Obama appoints transgendered woman to high position

[Shrinn]

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/01/01/Trans_Woman_Appointed_to_Dep__of_Commerce/


Aerospace and defense veteran Amanda Simpson has been appointed to the Department of Commerce as a senior technical adviser.

Simpson, who is transgender, will be working in the Bureau of Industry and Security.

Neat stuff. Not too big a deal and not too controversial, but I'm glad to see people can be more open about who they are in the public eye.

Hopefully we can have a feel good story get this place back on track!

[Generation ABXY]

I don't really know anything about her, so all I'll say is: If she's qualified for the job (which I'm guessing she may be, given the quoted), I've got no problem with it. I just hope the idea wasn't to appoint her just for headlines...

[Narradisall]

Sounds fair to me.

As long as there wasn't someone better qualified who got passed over for the publicity of appointing the first etc etc.

Weird in writing that I had eerie sensations of sounding like an Obama critic.

[johnperkins21]

This is a good step in the right direction. It will be a great day when there will no longer be first X appointed news stories. I would much rather the focus be on whether or not the person is capable, than their sexuality, nationality, gender, etc., but that's going to take some time. Getting these firsts out of the way is the first major step.

[Kelegacy]

No problem with it whatsoever.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

This shouldn't be news beyond the appointing of a new person to a position in government.

[Generation ABXY]

Getting these firsts out of the way is the first major step.

Unfortunately, saying it like that makes it sound a bit like tearing off a band-aid (though I'm sure that wasn't your intent). Personally, I wouldn't be bothered if we never had a first race/gender/sexual preference/etc. appointed to a position, so long as whomever did get it was indeed the most qualified person.

This shouldn't be news beyond the appointing of a new person to a position in government.

Agreed. Sadly, I've already seen a number of stories praising such a "progressive" appointment, rather than a wise one (not that the two are mutually exclusive, of course).

[Doogie2K]

Unfortunately, saying it like that makes it sound a bit like tearing off a band-aid (though I'm sure that wasn't your intent).

It kind of is, in certain segments of society. Thus the publicity around firsts, as a step towards normalization: the sooner this becomes usual and uninteresting, the better for all involved.

[Generation ABXY]

It kind of is, in certain segments of society. Thus the publicity around firsts, as a step towards normalization: the sooner this becomes usual and uninteresting, the better for all involved.

If the alternative is putting the country at a disadvantage, I'll take the slow, painful pull. (Also, I think there was a similar conversation about Obama back at PiRi; I don't remember how that concluded.)

[Hawkzombie]

Yeah, I could care less WHAT they are as long as they're the most qualified. This kinda seems more like it might be about what they are than how skilled.

[carnage11]

It really doesn't matter, but you gotta wonder why it's even being made known. There could be hundreds of transgendered people in government positions and we wouldn't know, nor would we care. Sure it's a good thing they didn't turn her down, but why doesn't it even matter in the first place? Seems like a publicity stunt to me. First black president was kind of obvious, but anything that deals with someones nether region is unnecessary.

[Doogie2K]

If the alternative is putting the country at a disadvantage, I'll take the slow, painful pull. (Also, I think there was a similar conversation about Obama back at PiRi; I don't remember how that concluded.)

Oh, I agree fully: qualifications above all else. Still, might as well celebrate the first, right? It's another signification of moving forward as a society, I believe.

It really doesn't matter, but you gotta wonder why it's even being made known. There could be hundreds of transgendered people in government positions and we wouldn't know, nor would we care. Sure it's a good thing they didn't turn her down, but why doesn't it even matter in the first place? Seems like a publicity stunt to me. First black president was kind of obvious, but anything that deals with someones nether region is unnecessary.

Probably because she's open about it or would like to be open about it. And I would imagine having a public figure be open about being a transgender would have a ripple effect on others in society to either be more open themselves, or feel less ashamed, or whatever. I don't really see anything negative about this, all things considered.

[carnage11]

Probably because she's open about it or would like to be open about it. And I would imagine having a public figure be open about being a transgender would have a ripple effect on others in society to either be more open themselves, or feel less ashamed, or whatever. I don't really see anything negative about this, all things considered.

