LGBT Leaders Voice Concerns Over Lack of Openly Gay Appointees 

As usual, the Advocate gets it wrong. "President-elect Barack Obama has selected a deputy mayor of Los Angeles to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality, transition officials said Wednesday, Dec. 10. Nancy Sutley is the first prominent member of the gay and lesbian community to earn a senior role in the Democrat’s new administration."-The Dallas Voice Quality reporting would be nice for a change, ladies and gentleman.

Grow up, people. Obama had nothing to do with Prop 8 passing. He and Biden were on record and said in interviews that they would vote "No," on Prop 8 if they lived in California. I personally have been impressed with his potential Cabinet members thus far. For the whiners out there, please enlighten us on who you would appoint over those named already. I'd like to know which LGBT person(s) are more qualified and experienced than those named so far. There will be significant legislation benefiting the LGBT community under the Obama Administration. However, if people here think it's around the corner or as someone suggested that DOMA will be repealed and ENDA and Hate Crimes will be passed within one year, you're seriously delusional. Rushing legislation or executive orders bring nothing but trouble. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a perfect example. We have the most pro-LGBT President-elect ever. Stop whining.

Grow up, people. Obama had nothing to do with Prop 8 passing. He and Biden were on record and said in interviews that they would vote "No," on Prop 8 if they lived in California. I personally have been impressed with his potential Cabinet members thus far. For the whiners out there, please enlighten us on who you would appoint over those named already. I'd like to know which LGBT person(s) are more qualified and experienced than those named so far. There will be significant legislation benefiting the LGBT community under the Obama Administration. However, if people here think it's around the corner or as someone suggested that DOMA will be repealed and ENDA and Hate Crimes will be passed within one year, you're seriously delusional. Rushing legislation or executive orders bring nothing but trouble. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a perfect example. We have the most pro-LGBT President-elect ever. Stop whining.

Hang tight everyone. The Obama Transition Team meet with leaders of the LGBT community and the concenses was that it was a very positive meeting. Carol Browner, LA Duty Mayor, is tapped to be the new Energy Czar and a there are a number of LGBT folks also tapped for senior positions in the administration. Also there are two LGBT folks are are considered for cabinet positions.

Substance is more important than "Form," Obama hasn't even assumed office yet. Until there is an Office of Queer Affairs, perhaps there are more important considerations for cabinet positions than sexual orientation. Would you be happier if you hadn't supported Obama and gotten McCain,Palin, and the religious lunatics in the whitehouse? Get Real. The country is in the economic pits, we have 2 wars going, and you think that appointing a Gay is critical? Wait for substance after 20 Jan - if it's not showing up - then bitch about it.

Mr. Diaz is going to vote for the Republican leadership in the NY Senate. Because the Democrats only have a razor slim majority his defection could hand the chamber back to the Republicans. It is truly unfortunate that Mr. Diaz’s homophobia blinds him so completely that he would vote against the interest of his own constituents in the South Bronx. The south Bronx is one of the poorest, if not the poorest neighborhoods in the state. In fact the US House congressional district which includes the South Bronx is the poorest in the nation. Unlike the NY Republican Senate leaders, the entire Democratic leadership is from NYC and would be far more likely to aid his district than the Republicans. He is voting against his constituents well being. History is not on his side, some day Mr. Diaz will be known as a “George Wallace.”

Doesn't Jnaet Napolitano count? I know she's not out but, please!

I love how you scream over a lack of gay and lesbian representation in Obama's choices, yet you say nothing about the lack of transgendered representation as well. If you're not going to fight for the entire LGBT community, why the pretense of having the T?

Why blame Obama and Blacks for defeat of Propostion 8. GLBT Movement chose to lead with issue of concern to 15% of community. By comparison, 85% of community is concerned with ENDA. GLBT community has all but abandoned AIDS cause since it became "Black" disease. GLBT unconcerned by classism, racism, sexism, ablism, ageism, bi-phobia and transphobia within community. Less than 15% of GLBT Californians contributed even one dollar to ($1) to defeat Prop 8 and countrywide brothers and sisters did no better. We have nobody to blame but selfish, self-centered, self-absorbed myopia. PS. I was at Stonewall and have been activist.

I think Hillary would have done the same thing. The Dems got some of the evangelical vote - they won't take any actions that will jeopardize that. They learned their lesson in '67. We may see DADT repealed as even many in the GOP are realizing it's a bad idea. But don't expect civil unions, ENDA or the repeal of DOMA. And it's not just Obama - Pelosi and Reid have proven to be spineless time after time. The only ones who will take care of us is us. We need to be more selective about supporting the Democrats as a whole and start supporting candidates. Not ones who make promises, but candidates who have actually taken action and earned our support. So no, we probably won't see any gay appointees and very little voice in the administration. Until we're willing to withhold our support, why should that change?