told by a representative from the Association of Bragg Officers’ Spouses last week that her application was turned down because she does not possess a military spouse identification card.
HOWEVER, this is a brand new rule, according to Babette Maxwell, founder and executive director of Military Spouse Magazine. It was only enacted after Broadway asked to join the club.
The club’s bylaws, obtained by NBC News, make it clear this organization accepts “spouses of all commissioned and warrant officers,” even mentioning that the group “will not seek to deprive individuals of their civil rights.”
There is no reference in the bylaws to an identification card.
Said a tear-filled Broadway of the rejection:
“I was really hurt by the denial. Living for years under ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ I couldn’t be a part of the military family. After ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ I thought, wow, I can finally be part of something, finally give back to the military community in ways other than just writing a check. So it was a blow. A real blow. Here, I thought things were progressing. I was knocked back down.”
Broadway and Mack have a two-year old son and the latter is eight months pregnant with their second child.
Yesterday, the spouse club wrote on its website:
“Our constitution and Bylaws are currently being reviewed. Thank you for your patience during this process. We will have them posted as soon as possible.”