Politics | 12/03/2008 6:30 am

Openly Gay Mary Beth Maxwell To Head Labor Team?

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

via Change To Win's Flickr

President-elect Barack Obama’s cabinet may become even more colorful!

In addition to a number of black and female members, Obama’s transition team has reportedly started vetting openly gay union activist Mary Beth Maxwell to head the Labor Department. Though she’s going up against the likes of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Maxwell’s already received the backing of gay rights organization Human Rights Campaign and Representative David Boinier, who, interestingly, has also been named as a potential labor pick. The Wall Street Journal provides a bit more background on Maxwell’s bio:

Maxwell is the perfect labor secretary you’ve probably never heard of: a gay woman, community organizer and labor leader with an adopted African American son. And this founding executive director of American Rights at Work is about to get the full-court press….

Many labor leaders are thrilled by Maxwell’s potential position, with AFL-CIO and Change to Win, which is made of Service Employees, giving her a thumbs up. Other labor leaders, meanwhile, wonder whether Maxwell’s got the chops to take the national stage. This picture of Maxwell fired up at this Change to Win rally gives us a feeling she can hold her own. We don’t know what she’s saying, but it sure looks good.

Read more about: Barack Obama, Labor Department, Mary Beth Maxwell, News, Politics

64 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Does her sexuality really need to be highlighted? Why is it that if someone is gay, it becomes a central focus…example, the title of this thread.

By Josie Sullivan on 12/03/2008 8:02 am

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I agree, Josie. The first thing I thought of is that her sexuality is how a Republican would look at her. Not her capabilities but her sexuality, as if that matters. By saying that I am as bad so now I have to laugh at myself.

By Judy K. on 12/03/2008 8:07 am

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Aw, c’mon, Judy. Plenty of Democrats think it matters, too.

By Ms. Dee on 12/03/2008 8:04 pm

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I agree with both of you. I wonder if we’ll ever get pass having to point out a persons color, sexuality, blah, blah, blah…ls she qualified or not…let’s get on with it already.

By Cheryl Mitchell on 12/03/2008 8:45 am

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They won’t “officially” touch any aspect except her qualifications so this is basically an excellent choice… again.

By Mary NSB-Florida on 12/03/2008 9:03 am

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I agree with Josie. This country will never grow until we stop the labels and look at a person’s qualifications.

By Brooklyn Gal on 12/03/2008 9:11 am

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Thank you Ladies, I was unsure to post that knowing I could get shot down. It’s comforting to see that you all feel the same. Let’s keep the bedroom, religion, ethnicity out of the office. I was recently outed by a friend to a large group of people. I’m not happy about it because I would rather make that choice myself when and where to share my personal information.

By Josie Sullivan on 12/03/2008 9:27 am

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Josie, Are you certain that is a friend of yours? How many friends would do that to a friend? Unless of course she or he thought you were already OUT to the people. Hmm? If I were you, I would re-evaluate the friendship. In either case, I am sorry that happened to you. I hope it worked out ok for you.

By Ro H on 12/04/2008 2:52 am

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Hey Ro Ro- I talked to him last night about it and he assured me he wouldn’t do that again. I hope he won’t. The group doesn’t even know me really except as a local artist. He is the one who recounted the conversation as if nothing was wrong. Ugh, people just don’t think.

By Josie Sullivan on 12/04/2008 7:52 am

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He said he wanted a diverse administration and it appears, unlike our leaders of the past…..he meant it. He is truly putting his money where his mouth is. His administration will indeed reflect the make-up of America.

By Belinda Joy on 12/03/2008 9:35 am

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This is excellent news! Too bad it’s even a part of the decision, but glad barriers are falling.

By John G on 12/03/2008 9:48 am

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Just my two cents—I have been exceedingly delighted with President-elect Obama’s varied choices. Unified diversity—rock on President Obama!

By Serena . on 12/03/2008 9:57 am

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Hi ya Serena, I agree with you about Obama’s choices. Thank goodness we have someone now, we can trust to get ALL people involved in his administration, and NOT just the few “good ol’ boys” … Alas! Some seem bothered that her sexuality has been mentioned. It is important for people to really take a look at his administration, I believe, and to acknowledge the diversity. Also, many of those who ask, why does her sexuality have to be made public? Why not? WE really ARE everywhere. It is way past time to accept, whether you agree or not, whether you approve, or understand, there are those of us who are also citizens of this nation, who pay our taxes, serve our country, work in every form of profession, vocation, or job, who are in some way related to you… that happen to be gay or lesbian. Live with it. Serena, I really like your “Unified diversity —- rock on President Obama!” sentence. It had me chuckling.

By Ro H on 12/09/2008 1:52 am

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While her mention is a good sign potentially for the Employee Free Choice Act, labor issues go far beyond unions. It’s not clear she has the chops for the job or has broader appeal beyond gay-rights groups and unions. She also lacks star power and you need some of that in a high profile job like a Cabinet position. It is what it is.

By Corinne M. on 12/03/2008 10:15 am

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It is refreshing to see that Obama appears to be color blind and neutral as to the personal sex lives of the people he is pulling in on his team. I am so worn out and fed up with a person’s intimate life being discussed on a public forum as if it really matters. Can the person do the job, do they have a vision, are they well educated, are they honest and transparent—that is all we should really care about. We insist that people do their jobs in a transparent manner, but then we encourage their secrecy by openly talking and writing about what should not even be thought about, much less talked about.

By Diana T on 12/03/2008 10:21 am