LGBTQ
US Military Appoints First Openly Gay Civilian Leader
The US military has appointed its first openly gay civilian leader.
Eric Fanning's appointment as army secretary comes five years after the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell", which prohibited openly gay and lesbian US personnel from serving.
The Senate unanimously approved Mr Fanning, 47, eight months after he was nominated by President Barack Obama.
He had been acting secretary of the Army, and previously served as undersecretary of the Air Force from 2013-15, as well as its acting secretary for six months.
Eric Fanning standing for the national anthem at the Army-Navy American football game in December, during his time as Acting Secretary of the Army
Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin said the milestone was "a demonstration of the continued progress towards fairness and equality in our nation's armed forces", while Defence Secretary Ash Carter also issued a statement congratulating Mr Fanning.
The main opposition to his appointment, in fact, was a dispute over Guantanamo Bay, rather than Mr Fanning's sexual orientation.
Senator Pat Roberts had objected to the confirmation, citing fears that the Obama administration could try to transfer prisoners from the detention centre to his home state, Kansas.
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