LGBT groups 'heartened' by Mattis' testimony

Hill ^ | 1/10/17 | Rebecca Kheel

[DeathBeforeDishonor1]

Groups that advocate for LGBT troops were said they were assuaged by retired Gen. James Mattis’ Thursday testimony suggesting he won’t roll back rules set by the Obama administration allowing such service members to serve openly.

“We are heartened by Gen. Mattis’ stated commitment during his testimony not to reverse the profound progress we have made in ensuring LGBT service members and their families are able to serve our nation with pride,” American Military Partner Association President Ashley Broadway-Mack and OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Matt Thorn said in a joint statement.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter lifted the ban on transgender troops serving openly last summer and the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that banned gay service members from serving openly also came during the Obama administration.

Outside groups had been worried that Mattis, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Department of Defense, would be hostile to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops based on past statements he’s made blasting civilian leaders with a “progressive agenda” imposing “social change” on the military.

He was pressed on those issues by multiple Democrats during Thursday’s confirmation hearing and ultimately said he would not roll back the changes unless a service secretary tells him there is a proven issue with the policy. At first, he demurred when asked if gay troops were undermining the military’s lethality. But asked later by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) whether there’s anything innate about being a woman or identifying as LGBT that would prevent someone from serving in a lethal force, Mattis flatly said, “No.”

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Sadly so! They probably have to hit a percentage of nut jobs now, per quarterly reports.

I sure hope Trump/Pence can turn that cr@p around!

[Pinkbell]

If it was reversed, no one would care about placating the right.

[4FreeSpeach]

QED