In a history-making move, President Obama will nominate Eric Fanning to lead the Army, potentially making him the first openly gay civilian secretary of a military service.
The Washington Post reports that Fanning’s nomination is part of an increasing trend that finds The White House working to advance the rights of gays and lesbians in the federal government.
Related: Obama Nominates Eric Fanning, Openly Gay Man, As Under Secretary Of The Air Force
The move comes on the heels of the Obama administration providing health benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, appointing gay men and women to the executive and federal bench, and ending an 18-year ban on gays serving openly in the military.
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For over 25 years, Fanning has specialized on defense and national security issues in a career that spans over 25 years in Congress and the Pentagon. If confirmed by the Senate, he’d be working alongside Gen. Mark Milley — who became the Army’s top general last month — assuming responsibility for what The Washington Post calls “the Pentagon’s largest and most troubled service.”
Related: Meet the New Openly Gay Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, Eric Fanning
In a statement, Obama said, “Eric brings many years of proven experience and exceptional leadership to this new role. I look forward to working with Eric to keep our Army the very best in the world.”
According to Rudy de Leon, deputy defense secretary during the Clinton administration, “He understands how the Pentagon works and how to get things done in the Pentagon. He knows what works and what doesn’t work. Eric is taking over at a critical time for the Army. The Army is still living off equipment from the Reagan years.”
Tymm Conner
Well… This will be blocked by those nut job Republicans.
Billy Budd
Armies have a history of being full of gay guys in them. The Athenians were boy lovers. The Spartans were ultra-macho gay guys.
Ron Jackson
I predict heads will explode.
jwtraveler
I’m sure the misery, death and destruction inflicted on the poor peoples of the world will be less painful with a gay man pressing the button.
Bob LaBlah
My sincerest hope is once he leaves office Obama calmly tells an interviewer that “yes, I did have sex with another man before in my life and yes, I do LOVE MY WIFE AND KIDS.”
Now that would be a cool way to exit and diplomatically saying fuck all of you gay hating m/f’ers.
Billy Budd
@jwtraveler: I agree with your views. There is no glory in killing. Even if all action movies try to convince you the opposite is true.
Tracy Pope
jwtraveler, do you know what the Secretary of the Army does? By your answer I’m going to guess that answer would be “No”. On the RWNJ sites heads are already exploding because they have no idea what the Secretary actually does. One really important fact is that the Secretary job does not include “pressing the button”.
Billysees
@Ron Jackson:
” I predict heads will explode. ”
Yep!
Tom Mchenry
Another reason the right wing’s heads are exploding…gotta love it!
tjr101
Well Obama just loves poking his finger in the eyes of the right-wing doesn’t he? Too funny. This confirmation is going to be very interesting. Republicans are going to bring in Tony Perkins and probably their star girl Kim Davis to testify against this nomination. Ted Cruz and his nutcase of a father Raphael will definitely have something to say.
Obama is not the type of lame-duck President republicans will appreciate.
jwtraveler
@Tracy Pope: Do you know what symbolism is? Apparently not. That explains why you missed the point.
DuMaurier
@Tracy Pope:
It’s more of an administrative position, but to suggest that this separatesthe office holder from the actions of the military branch that appears in the job title is rather naive, to put it as neutrally and politely as possible.
NJjoe
@Tymm Conner:
You are most likely correct. “Bigot of the Summer,” Kim Davis must be ripping out that nasty hill-billy she calls a hairstyle. And the latest news on her could very well get her into more trouble with the law. Sorry to go off topic.
Ron Jackson
His job is Administration. He is a civilian. He reports to the President and doesn’t have much command authority. That’s the JCS (Joint Chief of Staff)job.
bicurious
I think it is absolutely great that we have an example in Tim Cook as CEO of Apple to show young gays coming up that a gay can not only be a captain of industry but can even lead a technical company. It wasn’t very long ago that the ONLY career examples for gays were hair dresser, make up artist, interior decorator, fashion designer, floral arranger, dancer, and retail queen. I do worry, however, if leading the army is a position a gay can excel in, and if this young man fails to succeed it could end up closing doors rather than opening them.
Bisexual-Transwoman
@Bob LaBlah: Do you think he is bisexual, or gay and closeted?
Billy Budd
I would never work for the army. It is a nasty business. Peace is our profession, they say.
Tracy Pope
@jwtraveler: That’s not symbolism. It is, though, the same arguments the crazy Cons on Twitchy and other sites of that ilk use.
@Ron Jackson: Exactly.
Tracy Pope
jwtraveler, I should have been more clear; the part about a gay man pressing the button is the part the Twitchy crowd is against. I suspect the innocent people killed in war isn’t something they think much about.
NJjoe
Gay men such as Tim Cook and Eric Fanning are perfect examples for gay youth to look up to and learn from. You can be gay and successful and make a difference in the world rather than these self absorbed YouTube “celebs.”
Cam
Well now the GOP will have to figure out how they can severely damage the Army in the next year so they can then turn around and attack this guy.
bicurious
Lets hope the next message the gays get is that they can be kind and supportive. I do sincerely hope that now that the message is out that gays can be real successes as captains of industry, head of the Army, doctors, lawyers, professors, etc. and not just hair dressers, interior decorators, etc. that the “bitch queen” model of behavior will die out.
Billysees
@bicurious:
” I think it is absolutely great that we have an example in Tim Cook as CEO of Apple to show young gays coming up that a gay can not only be a captain of industry but can even lead a technical company. ”
” I do worry…if leading the army is a position a gay can excel in, and if this young man fails to succeed it could end up closing doors rather than opening them. ”
” Lets hope the next message the gays get is that they can be kind and supportive. I do sincerely hope that now that the message is out that gays can be real successes as captains of industry, head of the Army, doctors, lawyers, professors, etc…. ”
@NJjoe:
” Gay men such as Tim Cook and Eric Fanning are perfect examples for gay youth to look up to and learn from. You can be gay and successful and make a difference in the world… ”
Good comments all.