LGBT News Has Chuck Hagel Redeemed His Anti-Gay Past?

BryanM · Dec 27, 2013

Queerty said:

When Chuck Hagel was nominated by President Obama to be the Secretary of Defense, LGBT groups were not pleased, with good reason. As a Republican Senator from Nebraska, Hagel was actively hostile to LGBT rights. He earned a zero percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign for most of his tenure. He complained about the “openly aggressive gay” James Hormel being nominated for ambassador to Luxembourg. More ominously, he had opposed the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, on the grounds that “the U.S. armed forces aren’t some social experiment.” At the time of his nomination, Hagel apologized for being “insensitive” and President Obama backed him, saying that his apology should be taken at face value.

So how does Hagel look a year after this controversy and 10 months as Defense Secretary? A lot better than anyone would have imagined. And perhaps even good enough to have redeemed his homophobic past.

Hagel has made all the right gestures to prove his sincerity. Some of it has been using the appropriate rhetoric. He spoke at the Gay Pride event at the Pentagon in June, saying that allowing openly gay and lesbian military personnel “makes our military and our nation stronger, much stronger.”

But Hagel rose to the occasion on two particular challenges. The first was around marriage equality. Even before the Supreme Court decision, the Pentagon was moving to grant same-sex married couples benefits. the Supreme Court ruling clearing the way for same-sex marriage. After the decision, the Pentagon moved very quickly (particularly for the Pentagon). Within six weeks of the ruling, Hagel issued a memorandum granting full rights to service members, including the ability to take time off to go to a marriage equality state to get hitched. “It is now the Department’s policy to treat all married couples equally,” Hagel wrote.

The second challenge was related to the first: the decision by some Republican governors to block the National Guard in their states from issuing marriage benefits to lesbian and gay personnel. This seemed to enrage Hagel. In a strongly worded speech, Hagel complained the action “created hardship and inequality” and promised to bring the full force of the Pentagon down on the violators. (Several have since backed off.)
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Full story here: Has Chuck Hagel Finally Redeemed His Homophobic Past? / Queerty

Now, I wasn't entirely thrilled when Hagel was nominated as well, but his actions as of late have really surprised me, and I'm sort of tempted to say yes, because now because of him all 50 states are issuing benefits to same sex military couples.

Daydream Harp · Dec 27, 2013

Good to hear homophobes with power can change with time, maybe there is hope for the world after all.

Sitri · Dec 27, 2013

He's a politician, and like all politicians all he cares about is getting reelected. Fortunately it seems that the people dislike homophobes.

GayLibertarian · Dec 27, 2013

But Sitri, he is an appointed official. I for one am glad to see how he is treating the situation.

LGBT News Has Chuck Hagel Redeemed His Anti-Gay Past?

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LGBT News Has Chuck Hagel Redeemed His Anti-Gay Past?

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