Obama Makes First Transgender Presidential Appointment

[DaemonSeid]

Amanda Simpson, a Raytheon employee, former test pilot, and one-time Congressional candidate, made history today when she became the first-ever Presidential appointee who is transgender. Simpson, who underwent her transition while employed at Raytheon, will serve as a Senior Technical Adviser at the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security.

Simpson's most recent job was as the Deputy Director in Advanced Technology Development at Raytheon Missile Systems in Arizona.

Although a House vote in 2007 on the Employee Non-Discriminiation Act excluded transgender individuals as part of a deal backed by the mainstream Human Rights Campaign, then-Senator Barack Obama supported a fully inclusive ENDA during his campaign for the presidency. However, a House vote on ENDA was put off until later in 2010, and some LGBT rights advocates worry that it will fall by the wayside as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allows Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his cantankerous caucus to take the lead on controversial legislation in an effort to preserve her majority in 2011.

Link

[DrPhil]

"First we get a Muslim president and now we have he-shes in the White House. Let us pray for the future of our country."

[dreamseeker]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

"First we get a Muslim president and now we have he-shes in the White House. Let us pray for the future of our country."

lol. better copyright that.

[deepimpact2]

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

"First we get a Muslim president and now we have he-shes in the White House. Let us pray for the future of our country."

LOL

Transgender people have a very hard time getting employed. I am glad that this position is a non-diversity, non-HIV, non-LGBT-centric career. Good role model for Trans youth.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

LOL

Transgender people have a very hard time getting employed. I am glad that this position is a non-diversity, non-HIV, non-LGBT-centric career. Good role model for Trans youth.

Why do they have a hard time getting employed? Unless they tell the person, how would their potential employer know that?

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

Why do they have a hard time getting employed? Unless they tell the person, how would their potential employer know that?

Use your imagination...Not everyone is blessed with a good surgeon or passable looks.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Use your imagination...Not everyone is blessed with a good surgeon or passable looks.

Exactly -- not every stransgendered individual's results will work out like "Tula's" did (a Bond Girl who was born a guy, she had a role in "Octopussy"...my, how fitting.)

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

Why do they have a hard time getting employed? Unless they tell the person, how would their potential employer know that?

Most transgender people I know are not passable -- truth be told, it's hard to get a job if you look like a man in a dress. Even those of us who are aware of our biases still have a hard time getting over them.

[als463]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

"First we get a Muslim president and now we have he-shes in the White House. Let us pray for the future of our country."

As a conservative, I agree with that statement. I don't really care about someone being Muslim, however, if Obama was an Atheist or a Satanist, I would have a problem. Come on, we all have our judgments. I think I might start a thread on this.

Anyway, it scares me to think where this country is going. I feel like, as soon as you open your mouth in opposition to certain ways of life, you are seen as a racist, classist, a hater, etc.

Muslim, not so much. Whatever. Cool. Transgender...ehhhhh....

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by als463

As a conservative, I agree with that statement. I don't really care about someone being Muslim, however, if Obama was an Atheist or a Satanist, I would have a problem. Come on, we all have our judgments. I think I might start a thread on this.

You don't have to be a conservative to not want an Atheist or Satanist in office.

Yes, we all have our judgments. I used to be very conservative (what others and myself considered conservative) and I had to get over many of the things that I was conservative about because the reality didn't support the bullshit that I was spewing. Much of it was really about stereotypes and unfounded claims.

I consider myself neither a conservative nor a liberal--I guess that makes me a moderate? I guess...categories mean nothing.

Originally Posted by als463

Anyway, it scares me to think where this country is going. I feel like, as soon as you open your mouth in opposition to certain ways of life, you are seen as a racist, classist, a hater, etc.

Muslim, not so much. Whatever. Cool. Transgender...ehhhhh....

Being opposed to something is not always the issue. Why you are opposed and how you express it is the issue. Also, ask yourself whether your fears are well founded or do they reek of the fears of years passed that resulted in systemic oppressions.

As I always tell people, I don't care if people are prejudiced as long as they keep it in the realm of thoughts rather than action. When it differentially impacts an outcome, it becomes an -ism.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by als463

As a conservative, I agree with that statement. I don't really care about someone being Muslim, however, if Obama was an Atheist or a Satanist, I would have a problem. Come on, we all have our judgments. I think I might start a thread on this.

Anyway, it scares me to think where this country is going. I feel like, as soon as you open your mouth in opposition to certain ways of life, you are seen as a racist, classist, a hater, etc.

Muslim, not so much. Whatever. Cool. Transgender...ehhhhh....

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You don't have to be a conservative to not want an Atheist or Satanist in office.

Yes, we all have our judgments. I used to be very conservative (what others and myself considered conservative) and I had to get over many of the things that I was conservative about because the reality didn't support the bullshit that I was spewing. Much of it was really about stereotypes and unfounded claims.

I consider myself neither a conservative nor a liberal--I guess that makes me a moderate? I guess...categories mean nothing.



Being opposed to something is not always the issue. Why you are opposed and how you express it is the issue. Also, ask yourself whether your fears are well founded or do they reek of the fears of years passed that resulted in systemic oppressions.

As I always tell people, I don't care if people are prejudiced as long as they keep it in the realm of thoughts rather than action. When it differentially impacts an outcome, it becomes an -ism.

So you are opposed to having an Atheist (gasp!) as president over the plethora of fake religious politicians racing to church to show how religious they are just to prove to the American people that they are Christians? I'd take an Atheist who makes decisions based in logic rather than random "because I think it's God's will" logic any day. Why do your specific religious beliefs trump everyone else's religious beliefs? Separation of church and state is for a very good reason.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

So you are opposed to having an Atheist (gasp!) as president over the plethora of fake religious politicians racing to church to show how religious they are just to prove to the American people that they are Christians? I'd take an Atheist who makes decisions based in logic rather than random "because I think it's God's will" logic any day. Why do your specific religious beliefs trump everyone else's religious beliefs? Separation of church and state is for a very good reason.

Yeah it is kind of ridiculous. But the fact of it is, people vote with their hearts. Need I remind you that there has only been one Roman Catholic president in our nation's history? Because a lot of protestants and Anglicans don't trust them.

[ZXDelt304]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

So you are opposed to having an Atheist (gasp!) as president over the plethora of fake religious politicians racing to church to show how religious they are just to prove to the American people that they are Christians? I'd take an Atheist who makes decisions based in logic rather than random "because I think it's God's will" logic any day. Why do your specific religious beliefs trump everyone else's religious beliefs? Separation of church and state is for a very good reason.

Excellent. I know some agnostics who are closer to being Christian than some Christians themselves. I am Libertarian, so Im not siding on Liberal or Conservative modern mainstream ideas. But it does seem rather curious that President Obama is appointing so many "Firsts". I know he is very liberal with affirmative action. So, is he trying to get as many minorities (i.e. Transgenders, hispanics, women, etc) into high offices solely on the basis of they being a minority and he is trying to be the most progressive president? Or are they being appointed by their merit.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

So you are opposed to having an Atheist (gasp!) as president over the plethora of fake religious politicians racing to church to show how religious they are just to prove to the American people that they are Christians? I'd take an Atheist who makes decisions based in logic rather than random "because I think it's God's will" logic any day. Why do your specific religious beliefs trump everyone else's religious beliefs? Separation of church and state is for a very good reason.

"What the hell are you talking about" is the nicest response that I can think of.