Congress of the tinited States ‘Washington, BC 20515 ‘The Honorable John McCain ‘The Honorable Jak Reed ‘Chairman Ranking Member Senate Committee on Amed Services Senate Committec on Amied Services ‘Russell Senate Building, Room 228 Russell Senate Bulding, Room 228 “Washington, D.C. 20510 ‘Washington, D.C. 20510 ‘April 24, 2017 ‘Deae Chainman McCain and Ranking Member Reed, We are writing to urge yout oppose Mark E. Green's nomination for the position of Secretary ofthe Amy. The Sretary ofthe Army is responsible for suppoctng over one million soldiers, # number that includes many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender soldiers. However, Mr. Gree’s past statements and sctions have made itlear that he cannot be trusted to ensue that LGBT soldiers are ableo serve ‘heir county without discrimination or harassment, “Mr. Green has deserbed being transgender as a“disease” that represents 2 form of “immorality.” Asa -member ofthe Tennesse Senate, Mr. Green intodiced abl hat would have bard focal governments and public universes from instituting non-dserimination policies to govern which private companies ‘they would work with, stelding companies that disriminate against LGBT people. He also co- sponsored abil that wou have forced transgender students to se the bathroom tat matches this legal ‘sex rather than their etal gender and voted for bill that would have allowed providers of mental healt ‘eae to refuse to treat LGBT people Since the end of Don't Ask Don’t Tell, we have been please to witness the enorme strides that have ‘yeen made in welcomingLGBT people into the US. Armed Forces. In patculr, we welcomed the Deparment of Defense's decision in 2016 to allow transgender Americans to servein the military. The ‘Any memo accompanying that decision stated that “the Army is open to all who ean me the standards for military service snd readiness and remain committe to rating ll soldiers with dignity and respect.” ‘Unfortunately, nothing i Me. Green's record suggest that he shares that commitment LLOBT soldiers are willing to make tremendous scrficesto protect ou rights and freedoms. It would be deeply disrespectful to ter service to appoint a Secretary ofthe Army whose histor of homophobia and “ransphobia makes it lear that he isnot willing to do the same for hem, ial Le a Somers perlet bin angle Mgigber of Congress “Member of Congress 7 ld U ie Wasserman Schultz “Member of Congress LAR ‘Rubea J Khuen “Member of Congres Poehigan sacees. ‘Barbura Lee “Member of Congress Dawe bhbar ed aioe “Member of Congress Niue Tate Dia Thus Menber of Congress hi-le Member of Congress 22. Member of Congress