Abandoned Commerce Secretary Position Draws Attention of LGBT Groups

Published January 06, 2009 @ 09:13AM PT

Bill Richardson's decision to back out of Obama's Cabinet has created a gap in the President-Elect's administration that LGBT groups are watching closely. Within moments of hearing the news that Richardson would not seek to become the next U.S. Commerce Secretary (due to some potentially aggravating dealings with a political contributor in New Mexico), groups like EqualRep.com and the Human Rights Campaign were imploring President-Elect Obama to appoint someone who is not only qualified, but openly gay or lesbian.

“With the vacancy of Governor Bill Richardson as the nominee for secretary of commerce, President-elect Obama is presented with yet another opportunity to make good on his promise of equality for all LGBT people,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

EqualRep.com has taken it a step further, and is calling on Obama to replace Richardson with a specific candidate - Fred Hochberg. Who's that, you might ask? Hochberg, from 1998 through 2000, served as deputy and then acting administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), an agency elevated to cabinet rank by President Bill Clinton, with more than 4,000 employees and 100 offices across the country. At the SBA, he directed the delivery of a comprehensive set of financial and business development programs for entrepreneurs, with particular outreach to women and minorities. He's currently a dean at The New School for Management and Urban Policy in New York, and a member of Obama's transition team.

He certainly seems well qualified. EqualRep.com has started an organized campaign to push for Hochberg, and is encouraging advocates to contact Obama's transition team to weigh in with their thoughts. Latina/o groups are also pushing for diversity in Obama's cabinet, noting that Richardson's departure means that there is one less Latino member of the President-Elect's leadership team.

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There is a desire among the gentrified LGBT activists to not only absolve Obama for Rick Warren but also to provide enough plenary indulgences to remove all residue from that "sinful act."

To gentrified activists, symbolism and passage of second and third tier rights obviates the need to address civil marriage, the ONLY LGBT agenda from which all others emanate. Since the firing of Cheryl Jacques, the HRC and other gentrified activists have considered this strategy as anathema.

Incrementalism is the only gentle virtue they believe in....and all those inaugural festivities and parties, and yes, access to those neolibs and neocons who take their calls, and dismiss them with a handshake and maybe, for the former, a goosing on the way out of the office.

If Hochberg is appointed, that would be fine. Frankly, the SECCOM's psychosexual orientation does nothing for my family. There is nothing in his Cabinet portfolio that will advance our family's human and civil rights.

Bait and Switch....Bait and Switch.....I have a high degree of skepticism with this new administration. The neo-liberals - especially the neo-liberal homophobes - are ready to compromise their base along with the neo-conservatives, who despise us and our agenda outrightly.

I will hold my breath......my "baited" breath......

Posted by A B on 01/06/2009 @ 10:14AM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.