Obama Vetting First Openly Gay Military Chief

Lost in the furor created when Barack Obama announced he had selected anti-gay-rights mega-pastor Rick Warren to deliver his inaugural invocation are the appointments the president-elect has made and is poised to make that show him to be anything but hostile to gay community. Newsweek details on a history making front-runner for the job of Secretary of the Navy:

Bill White, president of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York, is being backed by congressional and former military leaders to be the next secretary of the Navy. Among White's vocal supporters are retired Gen. Hugh Shelton, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Rep. Jerold Nadler, a New York Democrat whose district includes the newly renovated Intrepid museum which sits on an aircraft carrier in the Hudson River.

White, who is openly gay, would not run afoul of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" regulations since the Secretary post is technically a civilian job. But Obama has also signaled that he may lift the ban on soldiers who are out of the closet.

Obama also appointed Nancy Sutley to chair the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Sutley, a lesbian, is currently the deputy mayor for energy and environment in Los Angeles, and is helping the transition team review the E.P.A.

So, while the choice of anti-Prop-8 Warren was a symbolic blow to many in the gay community, the actual selection of those who will be working in the new administration can be seen in largely positive terms. And on that note, time for a little Friday dance music: