President Obama Names Two Gay Men As Ambassadors

 

 

 

James Costos

Today, President Obama named two gay men as new ambassadors. Rufus Gifford was appointed as Ambassador to Denmark and James Costos was named Ambassador to Spain.

Here are their backgrounds:

James Costos, Nominee for Ambassador to Spain, Department of State

James Costos is Vice President of Global Licensing and Retail for Home Box Office (HBO). Before joining HBO in 2006, he was President and CEO of Eight Cylinders, Inc., an entertainment marketing and licensing agency. Previously, from 2002 to 2004, he was head of Promotions and Consumer Products at Revolution Studios in California. He began his career in New York as a fashion and retail executive. From 2001 to 2002, he was Vice President of Retail for Hermes in New York, and from 1991 to 2001, he was Vice President of Retail Operations for Tod’s in New York. Mr. Costos currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Humane Society of the United States. He received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts.

Rufus Gifford

Rufus Gifford, Nominee for Ambassador to Denmark, Department of State

Rufus Gifford most recently served as Finance Chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. He served as Finance Director for Obama for America from 2011 to 2012, and as Finance Director for the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011. From 2008 to 2009, he was the California Finance Director for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, after working as a political consultant in California from 2004 to 2008. From 1998 to 2004, Mr. Gifford was Creative Executive for Davis Entertainment, an independent film company based in Los Angeles. He is currently a Federal Club Member of the Human Rights Campaign and a Partner in Conservation for the World Wildlife Fund. He received a B.A. from Brown University.

Support KICKSTARTER Campaign For 'The Lavender Scare' Documentary

 

 

 

An extraordinary part of our history is being told in a new documentary film about the notorious witch hunt against gays in the Federal Government in the early 1950's known as the Lavender Scare. This week is the 60th Anniversary of the Executive Order demanding that all LGBT employees in the Federal government must be fired.

The purge of homosexuals from the government was massive in the 1950's but continue for four decades until President Clinton an executive order allowing LGBT civilians to work for the Federal government.

At last, this documentary give those victims of the 'lavender purges' a voice. Their stories will be heard by an entire nation.

The producers have started a KICKSTARTER campaign to raise $50,000 to complete "The Lavender Scare". I have given and I hope you will join me. Please click here and make it possible for our history to be told for future generations.

President Obama's Top Twelve LGBT Appointees!

 

 

 

Jeremy Bernard  - White House Social Secretary

Journalist Lisa Keen in the Windy City Times has profiled the top twelve appointments that President Obama has made in his four and a half years in office. Some of the Judges are awaiting confirmation and one major judge had to withdraw because of Republican opposition.

Keen estimates that the President has appointed 268 openly LGBT people in his first term. That is compared to President Clinton's 140 over eight years.

President Obama is also the first President to appoint a Trangender person to his team and so far he has appointed three. Keen picks the top twelve:

1. JOHN BERRY: Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

Some LGBT activists were hopeful that President Obama would make the first appointment of an openly gay person to a cabinet level position. So far, that hasn't happened and his appointment of John Berry as OPM director probably comes closest. OPM has more than 5,000 employees and manages personnel issues for some 2.8 million for U.S. federal civil service employees around the world. One of its biggest missions lately has been issuing guidelines to other federal agencies on how to handle furloughs associated with the current sequestration budget cuts.

2. STUART DELERY: Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice.

There are 12 assistant attorneys general at DOJ. Stuart Delery has been appointed to head the department's Civil Division, which represents the U.S. government in litigation involving such critical matters as national security, presidential powers, immigration, energy, banking, and consumer protection. Recently, the Division has defended the Affordable Care Act and the administration's protection of information concerning the CIA use of drones to eliminate suspected terrorists. The DOJ Civil Division has 1,400 employees. Delery took the helm as Acting Assistant Attorney General in February 2012, but his official nomination to the post is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

3. FRED HOCHBERG: Chairman, Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Fred Hochberg was appointed to the position in Obama's first term, and in March, the president reappointed him for a second stint. The Export-Import Bank provides financial credit and support to promote the sale of American goods to other countries. In doing so, the aim is to support and promote jobs in the United States. Under Hochberg, the bank says it "supported more than 255,000 American jobs" in FY 2012 with almost $36 billions of financing.

4. EDWARD DUMONT : Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Withdrawn):

Any federal bench provides the appointee with a potential for a lifetime of influence. The 179 judges appointed to a federal appeals court have influence over —not just a district but — several states. The 16 judges of the appeals court for the Federal Circuit have jurisdiction nationally on a limited variety of legal conflicts, including disputes over patents, trademarks, international trade agreements, government contracts, federal personnel, and veterans' benefits. President Obama named a highly qualified openly gay man, Edward DuMont, to a Federal Circuit seat, but Republicans in the Senate, perhaps suspecting it would improve DuMont's chances for eventual consideration as a Supreme Court candidate, refused to allow DuMont even a hearing. DuMont eventually withdrew his nomination.

