OutServe-SLDN is asking the US Defense Department to reconsider Pastor Greg Laurie as the headline speaker at next week's National Day of Prayer.

The advocacy organization that works with LGBT military members, veterans and their families insists the minister's anti-gay past makes him an unacceptable speaker for an open military.

Eric Fanning is about to be the new Undersecretary of the US Air Force. The out gay man will hold the second highest civilian position in that armed forces branch.

Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan, a vocal opponent against the Defense of Marriage Act, died earlier today (10 January).

'She made an indelible mark on everyone she met with her integrity, her positive outlook, and her unflinching commitment to righting the wrongs visited upon gay and lesbian military families,' said Allyson Robinson, the executive director of OutServe-SLDN, in a statement. 'The fight for full LGBT equality in this country is forever changed because Charlie Morgan took up the cause.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.'

All the paperwork has been signed and it's all official. OutServe and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, two prominent LGBT military policy organizations, have become one.

It's not until the tenth paragraph of a press release sent out this week by the newly-merged OutServe and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network that it is mentioned that their new executive director is a transgender female.

Instead, there is focus on Allyson Robinson being a graduate of West Point and being a former officer in the US Army. She lives in Maryland with her wife of 18 years and their children.