(09/16/09) "Obama nominates lesbian for commissioner role" (by Jessica Green, Pink News)

[Spang]

US president Barack Obama has nominated a lesbian as commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Chai R Feldblum is thought to be the first openly gay person to be nominated to the commission.

She is a professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Centre and has extensive experience in legal issues affecting gay people, such as the Employee Non-Discrimination Act and HIV-related law.

In a statement referring to all the nominees, President Obama said: "This group brings a dedication and expertise in their fields that will serve this administration and the American people well.

"As we work to advance equal rights, keep our nation safe, and put our country back on a path to prosperity, I look forward to working with these fine individuals in the months and years ahead."

If the Senate confirms Feldblum's appointment, she will serve a five-year term.

The Source (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-14103.html)

[CGP]

Thanks for the news!

[mavfin]

In the same vein as my wall of text in the talk show thread, should it matter what her preference is? I care if she's qualified, not which kind of sex she prefers. :D

[foxyladi]

wonderful..:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Suzan]

In the same vein as my wall of text in the talk show thread, should it matter what her preference is? I care if she's qualified, not which kind of sex she prefers. :D
US president Barack Obama has nominated a lesbian as commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Chai R Feldblum is thought to be the first openly gay person to be nominated to the commission.

Possibly you missed the bolded sentence? If you can't figure out the significance of the first openly gay person to be so appointed, I don't know what to tell you. It has NOTHING to do with what kind of sex she prefers.

And btw, please explain why you haven't just reduced all gay people to what kind of sex they prefer.

[mavfin]

Possibly you missed the bolded sentence? If you can't figure out the significance of the first openly gay person to be so appointed, I don't know what to tell you. It has NOTHING to do with what kind of sex she prefers.

And btw, please explain why you haven't just reduced all gay people to what kind of sex they prefer.

You missed me completely there, Susan. I could have phrased that as I thought it was good that she was the first openly-gay person. However, it shouldn't have ever been an issue, as her sexual preference should never have been an issue in the first-place, only her qualifications. i.e. great for her, great that an openly-gay person got on the commission, bad that anyone's orientation is/was an issue.

[Eminence]

US president Barack Obama has nominated a lesbian as commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Chai R Feldblum is thought to be the first openly gay person to be nominated to the commission.

She is a professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Centre and has extensive experience in legal issues affecting gay people, such as the Employee Non-Discrimination Act and HIV-related law.

In a statement referring to all the nominees, President Obama said: "This group brings a dedication and expertise in their fields that will serve this administration and the American people well.

"As we work to advance equal rights, keep our nation safe, and put our country back on a path to prosperity, I look forward to working with these fine individuals in the months and years ahead."

If the Senate confirms Feldblum's appointment, she will serve a five-year term. The Source (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-14103.html)

Yawn. http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/9a2c224085.gif

IMO, even Dubya did Obama one better :eek: by appointing an openly gay person to lead the White House Administration position of the Office of National AIDS Policy. Conversely, the highest ranking openly gay official in the Obama Administration is the guy in charge of the Office of Personnel Management.

Don't get me wrong -- I will fight to my last breath for gay rights, and so I do appreciate the nomination -- but I don't see how this is any more or less different on some level than what we got with Dubya. And while yes, there are more gays in this administration than the last one; that in and of itself is not unique, as that would likely be expected from any Democratic administration. On the scale of significance then, I find this fairly neutral.

And that says nothing about how insulting it was when the Obama Justice Department likened gay marriage to incest and marrying minors in their defense of DOMA. I might have expected that from Bush II, but never from Obama.

Repeal DOMA, DADT, do something original for gays (and not just copy Hillary when she extends equal benefits to gay partners at the State Dept) and then we'll talk.

I also truly hope that no one, gay or their straight allies, is too taken in by this. It is a pittance compared to Obama should be doing for gays.

I'm not surprised however that this is making the rounds on the internet and has found its way here. After all, isn't this how it always is with those who claim to have our best interests at heart? Throw them a bone every so often (in this case gays), and then make a big deal out of it. It keeps em busy while they continue to be systematically oppressed; and distracts them from fighting for real gay rights.

Just my two cents, forum. YMMV.

[VotingHillary]

In the same vein as my wall of text in the talk show thread, should it matter what her preference is? I care if she's qualified, not which kind of sex she prefers. :D

Ah, your just jealous! :rotfl: (BTW, I dated her...KIDDING!)

Seriously, I agree. I want to read that she is a qualified woman, not that she is the first lesbian. Ellen DeGeneres gets great ratings because she is funny, not because she was the first to "come out" on TV.

Martina was a great tennis player not because she was a lesbian, but because she was so talented.

I love how the "liberal" media rants at conservative media when they help to perpetuate the "labels" as much as anyone.

[CGP]

I think a key point has been missed here...

Pink News is a Euro-based LGBT news website so of course they are going to include "lesbian" in the title because that is a relevant piece of information to an LGBT audience.

Where is the press release that has Obama saying he nominated a "lesbian" to this position?

[VotingHillary]

And that says nothing about how insulting it was when the Obama Justice Department likened gay marriage to incest and marrying minors in their defense of DOMA. I might have expected that from Bush II, but never from Obama.

Repeal DOMA, DADT, do something original for gays (and not just copy Hillary when she extends equal benefits to gay partners at the State Dept) and then we'll talk.

I also truly hope that no one, gay or their straight allies, is too taken in by this. It is a pittance compared to Obama should be doing for gays.

hillarystamp! hillarystamp! hillarystamp!

She said "Yes, we will"....and yes, SHE DID! I hope the gay community remembers that.

[BillDemo]

I hope Obama's reasons for appointing her are that she is the best person for the job.

[NativeSun]

I hope Obama's reasons for appointing her are that she is the best person for the job.

Uhmmm.....have you not noticed his track record lately? BTW, has she paid all of her taxes?