Obama's Cabinet: The Most LGBT-Friendly Cabinet in History?

Published January 20, 2009 @ 10:38AM PT

Obama Cabinet That was one good Inauguration speech by the 44th President today, eh? Now, we know that we've got to hold this new President's feet to the fire when it comes to LGBT rights issues, especially given the way his team completely mismanaged the appearance of Bishop Eugene Robinson at this weekend's Inauguration festivities. But today is about looking ahead instead of backwards, right? Heck, even conservative activist Richard Viguerie gave everyone permission to "drink the kool-aid" today. So in the realm of keeping things moving forward, we took a look at President Obama's cabinet, and we're noticing that this is theoretically going to be the most LGBT-friendly Cabinet in history. Are there a couple of weakest links? You bet. (Robert Gates and his "overturning don't ask, don't tell will impede the War on Terrorism" comments come to mind.) But they are far out-numbered by politicos with a track record of supporting LGBT rights issues. Who are these folks? We've got 'em for you below.

Eric Holder: It's going to be nice to have an Attorney General more worried about curbing hate crimes than covering up the private parts of statues. Holder is a champion for expanding federal hate crimes laws to include protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In 1999, back when it was still controversial to support such a measure, Holder testified before Congress and said, "[Current law] provides no coverage whatsoever for violent hate crimes committed because of bias based on the victim’s sexual orientation, gender or disability, and these crimes pose a serious problem for our nation." It's also a good sign when the Republican Liberty Caucus is going after you for your lack of support to ban gay marriage and civil unions (though, we have to admit, we don't really know where Holder stands on these issues).

Hilda Solis: As a Congresswoman, Hilda Solis consistently voted for measures banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, including voting for passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Given that she's next in line to become Labor Secretary, it's good to know that she's a champion of ENDA. Solis is also on record as opposing a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-gender marriage, and she joined the LGBT Equality Caucus in the House this past summer. That's a pretty great resumé of support for LGBT rights.

Tom Daschle: Though it's a little aggravating to watch former Senator Tom Daschle (now Secretary of Health and Human Services) explain his support for the Defense of Marriage Act, Daschle has consistently opposed a federal amendment to the Constitution banning same-gender marriage, and he does favor civil unions for same-gender couples. Daschle also co-sponsored the Matthew Shepard Act (which was then known as the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act) when he was in Congress, and he supported ENDA. He also spoke out against an amendment to the South Dakota constitution banning same-gender marriage.

Hillary Rodham Clinton: The next Secretary of State received a great deal of support from LGBT communities during her career in the Senate and her run for the 2008 Presidential nomination. And for good reason, too. Clinton voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, supports a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ("It hurts all of our troops, and this, to me, is a matter of national security," she said, even though her husband is the one who enacted the policy back in 1994), and supports civil unions.

Of all of those folks, our money is on Hilda Solis being the most LGBT-friendly. Additional cabinet members have also shown signs of support for LGBT rights, albeit on a lower profile. Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano urged Arizona to turn down efforts to amend its constitution to ban same-gender marriage, UN Ambassador Susan Rice has won plaudits from human rights activists and is likely to push the U.S. to sign a statement calling for countries around the globe to decriminalize homosexuality, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan has reportedly supported efforts to create LGBT high schools and to increase tolerance and diversity training in public schools.

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Comments (4)

It's also a good sign when the Republican Liberty Caucus is going after you for your lack of support to ban gay marriage and civil unions (though, we have to admit, we don't really know where Holder stands on these issues).

You seem to have gotten this somewhat confused. The RLC supports gay rights including civil unions and marriage. Holder's record on the issue is ambiguous, but we see very little likelihood that Obama or Holder will make protecting gay rights a priority.

Dave

Posted by Dave Nalle on 01/22/2009 @ 06:54AM PT
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Hmm...I'm sorry if I mixed up the positions of the RLC. I'm wondering though...looking at the RLC's board of advisors, they have several members who are adamantly opposed to marriage equality, including Ron Paul, John Shadegg, Tom Feeney, Georgia State Senator David Shafer....among some others. Also, I see on their site that they are against the Federal Marriage Amendment, but don't mention anywhere about being for civil unions or marriage. Do you have any links you can share that documents where the RLC support marriage and/or civil unions? Thanks!

Posted by Michael Jones on 01/22/2009 @ 07:09AM PT
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Some times I wonder. You know? Advertising, I know is the way for someone to try your product. And these folks listed above come in lgbt friendly wrapping, and may even tempt you buy. But, ultimately, it is what the product actually doe, and how it lives up to all the banter, hype, and packaging. Unfortunately, we always seem to buy part and parcel. An easy sell. On the street: an easy mark. Let's start by measuring both the quality, the quantity, and the effectiveness of the product before we become repeat customers. As buyers of that product, we do have the right to demand products that our needs. And, not buy them if they don,t.

Posted by steve tabarez on 01/22/2009 @ 09:24AM PT
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Hmm...I'm sorry if I mixed up the positions of the RLC. I'm wondering though...looking at the RLC's board of advisors, they have several members who are adamantly opposed to marriage equality, including Ron Paul, John Shadegg, Tom Feeney, Georgia State Senator David Shafer....among some others.

Like any political organization which isn't based around a single focal issue the RLC has members and people on the board who have a great deal in common, but don't agree on every issue.

I believe the consensus opinion on gay marriage which the vast majority of the RLC seem to agree on is that marriage should be a religious sacrament and the government should get out of the marriage business entirely. It's a violation of the separation of church and state. Then gay and straight couples would file contracts for civil unions with exactly the same rights and provisions, and get married or not in the church of their choice.

Also, I see on their site that they are against the Federal Marriage Amendment, but don't mention anywhere about being for civil unions or marriage. Do you have any links you can share that documents where the RLC support marriage and/or civil unions? Thanks!

I don't know that we've issued an official position paper on it, but if we did it would resemble what I described above. The national RLC which I'm the VC of hasn't had a need to issue a position paper on anything but our opposition to the federal marriage amendment, because it's mostly a state issue. We don't dictate positions to our state chapters, but in those states where it has come up as an issue I would assume chapters have come down on the right side of the issue.

We're having our national convention this spring. I might see about bringing it up as an issue to produce a position paper on.

Dave

Posted by Dave Nalle on 01/22/2009 @ 07:52PM 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.