She might be open about it, but what does it have to do with her job? If I run for Governor, I'm not gonna tell everyone about my huge cock. My point is, is it shouldn't be mentioned at all. If it really doesn't matter that is.

[Generation ABXY]

There could be hundreds of transgendered people in government positions and we wouldn't know, nor would we care.

That could even serve as a reason to not publicize it, a bit like Don't Ask, Don't Tell. (Even though they may not have agreed with DADT's implementation, a gay rights activist could certainly use it to their advantage now, arguing that the policy has proven that gays can serve in the miltary just as effectively as their straight counterparts and is therefore no longer needed.) If you keep a transgender appointment from becoming a point of contention now, you have a defense should it become one for someone else in the future.

[Ink Asylum]

David Letterman seems to think it's good for a laugh at the expense of transgendereds in general.

EbHN6wh8rvc

[Ultima Thulian]

Well of course he does. He is a comedian. It's his job.

[johnperkins21]

Well of course he does. He is a crotchety old man. It's his job.

I don't think comedian really accurately describes Letterman anymore, so I fixed that comment for you.

[Ultima Thulian]

Just cause he's not funny doesn't mean he's not a comedian.

Hell, Dane Cook is the unfunniest man around, and he's a comedian.

...

...okay, you made your point. I concede.

[jeffbax]

Yet he won't just come out and help end the gay marriage issue once and for all.

[Doogie2K]

She might be open about it, but what does it have to do with her job? If I run for Governor, I'm not gonna tell everyone about my huge cock. My point is, is it shouldn't be mentioned at all. If it really doesn't matter that is.

What does being black have to do with it? Or gay? Or Muslim? Or anything else that's been a point of contention over the last few decades?

The correct answer: Nil. But some think it does. So, we have firsts like this publicized.

[ClannerDelta]

If I run for Governor, I'm not gonna tell everyone about my huge cock.
What does being black have to do with it?

This made me laugh, I'm such a child.

As for Letterman, It's a joke.

It's also how a lot of guys would react if they found out like that. That seems like something you really should be informed about ahead of time. Which may sound insensitive.

[Generation ABXY]

Yet he won't just come out and help end the gay marriage issue once and for all.

Or, hell, any gay issue. I mean, I'm sure it's not as simple as the stroke of a pen, but how much would it really take to repeal DADT?

[Ox]

Or, hell, any gay issue. I mean, I'm sure it's not as simple as the stroke of a pen, but how much would it really take to repeal DADT?
An Act of Congress. Literally. DADT is a statute.

[torrefaction]

Okay...I'm going to go ahead and say it.

Why would a transgender person really take that name.

A*man*da.

[Generation ABXY]

An Act of Congress. Literally. DADT is a statute.

...and now I know. :D Still, he doesn"t even appear to be making in-roads.

[Matthias]

...and now I know. :D Still, he doesn"t even appear to be making in-roads.

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w274/willzweigart/the_more_you_know.jpg

[MagGnome]

Or, hell, any gay issue. I mean, I'm sure it's not as simple as the stroke of a pen, but how much would it really take to repeal DADT?

He really hasn't done squat for gay rights, which is a shame. It's definitely made me regret voting for him. That and the colossal mess called "Health Care Reform".

[Narradisall]

Please can someone else tell me when they see this and the other transgender thread they don't hear a robotic voice in their head saying

"Robots in disguise"

[boratika]

I'm suprised, a kiwi has interjected that New Zealand has had a transgendered Member of Parliament.

Please can someone else tell me when they see this and the other transgender thread they don't hear a robotic voice in their head saying

"Robots in disguise"

Well, if she can turn into a truck or like a tank or a jet, that would be awesome. Or even a tiger or a dinosaur.

[carnage11]

I'm suprised, a kiwi has interjected that New Zealand has had a transgendered Member of Parliament.



Well, if she can turn into a truck or like a tank or a jet, that would be awesome. Or even a tiger or a dinosaur.

What about a man?

[alienmastermind]

Well, if she can turn into a truck or like a tank or a jet, that would be awesome. Or even a tiger or a dinosaur.

Or stack up with a bunch of other transgenders and cost like fifty bucks. Like Devastator.