In a letter sent Monday to the top lawmakers in the Senate Armed Services Committee, 31 members of Congress are asking leadership to vote against President Trump's Army secretary nominee.

The representatives sent the letter to committee chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, and ranking member Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, citing past comments concerning LGBT citizens by Tennessee State Sen. Mark Green.

"The Secretary of the Army is responsible for supporting over one million soldiers, a number that includes many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender soldiers," the letter reads. "However, Mr. Green's past statements and actions have made it clear that he cannot be trusted to ensure that LGBT soldiers are able to serve their country without discrimination or harassment."

The signatures on the letter include Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III, D-Massachusetts; Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York; Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona; and Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Georgia. 

"LGBT soldiers are willing to make tremendous sacrifices to protect our rights and freedom," they wrote. "It would be deeply disrespectful to their service to appoint a Secretary of the Army whose history of homophobia and transphobia makes it clear that he is not willing to do the same for them."

Green and his spokesman did not respond to requests for comment by Army Times.

Since before his nomination, LGBT advocacy groups have spoken out against Green's record and his public comments, including referring to being transgender as a "disease" and suggesting that the Tennessee governor could refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

"He also co-sponsored a bill that would have forced transgender students to use the bathroom that matches their legal sex rather than their actual gender and voted for a bill that would have allowed providers of mental health care to refuse to treat LGBT people," the Congress members wrote.

In a post to his official Facebook pageon Tuesday, Green addressed some of his past comments, adding a link to a blog whose author believes Green is being persecuted for his Christianity.

"It would seem that this gentleman has figured out why certain people are cutting and splicing my words to paint me as a hater," Green wrote. "It will not stand."

Green added that he believes that every qualified American has a right to serve their country, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.

"It's the left that won't allow the latter," he added.

The White House in early April announced Green's selection, though as of April 27, had not officially sent the nomination to the Senate for approval.

Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members.

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