Mary Beth Maxwell
could become America's first openly gay cabinet member
if chosen to lead the Department of Labor in Barack Obama's
administration. Maxwell is the founding executive director
of the labor organization American Rights at Work,
established in 2003. Before that she was a national
field director at Jobs With Justice and the deputy
field director of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
Michigan
congressman David Bonior, who is also on the short list for
the cabinet position, said Maxwell should get the job.
Bonior, a 63-year-old Democrat, is reportedly
reluctant to accept the position, saying such jobs
should go to younger leaders, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Some officials
with the AFL-CIO and Change to Win are backing
Maxwell, stressing her support for legislation to allow
unionization with the signing of cards instead of
secret balloting. The Human Rights Campaign will also
back Maxwell, though it endorsed California
congresswoman Linda Sanchez, another possible
appointee, last week.
"You would have
received our letter in support of Representative
Sanchez's candidacy for secretary of labor last
week," HRC president Joe Solmonese wrote
President-elect Obama, according to the Journal.
"While we remain supportive of Representative
Sanchez's candidacy, it has come to our
attention that Mary Beth Maxwell is also being
considered for this crucial position. Given Ms.
Maxwell's long history of leadership on labor issues,
HRC is pleased to also endorse Mary Beth Maxwell for
secretary of labor."
Though Maxwell is
one of several candidates being vetted for the
secretary position, Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius,
Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm, Bonior, and
Sanchez may be higher-profile nominees. Big
names already chosen for the cabinet include Hillary
Clinton for secretary of State, Janet Napolitano
for Homeland Security secretary, and Robert Gates to
continue as Defense secretary. (Michelle Garcia,
Advocate.com)
