Appoint Openly Gay Fred Hochberg Commerce Secretary

Want to help shatter a glass ceiling? Give just 2 minutes a day to call and email the Obama transition and you can do just that. Equal Rep is putting on its third campaign to urge President-elect Obama to appoint Fred Hochberg the next Secretary of Commerce.

In more than 200 years, the United States Cabinet has never included an openly gay member. Growing national focus on GLBT civil rights has therefore made the Secretary of Commerce appointment a national issue in the struggle for equal representation.

Fred Hochberg is the most qualified candidate for the job. Hochberg has more than 25 years of experience in business, government, civil rights activities, and philanthropy. From 1998 through 2000, he served as deputy then acting administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), an agency elevated to cabinet rank by President Bill Clinton, with more than 4,000 employees and 100 offices across the country. At the SBA, he directed the delivery of a comprehensive set of financial and business development programs for entrepreneurs, with particular outreach to women and minorities. He also served on President Clinton's Management Council.

From 1994 to 1998, Fred Hochberg worked as founder and president of Heyday Company, a private investment firm managing real estate, stock market investments, and venture capital projects. Prior to that, he was president and chief operating officer of the Lillian Vernon Corporation, where he led the transformation of a small family mail order company into a publicly traded direct marketing corporation, one of the great success stories of American entrepreneurship.

"It was devastating to learn that gay Americans wouldn't have a seat at the table within Barack Obama's Cabinet administration. They are the only minority group to have never been appointed in the history of the United States." said Paul Sousa, Equal Rep founder. "Hochberg is supremely qualified and this opening is the perfect opportunity for our President-elect to show gay Americans they have not been forgotten and he is truly committed to equal representation."

Phone Obama: 202-540-3000, press "2"
Email Obama

Join the facebook event, invite your friends, and plan on giving the Obama administration a friendly daily nudge to put his call of change into action. Here's to hoping that Fred Hochberg is the next Secretary of Commerce!

Call to Appoint Openly Gay Man as Secretary of Navy

PhoneObama:
202-540-3000, press "2"

EmailObama

So what are you up to next week on December 31-Jan 2? How about helping to shatter a glass ceiling? Equal Rep is putting on its second campaign to urge President-elect Obama to appoint William White the next Secretary of the Navy.

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In more than 200 years, the United States military has never included an openly gay chief. Growing national focus on GLBT civil rights has therefore made the Secretary of the Navy appointment a national issue in the struggle for equal representation. Also, it highlights the antiquated policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" which needs to repealed.

William White is the most qualified candidate for the job. Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has named the main qualification for Navy Secretary as corporate, business, and managerial experience. William White certainly fills this criteria as he serves as a member of the Executive Committee and as Chief Operating Officer of the Intrepid Museum Foundation. A recipient of the 1996 Meritorious Service Award in recognition of his outstanding support of the United States Navy, White has dedicated his life to helping injured servicemen and the families of our fallen soldiers. In 1991 Bill White founded Operation Support which raised $400,000 in three months to aid the families of soldiers lost in the Persian Gulf War. This success led to White raising funds for the Intrepid Museum. In 1992, White�s passion and dedication to the Intrepid Foundation became a full time job managing all fundraising and development. White has hosted Presidents Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush and Bill Clinton along with world leaders such as Thatcher, Rabin and Yeltsin. Upon the death of museum Founder Zachary Fisher, White became the Intrepid Foundation President, assuming responsibility for advising the Fisher family in the management of their many military charitable organizations.

In a short amount of time, White has already earned some impressive endorsements. Retired general Hugh Shelton, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said White "would be phenomenal." He added that White's extensive background as a fund-raiser for veterans' and military causes would be helpful in the job. Congressman Jerrold Nadler said White is "very capable" on the basis of observing his work at the Intrepid, located on the Hudson River, which is in Nadler's district. Nadler added that White has been a friend of service members and their families through his work with the museum and philanthropic efforts, according to The Washington Times.

"With the whole Rick Warren fiasco ensuing and the fact that gay Americans were completely shut out of Obama's cabinet, this is the perfect opportunity for our President-elect to show gay Americans they have not been forgotten and he truly is committed to equal representation." said Paul Sousa, Equal Rep founder. "William White is not only the most qualified candidate, but appointing him would also send a strong message that change is coming and the antiquated, discriminatory policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will be repealed soon."

Join the facebook event, invite your friends, and plan on giving the Obama administration a friendly nudge to put his call of change into action. Here's to hoping that William White is the next Secretary of the Navy!