Gay Rights on Fast Track at State Dept.

Days after pledging to review policies that discriminate against LGBT employees at the State Department, Secretary Clinton said her staff is reviewing inequities and preparing to make appropriate changes "expeditiously."

BY Kerry Eleveld

February 05 2009 1:00 AM ET

Sources familiar
with the State Department say LGBT employees today are
more hopeful than they have ever been about the direction of
potential policy changes. Last week, 2,200 government
employees (gay and straight) working in foreign
affairs signed a letter advocating for
fair treatment of LGBT employees that was
hand-delivered to Secretary Clinton's office.

Michelle Schohn,
president of Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs
Agencies (GLIFAA), welcomed the support of congressional
members and said she firmly believed policy changes
are imminent.

“We
are delighted that these members of Congress share our
concerns about the inequities facing gays and lesbians
in the Foreign Service,” Schohn said. “I
am confident that these are issues that the secretary
already takes seriously.”