Tuesday, January 3, 2006

First openly gay member joins AF Academy board

The Associated Press: First openly gay member joins AF Academy board
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A Colorado Democrat who last year became the first openly gay non-incumbent elected to Congress took his place Friday on the U.S. Air Force Academy's supervisory board.

Rep. Jared Polis was appointed earlier this month to the Academy's Board of Visitors, which meets Friday and Saturday in Colorado Springs. He is thought to be the first openly gay member serving on an oversight board at any service academy.

The boards report to Congress and the Pentagon on how the academies are doing, including recommendations for change.

Polis opposes the military's ban on gay and lesbian servicemembers and has twice proposed, then withdrawn, amendments to undo "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policies. Polis' appointment, made by Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has veterans on both sides of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" debate wondering if it's a signal change is coming....


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