5. GRANT COLFAX: Director, White House Office of National AIDS Policy.

This is the office charged with coordinating the federal response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. That includes implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to reduce the incidence of HIV infection and make sure people with HIV receive proper medical care. In this position, Grant Colfax also serves as the president's lead advisor on HIV-related domestic policy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men having sex with men account for 63 percent of new HIV infections, and the percentage is even higher (72 percent) for MSM 13 to 24 years old.

6. CHAI FELDBLUM: Commissioner, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

This is the agency charged with enforcing federal laws against discrimination in the workplace. EEOC laws pertain to employers with more than 15 employees, including the federal government itself. While federal law does not proscribe sexual orientation-based discrimination in the workplace, an executive order signed by President Clinton prohibits such discrimination by the federal government. President Obama named Chai Feldblum as one of five commissioners who direct the EEOC's work.

7. ROBERTA ACHENBERG: Commissioner, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

The eight-member commission is charged with guiding the federal government's national civil rights policy and the enforcement of its civil rights laws. Among other things, it does research and analysis into potential discrimination in voting rights, and holds public hearings and issues reports on civil rights matters. President Obama named Roberta Achtenberg, a prominent appointee during the Clinton administration, to one of the eight seats.

8. ELAINE KAPLAN: Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

This is another court with national jurisdiction and specialized cases. Its 16 active judges deliberate over lawsuits brought by private citizens against the U.S. government. President Clinton appointed Emily Hewitt to the court in 1998, and President Obama designated her as Chief Judge in March 2009. Last month, President Obama also nominated Elaine Kaplan, who is currently general counsel to the OPM, to the Federal Claims bench. If confirmed by the Senate, she will join the bench in deciding lawsuits against the U.S. relating to taxes, government contracts, natural resources, and foreign governments.

9. JEREMY BERNARD: Social Secretary, The White House.

It may not sound like a power position, but insiders say it is. The White House Social Secretary works for the First Lady to plan all White House events, from small coffee receptions to large state dinners. In the world of power politics, an invitation to a White House party carries real value. For many invitees, it signals recognition from Washington's most powerful entity that the guest has some political influence. And for those at the more select events, it's an opportunity to be seen as part of a powerful elite. The Social Secretary, says Socarides, "basically decides who gets invited. The current Social Secretary, Jeremy Bernard, is "the highest ranking gay person at the White House," says Socarides. When appointed, in February 2011, Bernard became the first man —and the first openly gay person—to be appointed to the position.

10. OETKEN, NATHAN, FITZGERALD and CHEN: Judges, U.S. District Court.

There are more than 600 federal district court judges, but each has a lifetime appointment and serves as the first line of judgment in legal conflicts big and small. President Obama has nominated seven openly LGBT people to federal district court positions in six different districts. Four have already been confirmed (Paul Oetken and Alison Nathan in Manhattan, Michael Fitzgerald in Los Angeles, and Pamela Chen in Brooklyn). Three others are still pending (Nitza Quiñones Alejandro in Philadelphia, Michael Shane in Oregon, and William Thomas in Miami).

11. NUMBEROUS: Associate Counsel to the President.

There are at least a dozen people identified as Associate Counsel to the President, and they fall below the Counselor, the Principal Deputy Counselor, and the Senior Counselor. They are not as high up as Karen Tramontano was when she served as Counselor to President Clinton's Chief of Staff. But they do have influence, says Winnie Stachelberg, executive vice president of the Center for American Progress, a group that has had a great deal of interaction with President Obama's White House. The associate counsels have played key roles in a number of issues including the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and workplace discrimination, from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to drafting an executive order prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating based on sexual orientation. Two lesbians have held one of the positions thus far in the Obama White House: Allison Nathan, who is now a U.S. district court judge, and Kathleen Hartnett, who just left.

12. HERB SCHULTZ: Director, Region IX, Health and Human Services.

HHS has ten regional offices that address intergovernmental and external affairs and the president appoints the director of each region. Based in San Francisco, Region 9 covers the states of California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii, as well as several territories. Each region serves as the HHS Secretary's advisor and liaison to state and local governments and community organizations on matters of policy and programs. Herb Schultz, former senior advisor to then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is director of Region 9. The Center for American Progress' Stachelberg says the job covers such matters as implementation of the Affordable Care Act, AIDS service delivery, and programs aimed at lesbian health. "Running that region," she says, "is a huge responsibility."

