Obama Makes History by Appointing Trans Woman

January 07, 2010

 

Amanda Simpson, who used to be test pilot Mitchell Simpson, will make a bit of history Tuesday as she starts work as a senior technical advisor at the Commerce Department.

In an interview with the National Center for Transgender Equality, Simpson said: "I'm truly honored to have received this appointment and am eager and excited about this opportunity that is before me,"

"As one of the first transgender presidential appointees to the federal government, I hope that I will soon be one of hundreds".

In a further interview with the ABC network, she said: "Being the first sucks. I'd rather not be the first but someone has to be first, or among the first.

"I think I'm experienced and very well qualified to deal with anything that might show up because I've broken barriers at lots of other places and I always win people over with who I am and what I can do."

She added: "[There will be] questions like: Is this a token? Are you here to do a job or just to fill a quota or appease other people? In that regard it makes it a bit more difficult," she said.

"I'm sure I will have to do and intend to do a far superior job than any other person. But I'm sure I will always be second guessed."

According to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, Obama has appointed close to 100 openly LGBT men and women to his administration, set to eclipse even the LGBT friendly Clinton administration, which appointed 140 LGBT men and women over the span of his 8 year presidency term. The latest surge is a welcome move by the current administration after a period of discontent by the LGBT community over broken promises during the election campaign.

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