I mentioned the other day that Equal Rep, an LGBT rights group, was pushing for Fred Hochberg to be nominated for Commerce Secretary and the first ever openly gay member of a President's cabinet.
Well, President-elect Obama has given the openly gay Hochberg, formerly of the Small Business Administration, a role to play in the new Administration, though not the one Equal Rep was hoping for.
Instead, Hochberg will be named the first ever openly gay chair of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
This is certainly good news and not the first LGBT individual Obama has tapped for a position. It's just a shame that none of the appointments have been Cabinet level. Obama had a real chance to make some history by appointing the first Out member of the Cabinet. Of course, cabinets fluctuate during any Presidency and there is still plenty of time for Obama to be the first President to do so. It's just a shame that he didn't send a message by doing it right at the start of his Administration.
Still, his Administration is far more LGBT friendly already than the outgoing one ever was or McCain's would likely have been.
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