VIDEO: 'Do You Hear The People Sing?"

 

 

Never has the words of a song been more powerful as we head into a second day of Supreme Court hearing. No matter what the outcome in June we will not rest until full equality and full freedom.

"Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free. It is the music of people who will not be slaves again"

Enjoy this video and let it bring a smile to your face.

VIDEO: History Is At Our Door; Watch this Inspiring Video!

 

 

 

The next week will be one of the most important in the history of the epic struggle of LGBT Americans for freedom and full equality. Literally hundreds of thousands of LGBT Americans are gathering around the country to stand in acknowledge and to give witness to this moment.

View this video and then join your local marches, vigils and actions.

Will Openly Gay OPM Director John Berry Be Ambassador To Australia?

 

 

 

The Washington Post is reporting that the leading candidate to be Ambassador to Australia is Office of Personnel and Management's (OPM) Director John Berry. Al Kamen reports:

We’re hearing that Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry is the leading candidate to be U.S. ambassador to Australia.

Berry had been seen as a possible pick for Interior secretary in 2008 and again in this cycle — but that nomination went most recently to Sally Jewell.

Berry has had a long career in government, starting on Capitol Hill as legislative director for Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) from 1985 to 1994.

Berry is up to his eyeballs in sequesterland chaos, so it was not clear when any announcement might be made.

He has also been assistant interior secretary, head of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and director of the National Zoo before taking his current job.

In 2009, the Human Rights Campaign said that, as head of OPM (once called the U.S. Civil Service Commission), Berry was the “the highest-ranking openly gay official” ever to serve in the executive branch.

VIDEO: President Supports Repeal of Proposition 8 At Press Conference

 

 

President Obama took a strong stance today at his press conference on supporting the repeal of Proposition 8. This is yet another historic statement from the President on marriage equality. Thank you Mr. President.

Openly Gay Man Leads Democrats Battle To Keep United States Senate In 2014!

 

 

 

Guy Cecil is viewed as one of the great political minds in American politics. The political strategist who is responsible for the Democrats good showing in both the 2010 and 2012 United States Senate races is profiled in today's New York Times written by Jonathan Weisman.

Cecil has just agreed, at the urging of Senator Michael Bennet to stay as head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee one more term in order to protect the Democratic margin in the 2014 elections. The handsome and talented strategist is much in demand within the beltway and could be making big bucks. However, Cecil served as Senator Bennet's Chief of Staff and could not turn him down.

Here are excerpts from the Times profile:

"After two grueling election cycles, Guy Cecil, the brains behind the Democrats’ improbable Senate showings in 2010 and 2012, was expected to set aside his political combat boots for tasseled loafers and a sinecure somewhere in this city that pays handsomely for success.

Mr. Cecil, center, helped lead Democrats through tough campaigns to keep control of the Senate.

Then his old boss, Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, reluctantly took the helm of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, looking at another brutal map for Democrats eager to stay in control of Congress’s upper chamber. He had one demand: Keep Guy Cecil aboard.

“It was critically important that Guy stay in the job,” said Mr. Bennet, now reunited with Mr. Cecil, the former chief of staff who spent the last months of his 2010 campaign sleeping in the senator’s Colorado basement. “He is just excellent at what he does.”

Mr. Cecil’s return as executive director of the committee is notable in a city accustomed to political consultants cashing in for big money “downtown” — at lobbying firms and with influence peddlers off Capitol Hill. In 2010, Mr. Cecil helped engineer Mr. Bennet’s successful defense of his seat, one of the unexpected wins that kept Democrats in control of the Senate even as the party suffered a historic defeat in the House. Most assumed Democrats would lose the Senate as the 2012 season began. With Mr. Cecil directing forces, the party gained two seats.

But do not tell the reigning Democratic political wunderkind that he has a tough job. That only gets him started.

At 23, he was a Southern Baptist minister in Miami. Then he came out as gay, left a conservative church that would not accept him and went to Boston because it seemed diametrically opposite of the world he had fled. His first job was in retail, paying $19,990 a year.

His grandmother had started the family’s hard-knock cycle, running from an abusive marriage in Ohio to Miami, where she raised five children as a waitress for 40 years. His father is a boat mechanic in South Florida. His brother, born with a malignant neuroblastoma, was not supposed to walk, if he survived his first birthday. He is 32 now, with chronic health problems — and two children.

“I really have no need to complain about how hard my job is,” Mr. Cecil, 38, said with a shrug.

Which is a good thing, because he could have a lot to complain about.

