Has Coffman become less hostile to LGBT people? Or Just his website?

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by: Jason Salzman

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Rep. Mike Coffman (R).

Rep. Mike Coffman has purged his official website of an article showing his support of the anti-LGBT “don’t-ask-don’t-tell” policy, which allowed gays to serve in the military only if they kept their sexual orientation secret.

At least until June 14, Coffman’s “Media Center” section of his website displayed a Feb. 3, 2010, USA Today opinion column by Coffman titled, “Don’t Interject Sexuality.” You can see the page cached on Google here.

Coffman’s article stated:

The determination to accomplish the mission, along with the will to survive, welded the unit into an effective ground combat team: An interdependent bond was formed between each and every Marine in the unit.

That strong interdependent bond held our ground combat team together and made us into an effective fighting unit. The bond was founded upon a mutual trust: Although each Marine could be singled out for a task that could put his life at risk, Marines would always have the confidence that the orders given to them on the battlefield were never tainted by any emotional bias.

U.S. Marine Corps ground combat teams are composed of men only. Interjecting sexuality into a ground combat team potentially creates an emotional divide between Marines that undermines confidence and prevents that interdependent bond from forming, ultimately compromising the combat effectiveness of the unit.

We need a very deliberative and reasoned approach before considering a repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” a proven policy that has served the military and the nation well since 1993.

It’s unclear whether the scrubbing of this article means Coffman has changed his position in support of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which is discriminatory and has been repealed.

If he’s changed his position, why? Maybe Coffman’s office, which doesn’t respond to me, will return another reporter’s call to explain.

And while he’s at it, maybe he’ll also explain why he no longer favors banning all abortion, even for rape and incest. As far as I can tell, reporters have yet to ask for details on why he abandoned this position.

7 thoughts on “Has Coffman become less hostile to LGBT people? Or Just his website?”

doremi says:

July 27, 2016 at 6:01 pm

Coffman went to the Orlando Vigil at Tracks. Many observed that he felt quite uncomfortable in the situation. His "wife," on the other hand, gave moving remarks.

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Voyageur says:

July 27, 2016 at 6:47 pm

When "Don't Ask, Don't Tell was introduced, I wrote an article saying Don't Ask, Don't Tell Isn't Fair, Won't Work.." And so it was proved to be. Yet, fairness requires us to note that at the time it was introduced, it was a liberal reform, replacing the old rule of actively hunting for gays and expeling them. To have supported it at the time was certainly not anti gay. The policy has now, rightly, beensuperceded by one stating that gay Americans have the same right to be killed and maimed as their straight brothers and sisters. But to assail mike for taking down an article supporting what was initially an interim reform seems to be like a cheap shot. I know Mike Well. He is not anti-gay.

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1. BlueCat says:
  
  July 27, 2016 at 8:44 pm
  
  True, that. Same position as Bill Clinton who also supported the Defense of Marriage. Lots of things to criticize in Coffman's policy stands but it wasn't that long ago that most Dems, much less Rs, couldn't have imagined that we'd be where we are today on these issues in such a short amount of time.
  
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2. Jason Salzman says:
  
  July 28, 2016 at 9:22 am
  
  Coffman voted against repealing it; he wasn't just against it initially. And we don't know his actual position on it now. We just know he took down this article. I hope you're right, and he should explain himself to clarify things.
  
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  1. itlduso says:
    
    July 28, 2016 at 12:16 pm
    
    I want to hear Coffman explain his position on lots of issues, starting with his views on Donald Trump. Where is the media when we need them? (snark)
    
    Thank you, Jason for your work.
    
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    1. BlueCat says:
      
      July 28, 2016 at 1:22 pm
      
      Remember his answers on hi statement that Obama wasn't a real American? His apologies, apologies for the apologies, new apologies, new apologies for the apologies? And that's not even counting the robotic single talking point refusal to answer anything at all? I pretty much agreed with V's single point on a technicality. We all know Coffman is too politically spineless to get definite on anything that touches serious controversy. Maybe physically too. That might explain the shoulder blades and up only push ups.
      
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      1. Voyageur says:
        
        July 28, 2016 at 2:09 pm
        
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