Obama Names Transgender Appointee to Commerce Department
David Sessions
Washington Reporter
Posted:
01/4/10
The White House has appointed Amanda Simpson, the former head of the National Center for Transgender Equality, to be a senior technical advisor to the Commerce Department, ABC's Jake Tapper reports. Simpson is one of the first transgender political appointees, but Democratic officials say they are unsure if she is the very first. The White House itself had no further comment on the appointment.
"As one of the first transgender presidential appointees to the federal government, I hope that I will soon be one of hundreds, and that this appointment opens future opportunities for many others," Simpson said.
Simpson was previously a long-time employee at the military contracor Ratheon Missile Systems, where her transition from male to female was instrumental in getting the company to add gender identity to its equal opportunity employment policy.
"As one of the first transgender presidential appointees to the federal government, I hope that I will soon be one of hundreds, and that this appointment opens future opportunities for many others," Simpson said.
Simpson was previously a long-time employee at the military contracor Ratheon Missile Systems, where her transition from male to female was instrumental in getting the company to add gender identity to its equal opportunity employment policy.