Obama Considers Gay Museum President for Sec. of Navy

William White, the gay president of New York's Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum, is being named as a possible Navy secretary in the Obama administration.

White, who has been with the museum since 1992, according to Newsday, would be the first openly gay chief of a military branch. The secretary is a civilian position, meaning his appointment would not be a direct violation of the military's ban on openly gay and lesbian service members.

Members of Congress and retired members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have contacted Obama's transition team, urging him to pick White.

Retired general Hugh Shelton said White "would be phenomenal." He added that White's extensive background as a fund-raiser for veterans' and military causes would be helpful in the job. Congressman Jerrold Nadler said White is "very capable" on the basis of observing his work at the Intrepid, located on the Hudson River, which is in Nadler's district. Nadler added that White has been a friend of service members and their families through his work with the museum and philanthropic efforts, according to The Washington Times.

Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, told Advocate.com on Thursday that White's appointment would have resonance in Washington.

"I think his appointment would have have an influence on the culture at the Pentagon," Sarvis said. "It would be a significant statement to others in the military branches." He also added that repealing the military's ban on openly gay and lesbian troops is seemingly a top priority for the incoming Obama administration. Sarvis expects the president-elect will work with the new Congress to shape a bill ending the ban.

However, some observers are not happy that White is being considered for the position. Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, said White's appointment as Navy secretary would be "demoralizing to the troops," according to the Times. She added, "It's a matter of judgment, and I think that would be very poor judgment on the part of the commander in chief." (Michelle Garcia, Advocate.com)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Name: Miss Ketina
Date posted: 2008-12-22 4:00 PM
Hometown: Little Rock,AR

Comment:

Name: Granny Date posted: 2008-12-19 4:18 PM Hometown: Menifee, CA Comment: A poor little token might be a part of the short change we are getting. Look around folks. This cabinet is more of the same and maybe worse if that be possible. I suggest we appoint the Grand Puba of the KKK to be the next apointee to the next vacancy. As an old Gay I have been kicked in the ass for the last time by these politicians. I will be looking to pull up sticks and move to Canada. Our new President is a nicotine addict too. Isn't that a great image for children. I would rather have a gay mom and dad than a cigarette smoking addict who is two and three and four faced. I will not be watching this inaguration for sure. Why blacks are so enamored I will never know. He is not Black. He is biracial, so why make a big deal out of a Zebra. By the way, Zebras never change their stripes. OMG, The Advocate allowed a racist comment to be posted on their site. I am appalled.

Name: Mark
Date posted: 2008-12-21 10:40 PM
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA

Comment:

I know many of us are upset with Obama's decision to pick Rick Warren to give the invocation at the inaugural, but I would like to add two comments as someone who does not live in CA. First, with as much money as the far-right spent in CA on prop 8 what it proved was that in the past 8 years since the first initiative passed support for the rights of LGBT to marry in your state has improved drastically. Your right to marriage will be upheld. Second, those of us living in the South (specially states like LA) are still fighting for basic human rights such as non housing discrimination and employment protection. I know many of you are upset with Obama, but I ask that you give him a chance. I've known way to many people who have been either kicked out of apartments or lost jobs because someone discovered they were gay or lesbian. I'm not happy with the Warren pick, but trust me when I say that he is nothing compared to who McCain would have picked. Peace.

Name: Jackson
Date posted: 2008-12-20 11:43 AM
Hometown: Providence

Comment:

Brian in the first post had it about right, Obama doesn't care about gay people and has never shown any inclination otherwise. Like many in the black community (check out the higher rate of support for Prop 8 by the black community), Obama is a homophobe who has yet to explain his views on homosexuality. What a hypocritical way for him to start out his White House, joining in the harrassment of gay people! Disgraceful. I am soooooooooo glad that I supported Hillary in the primaries and didn't fall for the "oh he's black and new and exciting, I'll vote for him" bullshit that so many of my fellows gays and lesbians did. It's high time that gays and lesbians voted and supported only those candidate with a track record of suport for gays and lesbians, someone like Hillay Clinton.

Name: Laurent
Date posted: 2008-12-19 9:20 PM
Hometown: Ottawa, Canada

Comment:

Am I wrong, is not the navy the largest of your military services, it is larger than the army, marines and definitely the air force. So I would assume that the position of Secretary of the Navy is a very powerful position within the civilian hiarchy of the armed forces. The NavSec will be instrumental in making sure that the repeal of DADT doesn't have some other gotcha's. Remember DADT was a compromise to an absolute ban of gays in the military, which would have meant prison for being gay if found out. I am telling you that you backed the wrong horse with Obahma and you have to live with what you get. Luckily under NAFTA it is easy for Americans to get work permits in Canada so you do have a destination where you would be accepted being gay, and the likes of Rick Warren would not be welcome, because according to our laws he is a hate monger the same as Rev. Phelps. Freedom of speech does not give one the right to tell lies from the pulpit or to encourage hate against another group.

Name: Granny
Date posted: 2008-12-19 4:18 PM
Hometown: Menifee, CA

Comment:

A poor little token might be a part of the short change we are getting. Look around folks. This cabinet is more of the same and maybe worse if that be possible. I suggest we appoint the Grand Puba of the KKK to be the next apointee to the next vacancy. As an old Gay I have been kicked in the ass for the last time by these politicians. I will be looking to pull up sticks and move to Canada. Our new President is a nicotine addict too. Isn't that a great image for children. I would rather have a gay mom and dad than a cigarette smoking addict who is two and three and four faced. I will not be watching this inaguration for sure. Why blacks are so enamored I will never know. He is not Black. He is biracial, so why make a big deal out of a Zebra. By the way, Zebras never change their stripes.

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