The American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation’s largest organization of LGBT military spouses and their families, has “deep concern” over reports that President Donald Trump will nominate Tennessee Senator Mark Green (R) as Secretary of the Army.
AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack (who is raising a child with her spouse, a lieutenant colonel in the Army), said in a statement:
We are deeply concerned over reports that Mark Green will be nominated as Secretary of the Army. Green has made a shameful political career out of targeting LGBT people for discrimination. All soldiers and their families, including those who are LGBT, should have confidence that the Secretary of the Army has their back and is working for their best interest. Unfortunately, based on his vicious, anti-LGBT record, Mark Green cannot be trusted to ensure all those who serve have the support they need and deserve.”
In Tennessee, Green is sponsoring a bill to prohibit government entities from taking discriminatory action against businesses “on the basis of the internal policies of the business entity.” In other words, state and local government entities could not withhold contracts from a business even if the business chose to discriminate. Green has also supported a bill that would allow educators the right not to teach things “consistent with the educator’s own conscience,” one that would let mental health professionals refuse service to LGBTQ people, and one that would prevent transgender students from using the bathroom matching their gender identities, reports Nathaniel Frank at Slate. While the laws could have sweeping effects, LGBTQ people are considered the primary target.
An anti-LGBTQ service secretary could set a tone and policies that harm LGBTQ service members, their spouses/partners, and children—as well as the LGBTQ children of non-LGBTQ service members. Green stands in particular contrast to Eric Fanning, the previous secretary of the Army, who was the first openly gay person to hold the position. President Trump’s nominee for secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson, also has an anti-LGBTQ track record. Within the Air Force, however, one bright spot is the recent nomination of Brigadier General (select) Kristin Goodwin, a bomber pilot and lesbian mom, as commandant of cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. She was nominated in March to the rank of brigadier general by President Trump.