Obama Picks MN Woman as 1st Openly Gay US marshal

[jefferson_dem]

Obama Picks MN Woman as 1st Openly Gay US marshal

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has nominated a Minnesota policewoman to become the first openly gay person to serve as a U.S. marshal.

Sharon Lubinski is an assistant chief in the Minneapolis Police Department, where she has worked for 20 years.

Obama has had a rocky relationship with gay activists, who want him to end the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays. He publicly pledged last weekend to do so.

He has picked openly gay people to serve in other positions in his administration, including the director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1190061.shtml?cat=1

[Cha]

1. My congratulations to

Sharon Lubinski! What a job that must be and the abilty she has to be appointed.

[yorgatron]

3. well,that TOTALLY makes up for all the people kicked out of the service for DADT

and the DOMA.

[Cha]

6. Buzz off ..you're so predictable.

[jefferson_dem]

8. I recommend you personally contact Officer Lubinski and let her know her appointment...

is merely tokenism and hardly makes up for other policy shortcomings.

[Toasterlad]

30. Officer Lubinski Is Well Aware Of How Crappy This Administration's GLBT Policies Are

[jefferson_dem]

32. Really?

You know her? ...or perhaps you simply make a habit out of projecting your own bitterness onto others.

[Toasterlad]

33. I Didn't Say She Was Bitter.

I said that she's aware of how crappy this administration's GLBT policies are.

[liquid diamond]

11. Of fucking course.

I was about to post something sarcastic like that, but sadly you post how you really feel.

[CTLawGuy]

17. look

I know you're mad Hillary didn't win, but you're going to have to get over it at some point.

[Arkana]

20. No one said it did.

[CreekDog]

26. Who said it makes up for that, besides you?

:eyes:

[msongs]

2. good for her, and hope she doesnt plan to join obama's military nt

[jefferson_dem]

4. Lame.

:thumbsdown:

Have a good one anyway. :hi:

[Cha]

7. Weak.

[CreekDog]

27. She can't until they repeal DADT

Hopefully that will change shortly.

[Zenlitened]

5. Good news. K&R.

[27inCali]

9. Has anyone compared the percentage of gays per capita in America

to the percentage of gays per capita among Obama's nominations?

I think it would make for an interesting comparison.

[DrToast]

10. How would you know who all the gay ones were?

[Orsino]

19. We have a long way to go...

...before self-identification could be an accurate measure.

[27inCali]

23. correction: openly gay

I've heard from a few different sources that about 2-4% of the general population is gay (I personally think it's a bit more really).
what is the percentage of Obama appointments that are (openly) gay?

I think that is a good question, since the relationship between Obama and the movement is so strained right now and answering to question could clarify whether he is just avoiding a big congressional fight for right now while he nominates a healthy amount of gays (open or discreet) to important positions. At least I hope that's what he's doing. I think he expects a big oxygen sucking fight over DADT something like what we are experiencing with Health Care and is trying to get Health Care out of the way so that the issue can take the prominent place in the national zeitgeist it deserves. I think there is a significant sign in Obama starting to talk about it as the Health Care battle goes into it's final stages: he's signaling -THIS will be the next big fight once we nail healthcare (which is disappointing in someways, but hey, the gay community needs affordable healthcare too, just like everyone else). I understand people's frustration in having to wait through most of his first year for him to start really picking up the fight, but I think this debate deserves the kind of attention health care got and honestly think that's where we are headed. *crossing fingers*

[donheld]

12. whoooohoooo

[Uzybone]

13. This will be quickly mocked by the endlessly bitter

keep on moving Obama....the haters will continue to hate no matter what.

[ruggerson]

14. that's the first place your mind goes when you hear he's appointed a gay person to something

how sad for you.

[Prism]

24. It is funny

We've reached a strange little point where equality or gay progress are less important or interesting than being able to antagonize people. *something gay happens* "In your face!"

It is a little weird, how our lives and our movement morphed into a reality show for heterosexuals. They follow the story merely so they can cheer on their heroes and boo the villains.

I'm sure we mustn't read anything into that.

[Cha]

25. He's no doubt had experience on DU and

I agree that it is sad but undeniably true.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

15. Um...you can be glad that he has done this and still upset that he has not led on DOMA or DADT

or marriage equality.

This is a good step forward, but it doesn't change the absence of leadership on other issues. It just doesn't work that way.

[CTLawGuy]

18. Yeah, why can't he show leadership on gay issues

like Bill Clinton did! oh wait...

[bigwillq]

22. Who brought Clinton into this?

Only you so far.

[Toasterlad]

31. Bill Clinton Is Not the President of the United States.

[timeforpeace]

16. It's sad that the AP focused on that and not a word about her qualifications.

[rvablue]

21. The link is for a TV station that most likely edited the original piece to squeeze on to their site

[Cha]

28. That's AP for you. I would like to

know her qualifications, too..I bet they're stunning!

Here's a Minnesota article on her..

<snip>

"Lubinski was recommended to the position by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in June.

Lubinski has worked in the Minneapolis Police department for 20 years, and served eight years in the Dane County Sherriff’s Department in Madison, Wis., according to her profile on the Minneapolis Police departmen t website.

Plans for a potential successor to Lubinski in the Minneapolis Police department have not yet begun, Minneapolis Police Sergeant Jesse Garcia said.

“You want to make sure it’s all set in stone before you start buying the uniforms,” Garcia said.

Garcia added that Lubinski is “extremely qualified” for the position.

Nationwide, there are 94 U.S. marshals, one for each federal judicial district. Lubinski would be one of only two active female U.S. marshals in the country.

Marshals operate within the U.S. Justice Department and manage the Witness Security Program and transport federal prisoners."

<more>
http://www.mndaily.com/2009/10/13/minn-asst-police-chief-nominated-us-marshal

[Toasterlad]

29. Hooray! All Our Gay Problems Are Solved!