As some will recall, I was not what would be described as a fan of Marine Commandant General James Amos who prior to passage of DADT repeal legislation made a number of homophobic anti-gay comments. Now, with the DADT repeal accomplished, Amos seems to be setting an example of moving on and supporting the new legal reality of open service by gay and lesbian service members. Now Amos has even indicated that he'd be welcoming to a gay couple showing up at the Marine Ball as noted in the above video. It's quite a remarkable change of course. Think Progress has details on Amos' new perspective. Here are highlights:
Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos — who strongly opposed the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell last year — told NPR’s Morning Edition yesterday that he is “very proud” of how the Marines have handled the repeal of the policy last month. “I’m very pleased now,” Amos said and explained that his previous statements in support of the ban were expressing the hesitancy for change within the Marine Corps.
Amos also came out in support of gay Marines bringing their same-sex partners to the Marine Corps Ball:
NPR: How comfortable are you with the idea of a gay couple showing up?
AMOS: I’m fine with it. I’m fine with it. I expect it to happen, I expect it to happen across the Marine Corps. And I mean, that’s part of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Dont’ Tell. I mean, that’s part of it. You can’t go half way. You can’t say we’re going to repeal it and you now can become public, but I’m going to restrict your behavior. We’re not going to do business that way.
Hopefully other senior military officers will wake up and accept that it is a new day for the U.S. military and that religious based bigotry and discrimination have no place in the ranks. Indeed, those who seek to maintain bigotry and discrimination be they chaplains or otherwise need to be discharged.
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