Washington, D.C. -
The recent appointment of Amanda Simpson, a transgender woman, is among the first by a presidential administration.
Amanda Simpson, a member of the board of directors of the National Center for Transgender Equality, has been appointed Senior Technical Advisor to the Department of Commerce by President Obama.
"Obama is the first U.S. president to appoint openly transgender individuals to executive branch positions," the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that backs openly gay elected officials, said on its website.
"I'm truly honored to have received this appointment and am eager and excited about this opportunity that is before me," Simpson said in a statement. "And at the same time, 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."
According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, Simpson brings 30 years of aerospace and defense industry experience to her new post. She holds degrees in physics, engineering and business administration.
The Obama administration is on track to setting a new record on openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender appointees. President Clinton appointed about 140 gay officials over 8 years. In his first year in office, Obama has appointed nearly 100 openly LGBT officials.
Amanda Simpson, a member of the board of directors of the National Center for Transgender Equality, has been appointed Senior Technical Advisor to the Department of Commerce by President Obama.
"Obama is the first U.S. president to appoint openly transgender individuals to executive branch positions," the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that backs openly gay elected officials, said on its website.
"I'm truly honored to have received this appointment and am eager and excited about this opportunity that is before me," Simpson said in a statement. "And at the same time, 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."
According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, Simpson brings 30 years of aerospace and defense industry experience to her new post. She holds degrees in physics, engineering and business administration.
The Obama administration is on track to setting a new record on openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender appointees. President Clinton appointed about 140 gay officials over 8 years. In his first year in office, Obama has appointed nearly 100 openly LGBT officials.
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