Gay Groups Divided On Hagel

Prominent gay and lesbian activists who have worked in the trenches together for gender equality are divided over whether to use their political capital and resources to block the confirmation of Chuck Hagel for defense secretary.

Newspapers, web sites and reporters’ in-boxes are fast filling up with blogs, op-eds and paid ads from leading gay activists weighing in for and against the former Nebraska senator’s nomination, made by President Barack Obama Monday.

The latest shot comes from the Log Cabin Republicans — a conservative gay-rights group — which Monday took out a full- page ad in the Washington Post denouncing Hagel’s gay-rights record. It notes that he supported the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits federal acknowledgement of same-sex unions, and that he was opposed to the 2010 repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which allows gay men and women to serve openly in the military.
Last month, Hagel issued a statement saying that he is now “fully supportive of ‘open service……and committed to LGBT military families.”

David Mixner, a Democratic activist and author who rose to prominence as an openly gay friend of Bill Clinton, said in an interview that “it’s just so stupid” to oppose Hagel when he’s being appointed by a president who has done more to advance gay rights than any other in history. “We work for years to enlighten people and then when they seem to be enlightened, we still want to punish them,” added Mixner. “We should be thrilled.”

The mixed reaction from the gay community, an important part of Obama’s base, is only one slice of a larger battle against Hagel — who earned enemies from speaking his mind while a Nebraska senator — from all corners, including some Republicans, Democrats and supporters of Israel. Members of his own party are vowing to fight his nomination, charging that the Vietnam veteran hasn’t been sufficiently supportive of Israel, that he wants to slash defense funding and that he has opposed sanctions against Iran.


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