Feingold: ...There’s widespread recognition of the need to build a more robust and effective diplomatic and development corps. And as a part of that effort, it, of course, makes sense to consider ways to address challenges faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees, particularly relating to domestic partner benefits and State Department policies that make it difficult for the partners of foreign service officers to travel and live at overseas posts. What would you do as secretary of state to address these concerns? Will you support changes to existing personnel policy in order to ensure that LGBT staff at State and USAID receive equal benefits and support?
Clinton: Senator, this issue was brought to my attention during the transition. I’ve asked to have more briefing on it because I think that we should take a hard look at the existing policy. As I understand it, but don’t hold me to it because I don’t have the full briefing material, but my understanding is other nations have moved to extend that partnership benefit. And we will come back to you to inform you of decisions we make going forward.
Clinton: Senator, this issue was brought to my attention during the transition. I’ve asked to have more briefing on it because I think that we should take a hard look at the existing policy. As I understand it, but don’t hold me to it because I don’t have the full briefing material, but my understanding is other nations have moved to extend that partnership benefit. And we will come back to you to inform you of decisions we make going forward.
First off, I'm very glad Senator Feingold, one of the most progressive members of the Senate, raised the issue with the (presumed) future Secretary of State.
Clinton's rather vague non-answer does at least acknowledge that other nations are ahead of us on this issue and implies that a change is needed. I do wish she'd been more direct in rejecting this blatant discrimination. I'm hopeful, though, that once she's Secretary of State the policy, which outgoing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has supported, will be thrown out.
Clinton's rather vague non-answer does at least acknowledge that other nations are ahead of us on this issue and implies that a change is needed. I do wish she'd been more direct in rejecting this blatant discrimination. I'm hopeful, though, that once she's Secretary of State the policy, which outgoing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has supported, will be thrown out.
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