DOMA or Don'tcha?
Equality for diplomats? Hillary's on it. Sort of.
By Kate X Messer, 5:04PM, Fri. Feb. 6, 2009
Earlier this week, House Rep Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) penned a letter and was joined by Sens Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with fellow House Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) in calling on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to address inequities between gay and straight employees in the department. Since the department oversees overseas issues like life during wartime and mandatory evacs, it's of grave concern to gay diplomats and employees whose families are part of their move to foreign countries.
Clinton responded positively, stating that she viewed "this as an issue of workplace fairness, employee retention, and the safety and effectiveness of our embassy communities worldwide." She did, however, also express concern over the big, fat, hairy (and signed-by-hubby Bill) DOMA that is hovering over her sweet cheeks and into which, readying to sink its fangs.
Perhaps this was one of those myriad things that could have filled that pregnant pause when she thanked Bill for a "lifetime of – all kinds of experiences." Ummm yah, probably not.
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civil rights, Hillary Clinton, Department of State, Secretary of State, House Rep Tammy Baldwin, Russ Feingold, Ron Wyden, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen