Historic Confirmation As Eric Fanning Becomes First  Openly-Gay Secretary of the U.S. Army

Fanning is now the highest-ranking, Senate-confirmed openly-LGBT presidential appointee

WASHINGTON - May 17, 2016 -- Today the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised the Senate for confirming Eric Fanning to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Army. Fanning is the first openly-gay leader of a U.S. military service, and is now the highest-ranking, Senate-confirmed openly-LGBT appointed official.

Fanning was nominated by President Barack Obama in September, and the nomination was reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee in March. Until today, Fanning's nomination had been blocked by Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) over his unrelated concern regarding potential transfer of Guantanamo detainees.

"Eric Fanning's historic confirmation today as Secretary of the U.S. Army is a demonstration of the continued progress towards fairness and equality in our nation's armed forces," said HRC President Chad Griffin. "Eric Fanning has spent his career serving this nation with tireless dedication, skill and ability, and as secretary he will bring that same commitment to the men and women of the U.S. Army."

Fanning's nomination comes just five years after the historic end of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) law that prohibited qualified LGB Americans from serving in the U.S. armed forces. His confirmation comes as the military is preparing to move forward to lift the ban on transgender service in the military.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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