Military: Don't Ask

The confirmation today of the country’s first out gay man, Eric Fanning, as Army secretary is the latest sign we’ve come a long way since “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

The Clinton-era policy became law in 1994 and lasted all the way until 2011, finally letting service members be out as gay or lesbian. Now the civilian leading the Army is gay himself.

Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin called the confirmation “a demonstration of the continued progress towards fairness and equality in our nation’s armed forces.”

“Secretary-Designate Fanning’s historic confirmation demonstrates that in America, we value hard work, talent and dedication,” said Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, who is cochair of the LGBT Equality Caucus. “The capacity in which any individual can faithfully serve our country should not be limited.” ...

The Advocate.

Well done gay man now in charge of killing foreign people in service to American empire!

PS Dear old Blighty surely pioneered this when Michael Portillo was appointed Defence Secretary in 1995.