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Army general is military's first openly gay flag officer
The U.S. military has its first openly gay flag officer with the promotion of Tammy Smith to the rank of Army brigadier general on Friday.
Brig. Gen. Tammy Smith
Smith received her stars in a private ceremony at the Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, according to a press release from the Service Members Legal Defense Network, an organization promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in the U.S. military.
Friday was also the first day she publicly acknowledged her sexuality, according to a report from Stars and Stripes, and that acknowledgement comes less than a year after the military ended the "don't ask, don't tell" policy under which an active-duty service member faced punishment or discharge if he or she admitted being homosexual.
“I don’t think I need to be focused on that," Stripes quoted Smith as saying. "What is relevant is upholding Army values and the responsibility this carries.”
Smith is serving as deputy chief at the Office of the Chief at the Army Reserve in Washington. She is a 26-year veteran of the Army and has served in Afghanistan, Panama and Costa Rica as well as stateside assignments.
“It is indeed a new era in America’s military when our most accomplished leaders are able to recognize who they are and serve the country they love at the same time," Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network said in a statement.
Smith's spouse is Tracey Hepner, director of operations for the Military Partners and Families Coaliton, an advocacy and support organization for LGBT members of the military.
Hepner presented Smith with her stars at Friday's ceremony.
On Twitter
there comes a point in time when you realize, people are mostly born gay, it is not a choice....that being said you cant discriminate against something someone was born with.
Born gay? You gotta be kidding. You are not born that way...you seek that life because of the sick, demented person you are.
Based on the photo, who woulda guessed?
its ok if we're talking about lesbians. you can respect a lesbian. it will be a very long time before a gay man is given the rank of general. the kind of respect an army general commands is extremely rare in men.
Respect the POSITION....not the PERSON!
An M16 doesn't care whose finger is pulling the trigger. Just pull the trigger.
Can you imagine how pathetic someone would have to be to care about someone else's seksual preferences?
The right wing bible thumpers will have one more thing to blow a gasket over. Funny stuff. They run the risk of having a brain anurysm if they get more angry and hateful. Big laughs for this atheist.
who? like CNN?
Never looked at it that way, but I think you're right.
I mean why should you care, esp. if you dont even know the person.
This all part of the plot, of a massive communist takeover of the United States
you betcha
No no no, its not the communists. Its the muslims, or maybe the chinese.
assange's different role
While she looks like a man more than like a woman and this whole gay thing is not my cup of tea, experience and competence trumps all these personal feelings. If on top of that she drinks good beer, then even the mentioned issues become minor.
there seems to be something profoundly wrong with your ability to reason.
Congratulations to the General. How wonderful that her partner was able to participate in her pin-on ceremony.
Next, that partner needs to be granted the same rights that I have as a military spouse.
Then, there will be true equality.
Whew, it's a chick. Not a real general.
Would've been more impressed if it was a guy. Lesbians have never inspired the same hate and disgust as gay men anyway, so this isn't much of a step.
It would be far better to be gay than to have the level of intelligence you display.
@Observer
If your a real observer you'd shut up, and take note.
I suddenly want to hear that happens to you.