After the struggles of 2010 and 2012, the road ahead for Senate Democrats does not look much smoother. Incumbents are likely to face tough races in the red states of Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Montana and North Carolina. Democratic retirements in Iowa and West Virginia have opened new fronts for Republicans eager to avoid a third strike in their quest to regain Senate control. Both parties are awaiting a decision by Senator Tim Johnson, a Democrat, about whether to run again in South Dakota.

Beyond that, freshman Democrats, swept to power in the Obama wave of 2008, face their first re-election campaigns in the swing states of Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Oregon. Only once in 75 years has the president’s party not lost seats in the midterm election of his second term.

Mr. Cecil’s goal: “To hold the majority, that’s it,” he says. "

You can read the entire article here....

White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard Is On Board For Second Term

 

 

 

Washingtonian Magazine has revealed that White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard has been asked and has accepted a second term in the administration of President Obama. Bernard, who is the first member of the LGBT community and first man to White House social secretary, office is in the East Wing where he works closely with the First Lady.

Here is the report from the Washingtonian written by Carol Ross Joynt:

A powerful group of Washington players gathered at the Meridian International Center Tuesday evening to be lavished with praise from the White House and the State Department. The honorees may not be household names, and most have not met one another, but they work at the highest levels of government and diplomacy. They are the embassy social secretaries.

The fluffy title belies the facts, which are that they’re neither particularly social nor even remotely secretaries. The daily particulars of the job have more in common with a military deployment, but instead of weapons their arsenals include deft understanding of protocol, etiquette, food, fashion, history, tradition, entertainment, and who’s who. As White House social secretary Jeremy Bernard, the leader of their pack, said, “We are the forefront of public service.”

It was the first time he’s ever addressed the whole group, and he used the occasion to state that he’s the first male and openly gay person to be White House social secretary. Before giving his speech, he confirmed that the President and First Lady invited him to continue in the job for the second term, and he accepted. He came to the party with his whole team from the White House social office. His cohost, chief of protocol Capricia Marshall, brought some of her staff from the State Department. Marshall took the protocol job to serve her friend, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for whom she had once been White House social secretary. Tuesday evening she said Clinton’s successor, John Kerry, had asked her to continue as chief of protocol and she said she would

********************

Marshall, who introduced Bernard, said they are “creators of the moment” and “prepare the table for history.” She added, “You are the experts at conveying to the people of the United States unique aspects of your country’s culture and traditions: the greetings, the music, the presentations, the entertainment, and, of course, the food. It’s no easy task.”

Bernard was emotional in his remarks, which were clearly thought through and heartfelt. “We are here as keepers of an under-appreciated art and a longstanding tradition,” he said. “That is why I am so grateful to be here with you. The work we do is to bring people together. There’s no guidebook for this work. The graciousness and thoughtfulness from this community of colleagues of social secretaries cannot be measured. The knowledge we share is invaluable.”

And the stresses, too. Social secretaries have to procure the right guests; seat them according to protocol while also taking ego into consideration and making sure people who are elbow to elbow are more likely friends than sworn enemies; and ensure the food suits everyone’s tastes and ethnic guidelines so the luncheon, reception, or dinner goes off without a moment’s turbulence. Bernard spoke to that aspect of the job, particularly as it relates to the White House.

“State dinners may be the pinnacle of our work, but they are also the source of endless worries,” he said. “You know the feeling—the fear of displaying a flag upside down, playing the wrong national anthem . . . the weather, especially here in DC.” Notably, he did not mention gate-crashing reality TV stars, but then, the Salahi episode did not happen on his watch.

The question Bernard is asked most often is, “How does one become a social secretary?” He called it a “tough question to answer,” and gave no clues, which seemed to be a secret of their society everyone in the room quietly understood. In sum, he talked about a “love for the country we serve,” adding, “We are flies on the wall, witnesses to history.” Marshall and Bernard received thank-you gifts from Tiffany & Company. For everyone else, the swag on the way out the door was deliciously, and most likely diplomatically, correct: a box of chocolate truffles.

The Top Ten Biggest LGBT Stories Of 2012

 

 

1. Winning All Four Ballot Measures

2. President Obama and Democratic Party Embraces Marriage Equality.

3. The Supreme Court Of United States Agrees To Hear DOMA And Proposition 8 Cases.

4. The Election Of Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin To the United States Senate

5. The Horror Facing LGBT Africans

6. The Election of Four New Openly LGBT Members Of Congress

7. The Emergence Of LGBT Allies In Pro Sports

8. The Flawless Integration of open LGBT Troops Into The Military

9. The Increasing Number of Republican Conservatives Supporting LGBT Equality.

10. Transgender Community Makes Historical Break Throughs