Multiple news articles have covered the promotion of US Army Reserve General Tammy Smith, who became the first actively serving, openly homosexual General officer in the US military.  General Smith herself has made little public issue of her sexual preference:

“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.”

General Smith’s homosexual partner, Tracey Hepner, is an outspoken activist for homosexual rights.  She pinned on one of General Smith’s stars.  She or one of the other homosexual activists invited to attend may also be the source for the publicity surrounding the normally subdued promotion ceremony.

The desire to “uphold[] Army values” is notable.  The official website on Army Values lists the following description under the Army value of “Integrity:”

Do what’s right, legally and morally. Integrity is a quality you develop by adhering to moral principles. It requires that you do and say nothing that deceives others.

General Smith has served 26 years in the US Army.

As an aside, the article at the Stars and Stripes provoked an interesting comment from US Army Sgt Justin Griffith, who took the opportunity to identify himself as an active duty Soldier as a lead-in to calling evangelical Christians “vocal bigots.”

I’m an active duty soldier. (Straight, married with a kid – not that it matters). I’m proud to serve with gay and lesbian men and women…

I think the real elephant in the room here is religion. While Christian denominations are quite diverse on the subject, evangelicals and pentacostal types are the vocal bigots…

Freedom of speech is a great thing, isn’t it, even when one identifies himself as a member of the military?