Obama appoints record number of gay officials

[Ian David]

WASHINGTON – Less than halfway through his first term, President Barack Obama has appointed more openly gay officials than any other president in history.

Gay activists say the estimate of more than 150 appointments so far — from agency heads and commission members to policy officials and senior staffers — surpasses the previous high of about 140 reached during two full terms under President Bill Clinton.

"From everything we hear from inside the administration, they wanted this to be part of their efforts at diversity," said Denis Dison, spokesman for the Presidential Appointments Project of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute.

The pace of appointments has helped to ease broader disappointment among gay rights groups that Obama has not acted more quickly on other fronts, such as ending the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military.

More:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=221

[babylonsister]

1. Thanks, I didn't know that, and PS, love the 'toon! nt

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[babylonsister]

3. Jesus. This is passive aggressive because someone

is pointing out some positive information? Not good enough for you because it's not bashing the Prez on gay issues?

:eyes:

[jaxx]

4. Excellent news.

When you do some comparing .............

<snip>

Dison said President Clinton appointed a total of about 140 openly LGBT people to his administration. President Bush appointed three.

http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=38355

K&R

[MNBrewer]

5. this is 150 out of how many appointments?

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[laconicsax]

9. +1

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. Obama had done a lot of quiet changes for the lgbt community for which I am happy

I just wish he would have used some political capital while he could have and now ofcourse it will be too late.

i appreciate a greater number of people of color or gay people in higher offices, but i would also appreciate some equality

[Duncan Grant]

8. Just a reminder that Obama's record number of appointees remain 2nd class citizens.

Carry on...

[bullwinkle428]

10. Let's be realistic - there are more people "out" today than

ever before in history, so this will skew the numbers somewhat.