Chrissy64_uk
31-10-2010, 09:07 AM
USA
President Obama has made history with his appointment of 150 LBGT (lesbian, gay, transgender & gay) employees breaking former President Clinton's record of 140 appointees and more than the combined number of both Clinton and George W. Bush. The appointments were celebrated by the LBGT groups, but fell short of their expectations.
In early 2008, the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute focused on its presidential appointment projects by steering thousands of resumes of qualified gay/lesbian candidates for White House jobs. This well-executed plan worked by increasing the number of openly LBGT employees at the White House, along with President Obama being more receptive to this community than former presidents.
These groups will not be satisfied with reform until they receive legislative gains in areas such as the, "don't ask, don't tell" current military policy which President Obama still supports. They are also looking for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex partnerships.
The first openly gay employee to serve on a senior level was appointed by President Clinton in 1993 when Roberta Achtenberg was named Assistant Secretary for Housing & Urban Development. At the time of her appointment there was a contentious debate at Senate hearings and she was denounced by then Senator Jesse Helms, Rep. NC, as being a militant extremist.
Gay activists were hoping that President Obama would appoint an openly LBGT as Cabinet Secretary which he did not do. He did appoint the highest ranking openly gay official, John Barry, as Director of Office of Personnel Management which oversees our Nations 1.9 federal workers.
Other appointments include Nancy Sutley to Chairman of White House Council on Environmental Quality and Fred Hochberg as Chairman of Export-Import Bank. Amanda Simpson, is the first openly transgender to hold a high level position were she was hired as the Senior Technology Advisor in the Commerce Department. David Huebner was appointed as Ambassador to New Zealand/ Samoa.
The appointment of Chai Feldblum, a Georgetown University law professor nominated to the EEOC, met with some opposition from the Concerned Women for America fearing that she will push a homosexual and transsexual agenda on Americans. She was also criticized for drafting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill that would ban employees from discrimination based on their sexual orientation.
As the battle continues in the White House for control of the Congress and Senate, Obama continues to make history with his healthcare reform, use of bailout monies and additions to his staff. It's what all Presidents do while they are in office. George W. Bush did it, as did Clinton and others before them. As I had said before I don't agree on many of Obama's stances, yet I do believe that all special interest groups should have access to what were typically white Anglo jobs in the White House.
The LBGT interest groups ran a great campaign to get more representation in our current government. Times are changing in America. Lifestyle choices aside, what we need is strong leadership in our federal government to help maintain the American Dream. I congratulate the recent appointees, now its time to prove that they were indeed the right choice.
Read more: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/get-employed-terri-lee-ryan/2010/10/obama-appoints-first-transgender-to-office-other-lbgts.html#ixzz13vS9YkmB
President Obama has made history with his appointment of 150 LBGT (lesbian, gay, transgender & gay) employees breaking former President Clinton's record of 140 appointees and more than the combined number of both Clinton and George W. Bush. The appointments were celebrated by the LBGT groups, but fell short of their expectations.
In early 2008, the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute focused on its presidential appointment projects by steering thousands of resumes of qualified gay/lesbian candidates for White House jobs. This well-executed plan worked by increasing the number of openly LBGT employees at the White House, along with President Obama being more receptive to this community than former presidents.
These groups will not be satisfied with reform until they receive legislative gains in areas such as the, "don't ask, don't tell" current military policy which President Obama still supports. They are also looking for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex partnerships.
The first openly gay employee to serve on a senior level was appointed by President Clinton in 1993 when Roberta Achtenberg was named Assistant Secretary for Housing & Urban Development. At the time of her appointment there was a contentious debate at Senate hearings and she was denounced by then Senator Jesse Helms, Rep. NC, as being a militant extremist.
Gay activists were hoping that President Obama would appoint an openly LBGT as Cabinet Secretary which he did not do. He did appoint the highest ranking openly gay official, John Barry, as Director of Office of Personnel Management which oversees our Nations 1.9 federal workers.
Other appointments include Nancy Sutley to Chairman of White House Council on Environmental Quality and Fred Hochberg as Chairman of Export-Import Bank. Amanda Simpson, is the first openly transgender to hold a high level position were she was hired as the Senior Technology Advisor in the Commerce Department. David Huebner was appointed as Ambassador to New Zealand/ Samoa.
The appointment of Chai Feldblum, a Georgetown University law professor nominated to the EEOC, met with some opposition from the Concerned Women for America fearing that she will push a homosexual and transsexual agenda on Americans. She was also criticized for drafting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill that would ban employees from discrimination based on their sexual orientation.
As the battle continues in the White House for control of the Congress and Senate, Obama continues to make history with his healthcare reform, use of bailout monies and additions to his staff. It's what all Presidents do while they are in office. George W. Bush did it, as did Clinton and others before them. As I had said before I don't agree on many of Obama's stances, yet I do believe that all special interest groups should have access to what were typically white Anglo jobs in the White House.
The LBGT interest groups ran a great campaign to get more representation in our current government. Times are changing in America. Lifestyle choices aside, what we need is strong leadership in our federal government to help maintain the American Dream. I congratulate the recent appointees, now its time to prove that they were indeed the right choice.
Read more: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/get-employed-terri-lee-ryan/2010/10/obama-appoints-first-transgender-to-office-other-lbgts.html#ixzz13vS9YkmB