(Community Matters) Guest editorial from an out, career foreign service officer on the Hagel nomination.
Hagel opposed the nomination on grounds that Hormel is “aggressively gay” — for which Hagel has since apologized. Hormel has accepted that apology and seems willing to move on.
Why, then, should any of us freeze-frame Hagel’s comments 15 years ago — even as many of us, gay and straight, gladly acknowledge that America’s understanding of, and attitudes toward, sexual orientation and gender identity are changing rapidly?
update: reading how he achieved low scores from HRC, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), League of Conservation Voters, and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). These are a concern. Agree he ought to be more thoroughly vetted on these issues during hearings – definitely need for a deep dive by our friends: Levin, Gillibrand, Brumenthal and Kaine.
Community Matters 