Washington, DC – Today, Equality PAC Co-Chairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) released the following statement celebrating Senate confirmation of two of President Biden’s LGBTQ nominees for Department of Defense positions. Gina Ortiz Jones, a former Air Force pilot and lesbian, was confirmed as Under Secretary of the Air Force and Shawn Skelly, a transgender Navy veteran was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness. Both nominees were confirmed by the Senate unanimously.
“In all aspects of government, representation matters,” said Equality PAC Co-Chairs Chairman Mark Takano and Congressman David Cicilline. “President Biden has gone to great lengths to ensure that qualified and competent LGBTQ individuals serve within his administration, and we thank him for making this a priority. Both Jones and Skelly exemplify these positive traits and we are pleased to see the Senate confirm both these outstanding LGBTQ nominees unanimously. We look forward to working with them to create a more inclusive military and Defense Department.”
Equality PAC is the political arm of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus and is dedicated to the full legal and societal equality for LGBTQ Americans. All funds raised into Equality PAC are spent supporting and electing openly LGBTQ individuals and strong LGBTQ allies to the United States Congress who are committed to passing the Equality Act and to ensuring full civil rights and protections for all LGBTQ Americans.
###
