Brig. General Tammy Smith and her wife Tracey Hepner

Tammy Smith has been promoted to the rank of brigadier general in a private ceremony today, making her the first openly gay flag officer to come out while serving in the U.S. military. Less than a year after the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Smith — who served in Afghanistan last year — is now the most senior openly gay public military figure.

Smith discussed her promotion with Stars and Stripes, focusing on the honor of the opportunity rather than her sexual orientation:

“All of those facts are irrelevant,” she said. “I don’t think I need to be focused on that. What is relevant is upholding Army values and the responsibility this carries.” [...]

Stars and Stripes interviewed Smith last summer before the “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal was finalized. Speaking under a pseudonym, she said she had no plans to come out to her colleagues, but was looking forward to the relief of knowing that her career wouldn’t be threatened if she was found out.

“Finally my partner and I will be able to go out and have drinks together without worrying,” she said then.

Smith’s promotion marks an important milestone, and while the fight for equality continues, the future is bright for the LGBT military community: The Air Force Academy graduated its first openly gay cadets this past May. For her part, Smith has been extremely humble: “For me, the story is about the promotion and the opportunities it brings.”

– Steven Perlberg

Australia, like many countries, is wrestling with the question of whether or not same-sex couples should have the freedom to marry. The head of Australia’s Presbyterian Church, Reverend David Jones, believes that Christians opposed to the change are in no way being discriminatory:

JONES: We continually are told that the legalisation of same-sex marriage would end perceived discrimination against same-sex couples who are currently not able to marry under federal government law. But at least from the church perspective, opposition to such legalisation has nothing to do with discrimination. Plain and simply, Christians oppose same-sex marriage because the Bible, the word of the God who created male and female and also created marriage, clearly and distinctly says that marriage is between one man and one woman – which means not between two men or two women.

Jones, just like the conservative Christians in the U.S. who oppose marriage equality (and defend Chick-fil-A), seems to believe that “discrimination” and the Bible are always mutually exclusive. While it may not be convenient for them to admit this, the reality is that a belief can both be “Christian” and “discrimination” at the very same time. Indeed, most of the forms of inequality society has left behind in the history books were in the Bible to begin with. Same-sex marriage is no different, and the inequality experienced by same-sex couples should be a much bigger priority than appeasing the consciences of those defending discrimination.

Bishop Blase Cupich

Bishop Blase J. Cupich of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington wants his parishioners to vote “Reject” on Referendum 74, a ballot question to uphold the state’s marriage equality law. Under the guise of “respect,” Cupich offers a series of “reflections,” with six intellectually shallow arguments against same-sex marriage:

1. Separate is equal. Cupich argues that since same-sex couples already have the rights of marriage through domestic partnership, the law is unnecessary: “It is about making same sex unions identical to traditional marriages. It is arguable that traditional marriage loses its unique identity in the process.”
2. Same-sex couples cannot procreate. Cupich argues that “men and women are not interchangeable” and thus there will be “significant consequences” for “children, families, society, and the common good.”
3. Straight people won’t be specially recognized: “The state would no longer grant special support and recognition of the irreplaceable contribution and sacrifice that wives and husbands make to society today as mothers and fathers.”
4. Forms won’t be gender-specific. Cupich is concerned that governmental forms will lose “husband and wife” and “mother and father” and be replaced with “spouse” and “parent,” because the new terms “fail to convey what fathers and mothers each bring as male and female to the critical task of generating.”
5. Polygamy and incest are next: “If marriage is only about relationships, why limit unions to two people? Why does the new law include the traditional prohibition of close kinship unions for both opposite and same sex couples?”
6. Opposite-sex marriage is “our human nature”: “I would argue that this is not about granting equality to same sex couples, but of changing the identity of marriage.”

While Cupich’s arguments are trite, they are noteworthy for their candor. It’s quite clear from most of his arguments that he is guided by a sense of hetero-supremacy and gender-norm rigidity. None of his points have merit, but they are rooted in the sense that straight people deserve special recognition in society and that conformity to gender stereotypes is superior to any unique personality traits anybody might have.

Cupich wants the debate to be carried on “with respect, honesty, and conviction.” It doesn’t get much more honest than saying same-sex couples shouldn’t be equal because he just doesn’t want same-sex couples to be equal.

The Democratic Platform Drafting Committee has released the draft language for its support of both marriage equality and employment non-discrimination protections. Though the party has supported repealing the Defense of Marriage Act in past platforms, this is the first time it has fully endorsed marriage equality:

We support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law. We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference.

We oppose discriminatory federal and state constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny equal protection of the laws to committed same-sex couples who seek the same respect and responsibilities as other married couples. We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.

Similarly, though past platforms have supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the new draft expands the party’s commitment to creating equality, safety, and fairness for the LGBT community:

We know that putting America back to work is job one, and we are committed to ensuring Americans do not face employment discrimination. We support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act because people should not be fired based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

President Obama and the Democratic Party are committed to ensuring all Americans are treated fairly. This administration hosted the first-ever White House Conference on Bullying Prevention and we must continue our work to prevent vicious bullying of young people and support LGBT youth. The President’s record, from ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in full cooperation with our military leadership, to passing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to ensuring same-sex couples can visit each other in the hospital, reflects Democrats’ belief that all Americans deserve the same chance to pursue happiness, earn a living, be safe in their communities, serve their country, and take care of the ones they love.

The Platform Committee will have to approve the draft this weekend, and then convention delegates will have to adopt the platform in Charlotte. The symbolic significance of such bold, explicit support for LGBT equality by a dominant political party cannot be overstated.