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SLDN Statement on President Obama’s Nominee for Secretary of the Army, Rep. John McHugh

Washington, D.C. - We are pleased that Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) appears to share President Obama's commitment to repeal ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' In answering a question today by The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs made it clear McHugh and the President are on the same page. "[McHugh] and the President are in agreement on changing the ['Don't Ask, Don't Tell'] policy they both don't think is working for this country right now. It's a priority of the president's [sic]."

We have to believe the president and Mr. McHugh had a frank DADT discussion and reached alignment on repeal before this appointment was announced. Clearly, Mr. McHugh will be a pivotal player in the repeal effort and a key leader in the successful implementation of an Obama policy of nondiscrimination.

While the selection of Rep. McHugh appears to be a positive sign coming out of an Administration and Pentagon that otherwise has been sending mixed signals on its commitment toward ending the discriminatory law, SLDN continues to urge the White House and Department of Defense to outline a plan and rough timeline for repeal over the next 12-18 months. The clock is ticking. Every day service members-- like the highly decorated F-15E Aviator, Lt. Col. Fehrenbach, who has won nine air medals and protected the airspace above Washington, DC right after 9/11-- are fired because they're gay. Today, the Air Force Times, a respected newspaper read by military families, is now critical of the current law barring gays from serving openly.

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