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February 26, 2013
Chuck Hagel confirmed as US Secretary of Defense despite past anti-gay remarks

Log Cabin Republicans vow 'to make sure his change of heart is sincere'

Former Senator Chuck Hagel was approved today by the US Senate to be the new Secretary of Defense.

The narrow vote of 58 to 41 followed a bruising confirmation process that included the first-ever fillibuster to try and block a vote on the person nominated to lead the Pentagon.

February 9, 2013
LGBT troops and families still unequal even with no DADT

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is gone but LGBT troops still fighting to get what should be theirs

While LGBT US troops can now serve openly, they cannot assume the same benefits their straight peers take for granted.

According to reports, the US Department of Defense plans on making sure family members of LGBT troops are covered by military benefits.

January 31, 2013
During confirmation hearing, Chuck Hagel vows to stand up for gays in military

Secretary of Defense nominee: 'All men and women deserve the same rights'

Former US Senator Chuck Hagel was asked about gays in the military and same-sex marriages being performed on military bases Thursday (31 January) during a sometimes contentious secretary of defense confirmation hearing.

'I am fully committed to implementing the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’' Hagel said in his opening statement, "And doing everything possible under current law to provide equal benefits to the families of all, all our service members.'

January 27, 2013
New York Times article hints anonymous LGBT group might be supported by GOP dollars

New York Times article traces Use Your Mandate to Republican linked organizations

For the past week Use Your Mandate has been using Twitter, mailings in seven states and TV ads to knock Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's nominee for Secretary of Defense. The group insists it's made up of Democratic party LGBT operatives, but its members have chosen to be anonymous.

January 20, 2013
Anonymous LGBT group produces anti-Chuck Hagel video

An organization called Use Your Mandate pushes back against the Chuck Hagel nomination for Secretary of Defense

Use Your Mandate, an anonymous LGBT organization, has produced an ad against Chuck Hagel's nomination for Secretary of Defense.

The 30 second ad charges Hagel  'does not share our values' and is anti-woman, gay, and Israel. The spot ends asking viewers to urge senators to block the nominee.

January 13, 2013
Colin Powell comes to Chuck Hagel's defense

Colin Powell  stands up for Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is certain Chuck Hagel will support LGBT troops if he gets to lead the Defense Department.

The retired four-star general was a guest on the Sunday news program Meet the Press. When asked how the Secretary of Defense nominee would handle the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Powell noted the policy was gone. He added Hagel would do what was required to treat gay and lesbian troops like their straight peers.

January 7, 2013
President Obama nominates Chuck Hagel for US Defense Secretary

Hagel remains under fire for anti-gay comments made in the past

President Barack Obama on Monday (7 January) formally nominated former Senator Chuck Hagel to lead the US Defense Department.

Hagel has come under for in recent weeks for anti-gay comments he's made in the past but Obama has said he believes his appointee's apology is sincere and has stood by him.

January 6, 2013
Senators hint at tough confirmation for Chuck Hagel

Senator promises close examination of Chuck Hagel's past statements on Iran and Isreal in upcoming confirmation hearing

From all indications President Barack Obama is prepared to pick former Senator Chuck Hagel to lead the Defense Department. Hagel once supported Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but now insists he's for open service. Gay right groups are giving him support (with caveats).

January 5, 2013
Gay rights group prepares for Chuck Hagel's nomination as Defense secretary

LGBT military organization OutServe-SLDN gets ready for Chuck Hagel's leadership of the Defense Department

From all indications, Chuck Hagel will be nominated by President Barack Obama to be the new head of the Defense Department. According to the New York Times, Obama could make the announcement as early as next week.

The leading LGBT military family advocacy organization, OutServe-SLDN, is prepared with a to-do-list for Hagel.

December 31, 2012
Gay congressman Barney Frank uses last day in office to protest defense secretary candidate

Says Chuck Hagel 'voted consistently against fairness for LGBT people'

On his last day as a US congressman, Barney Frank blasted former senator Chuck Hagal who President Barack Obama is considering nominating to be the next secretary of defense.

