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Loading ...Who we need at the top: Notes from our leaders, writers, activists and celebs
We’re not going to have a gay president – at least, not this time around.
But where would an openly gay or lesbian, bisexual or transgender appointee or elected official make the most difference during the next administration?
Aside from the presidency, to what government leadership position would you most like to see an openly LGBT person elected or appointed and why?
We received 28 responses from people gay and straight. Elizabeth Birch responded. And so did Rue McClanahan, Danny Roberts (from Real World New Orleans), Joe Solmonese, Kevin Jennings, and so many more.
Of those, five said we need an openly queer person on the US Supreme Court; three suggested Secretary of State. But then there was Richard Kim, who crowed, “Rachel Maddow for White House Press Secretary” and Joan Garry, who, with a wink, threw in Tim Gunn for Chief of Staff.
You can find answers to our question by clicking on individual names, which are in alphabetical order below. The answers are thoughtful, silly, poignant, surprising. Rev. Irene Monroe reminds us of our forgotten history in the military. Robert Rabin explains why a lesbian Supreme Court Justice will change more than you think. And GoodAsYou’s Jeremy Hooper says what we need most of all is a new cabinet position: Secretary of Cutting Through the B.S.
Take a look at what people said by clicking on their names. Some of the responses are very short- some are very long- but all are satisfying. Add your own suggestions either here or after individual answers.
Andrew Belonsky: Restoring our moral authority
Wayne Besen: A voice at the table of justice
Elizabeth Birch: Making LGBT issues human
Bevan Dufty: Righting the wrongs
Robert Gant: Demonstrating the ability to govern
Joan Garry: Barack needs a Gunn
Neal Giuliano: Expanding common ground
Mitchell Gold: Decorating the Oval Office
Michael Guest: A symbol of America’s re-commitment to equality
Jeremy Hooper: The Secretary of Cutting Through the B.S.
Jody Huckaby: Making a bigger difference
Lane Hudson: We need to be in the Senate
Kevin Jennings: LGBTs are naturals at diplomacy
Richard Kim: Rachel Maddow for Press Secretary
James Kirchick: How a gay appointee could strengthen democracy
Ross LaJeunesse: We need a GLBT Calif. Governor
Rue McClanahan: My Chairman would know Alexander the Great
Jon Mallow: Why a gay official won’t matter
Irene Monroe: A history lesson
Robert Rabin: We need a gay Supreme Court Justice – and we need her now
Danny Roberts: Young gays need an openly-serving military offical to look up to
Charlie Rounds: This country needs a good, old-fashioned house cleaning
Dana Rudolph: Preparation for citizenship
Aubrey Sarvis: A Frank voice in the military
Joe Solmonese: Beyond the obvious
Geoffrey Stone: Providing a distinct perspective
Sarah Warn: Give Lesbos back to the lesbians
Bob Witeck: Vital access to the President’s ear
I like to have a gay adult in one of these positions, not a “queer kid”.
i before e except after c, for gawd’s sake
We need a myriad of voices outside of the system. If MSNBC does not diminuate (word?) Rachel Maddow, she could be one of those voices. She could be that simply by being who she is and talking seriously about anything.
Inside the system, we are elevator music, what the system grinds and remakes out of what it percieves as any demanding disident voice. Inside the system, we are beggered and disregarded.
Outside the system, we are more who we are: Americans with sub-standard rights, more and more obviously targets of the willfully ignorant and violently hate-filled and their grubby, power-seeking manipulators. Simply by openly being who we are, with all of our goodness and not-so-good spots, with all of our generosity and all of our anger and, you know, all of our humanness, we are the voices that are pushing at this country, raising the consciousness of this world.
So, then, those of us who are simply out and get up in the morning are on our job. We are the universal doners in our community.
well, this is silly. what does sexual orientation have to do with politics. of course a gay person has the right to be appointed and run office. what does running an office have to do with people’s private or public sexual orientation?