From the Palm Center:
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Palm Center Director Aaron Belkin released the following statement today in response to the news that Tennessee legislator Mark Green had withdrawn his name from consideration as the next Secretary of the Army:
"The breadth and depth of opposition to Green reflects the reality of today's Army, which draws its strength as a fighting force from the diversity of our society and the respect and equality we accord one another. The White House chose wisely to maintain the foundations of morale and good order over bringing a new culture war into the ranks."
Concerns that Green's appointment could lead to an internal crisis rose with the avalanche of new information about his extremist views, from his classifying transgender as an "disease" and refusing to prescribe women birth control to denigrating Latinos and Muslims and describing government-funded health care as a "missed opportunity" to convert sick and needy people to Christianity.
Green's nomination raised concerns across the military community, from retired general and flag officers to military professors to veterans to Senate Armed Services Committee members and veteran Senator John McCain. Those concerns were echoed by more than 40 civil society organizations representing women, Latino, Muslim and LGBT Americans.
About The Palm Center
The Palm Center is an independent research institute committed to sponsoring state-of-the-art scholarship to enhance the quality of public dialogue about critical and controversial public policy issues. Our research on sexual minorities in the military has been published in leading social scientific journals. The Palm Center seeks to be a resource for university-affiliated as well as independent scholars, students, journalists, opinion leaders, and members of the public. For more information, see www.palmcenter.org .
From Human Rights Campaign:
WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) claimed victory as Donald Trump's nominee for Army Secretary, Mark Green, announced he would remove himself from consideration. Since Trump's announcement of Green's nomination, HRC worked diligently to expose Mark Green's shameful anti-LGBTQ record and rhetoric, and the danger his nomination posed to LGBTQ service members and their families.
"Mark Green's dangerous views and hateful comments are disqualifying for any public servant, let alone someone wishing to serve as secretary of the Army. His nomination was a clear indication of Donald Trump's lack of judgement and failure to be a president for all Americans," said Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign. "We thank the many Senators, from both parties, who expressed concerns about this nomination. HRC's millions of members and supporters stood strong against Donald Trump's nomination of Green, and we will continue to fight back against any appointment or policy made by this president that puts our community at risk."
HRC lead a robust campaign to #StopMarkGreen and expose his shameful history of attacking LGBTQ people:
HRC members took over 25,000 actions to #StopMarkGreen, including making over 6,800 calls to the Senate just this week
HRC: Trump Nominates Radical Anti-LGBTQ State Legislator to Lead U.S. Army www.hrc.org/blog/trump-nominates-radical-anti-lgbtq-state-legislator-to-lead-u.s.-army .
HRC: Here's Why Mark Green's Anti-LGBTQ Attacks Makes Him Wholly Unfit to Lead the U.S. Army www.hrc.org/blog/heres-why-mark-greens-anti-lgbtq-attacks-makes-him-wholly-unfit-to-lead-the .
HRC: Trump's Army Secretary Nominee Dismisses Anti-LGBTQ Attacks as Just "Politics" www.hrc.org/blog/trumps-army-secretary-nominee-dismisses-anti-lgbtq-attacks-as-just-politics .
HRC Led A Letter With More Than 40 Civil Rights Organizations to Senate Armed Services Committee http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com//files/assets/resources
Mark Green's shameful record includes using slurs against the transgender community, describing former President Obama's guidance protecting transgender students an example of "tyrannical government," saying being transgender is a "disease," and encouraging the state of Tennessee to defy federal law and deny marriage licenses to gay couples.
If Green had been confirmed, he would have succeed former Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, who made history as the first openly gay leader of a branch of the U.S. military.
About The Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