Frank, the first openly gay person to ever serve in the congress, has not forgotten Hagel's words from 1998 when a gay man, James Hormel, was nominated by then-President Bill Clinton to be US Ambassador to Luxembourg.

December 30, 2012
Obama defends Hagel and his apology

President Barack Obama goes on Meet The Press to defend Chuck Hagel

President Barack Obama is standing behind Chuck Hagel's apology to former Ambassador, and gay man, James Hormel.

The president appeared on the news program Meet the Press. In the 30 minute interview he was asked about Hagel and his possible appointment as Secretary of Defense. In 1998, when Hormel was nominated to be the US ambassador to Luxembourg, he earned the ire of the then senator.

December 28, 2012
Log Cabin Republicans are against Chuck Hagel as US Defense Secretary

Gay group had suffered backlash for endorsing Mitt Romney for president

In the weeks leading up to the Us presiential election last month, the Log Cabin Republicans endorsed Republican Mitt Romney despite the candidate's staunch views against gay marriage.

December 22, 2012
Hormel uses Facebook to accept Hagel's apology

James Hormel goes to Facebook to announce he accepts Chuck Hagel's apology.

Things can change rapidly in Washington, DC. Late yesterday (21 Dec.) former Ambassador James Hormel told the Washington Post he had doubts about  Chuck Hagel's apology. Sometime after that article was published, Hormel announced on his Facebook page all was forgiven.

December 22, 2012
James Hormel has his doubts about Chuck Hagel's apology

James Hormel has not yeat heard from Sen. Hagel.

Right now James Hormel isn't putting much stock into Chuck Hagel's apology.

In 1998 when Hormel was nominated to be the US ambassador to Luxembourg, he earned the ire of the then senator.

'Ambassadorial posts are sensitive,' Hagel said to the Omaha World Herald in 1998. 'They are representing America. They are representing our lifestyles, our values, our standards. And I think it is an inhibiting factor to be — openly aggressively gay like Mr. Hormel — to do a better job.'

December 21, 2012
Now a contender to be US Defense Secretary, former senator apologizes for anti-gay remarks

Chuck Hagel says he is fully 'committed to LGBT military families'

Former US Senator Chuck Hagel is reportedly being considered for the position of Secretary of Defense, a position that is second only to the president in the military hierarchy - a military that since September 2011 has allowed gays and lesbians to serve openly.

Hagel, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, would have to be in support of gay and lesbian military personnel in the cabinet-level position.

June 28, 2012
Meghan McCain not impressed with Obama's endorsement of gay marriage

John McCain's daughter says president should be touting federal legislation

The daughter of 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain has stood apart from many Republicans by standing up very publicly for LGBT equality.

But that doesn't mean she's ready to vote for Barack Obama because he became the first sitting US president in history to endorse gay marriage.

March 8, 2012
Cindy McCain 'strongly disagrees' with Kirk Cameron on gay marriage

But wife of Republican US Sen. John McCain does not think he's a bigot

Cindy McCain appeared on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight Wednesday (7 March) and was asked about Kirk Cameron's anti-gay comments on the same program five days earlier.

'He has his views, I respect that,' the wife of US Sen. John McCain said before adding, 'I strongly disagree.'

January 4, 2012
Wife and daughter of Sen. John McCain step up again for NOH8

The 2008 Repubican presidential nominee has been no friend of gays, but Cindy and Meghan McCain are publicly for LGBT equality

As most of the GOP presidential hopefuls slugging it out at today's Iowa Caucuses remain steadfastly against LGBT equality, the wife and daughter of the 2008 Republican nominee are no longer toeing the party line.

Sen. John McCain's wife, Cindy, and daughter, Meghan, have posed for photographer Adam Bouska for a joint portrait for the NOH8 campaign which celebrated its third anniversary in December.

It is the second time the McCains have posed for a NOH8 portrait but previously they had posed separately.