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Air Force Academy gets gay board member

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force Academy has a gay member on its Board of Visitors.

Colorado Democratic Rep. Jared Polis was named to the board Wednesday. Polis became the first openly gay man elected to Congress as a non-incumbent last year.

House leaders also reappointed Colorado Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn, whose district includes the academy in Colorado Springs.

The Board of Visitors gives semiannual reports on the military academy to Congress and the Pentagon.

Polis opposes the military’s “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military. But a Polis aide says Polis considers the Air Force appointment an honor and doesn’t plan to use it to try to change policy.

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