Transition matters: LGBT news and Obama - 3037 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News

Step up to par: On Jan. 5, the transition team of President-elect Barack Obama announced the appointment of an openly gay man, Bradley J. Kiley, as director of the White House Office of Management and Administration. The position is one held by lesbian Democratic activist Virginia Apuzzo during the Clinton administration. The office oversees the management and budgeting for the White House staff, office space, information technology as well as facilities, staff salaries, travel, visitors and other administrative functions. While it is a White House-related position, the appointment is a bit of a disappointment to some, as it falls well short of the community's hope of an openly gay Cabinet member. Kiley was one of 13 people listed on the transition's "senior staff" and one of two of the transition's "directors of operations." The transition press release also notes Kiley was, most recently, vice president for finance and operations at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank headed by Obama transition chief John Podesta. He has also been involved with the Democratic Party and the International AIDS Trust, headed by former Clinton appointee Sandra Thurman.

Etheridge ethos: Rock star Melissa Etheridge is generating a lot of criticism these days with her kind words about President-elect Obama's choice of Rick Warren to deliver his inauguration invocation. Etheridge met with Warren—who said same-sex marriage is equivalent to pedophilia and incest; who promoted California's Proposition 8 to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage; and who said the LGBT-rights movement is "not really about civil rights, but a desire for approval." In a Dec. 22 essay for HuffingtonPost.com, she said she initially expected Warren was "one more hater working up his congregation to hate the gays … ." In the spirit of peace, she said, she asked to speak to him prior to their joint appearance at a Muslim-American event. She said "Pastor Rick" called her, assured her he believes in equal rights for everyone, including same-sex couples, and that he regrets saying things that were construed to compare being gay with pedophilia and incest. Etheridge urged the LGBT community to "create change" by working to "change hearts." On National Public Radio's All Things Considered Jan. 3, she said "we have to move past our differences," but acknowledged that, if Republican John McCain had won the election and invited Warren to deliver the invocation, it would be a "whole different situation."

Kaine mutiny: Not everybody is happy with the president-elect's plan to name Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Political blogger Pam Spaulding pointed out that Kaine not only opposed same-sex marriage, as Obama does, but also opposes civil unions. She also faulted his 2005 campaign for governor for gay-baiting his GOP opponent by pointedly claiming the soft-spoken Republican was "not being straight." But Jay Fisette, an openly gay elected official and longtime Democratic activist in Virgniia, said he is "thrilled" with Kaine's selection. Fisette said Kaine, a former civil-rights attorney, "has been a strong ally of the LGBT community in Virginia. He spoke out forcefully against Virginia's so-called marriage amendment in 2006, standing with his wife and in-laws on the steps of his home in Richmond to urge voters to oppose the amendment," recalled Fisette. "I am confident that he will continue and advance the Democratic Party's support of equal rights for LGBT citizens."

Wants out: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew his nomination Jan. 5 to become Secretary of Commerce. The decision, he said, was based on his concern that a federal investigation into the selection of a California company to help the state issue bonds for road construction could impede is confirmation. The company reportedly gave $75,000 to a group created to pay for the expenses Richardson and his staff incurred during the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and $25,000 to a nonprofit group that Richardson formed to promote voting among Latinos. Richardson has been a strong supporter of equal rights for gays. The recently formed EqualRep.com is now promoting openly gay Democratic activist and businessman Fred Hochberg for the nomination.

�2008 Keen News Service

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