Gay US diplomats to receive equal benefits
By MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writer – Sat May 23, 7:38 pm ET
WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will soon announce that gay American diplomats will be given benefits similar to those that their heterosexual counterparts enjoy, U.S. officials said Saturday.
In a notice to be sent soon to State Department employees, Clinton says regulations that denied same-sex couples and their families the same rights and privileges that straight diplomats enjoyed are "unfair and must end," as they harm U.S. diplomacy.
"Providing training, medical care and other benefits to domestic partners promote the cohesiveness, safety and effectiveness of our posts abroad," she says in the message, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.
"It will also help the department attract and retain personnel in a competitive environment where domestic partner benefits and allowances are increasingly the norm for world-class employers," she says.
"At bottom, the department will provide these benefits for both opposite-sex and same-sex domestic partners because it is the right thing to do," Clinton says.
Among the benefits that will now be granted gay diplomats: the right of domestic partners to hold diplomatic passports, government-paid travel for their partners and families to and from foreign posts, and the use of U.S. medical facilities abroad.
In addition, gay diplomats' families will now be eligible for U.S. government emergency evacuations and training courses at the Foreign Service Institute, the message says.
The announcement, expected this week, was provided to the AP by a State Department official who is a member of the Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies organization. Two department officials not affiliated with the organization confirmed its accuracy.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the changes.
Previously, the State Department had withheld some benefits from the families of gay diplomats, citing the Defense of Marriage Law, which had restricted federal recognition of same-sex marriages.
One former ambassador, Michael Guest, resigned from the foreign service in 2007 to protest the restrictions. Guest was a part of the Obama administration's State Department transition team and played a major role in lobbying for the changes.
Clinton told members of Congress last week that she would soon announce the revisions.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090523/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_diplomacy_clinton;_ylt=Ag8yY8igd.HnRi3c07i04FJzfNdF
Hillary. :wub:
She's amazing. :wub:
What exactly does it mean by diplomat? Ambassadors only, or all embassy staff?
Quote from: garbon on May 26, 2009, 01:50:39 AM
She's amazing. :wub:
Yeah, makes you wonder why anybody voted for the other guy.
Quote from: Viking on May 26, 2009, 05:38:06 AM
Yeah, makes you wonder why anybody voted for the other guy.
There ya go.
Are there any?
Or is this a just in case?
Quote from: Tyr on May 26, 2009, 05:55:54 AM
Are there any?
Or is this a just in case?
US ambassador to Iran.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on May 26, 2009, 06:05:36 AM
US ambassador to Iran.
:unsure: We have relations with Iran now?
Quote from: Caliga on May 26, 2009, 06:39:19 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on May 26, 2009, 06:05:36 AM
US ambassador to Iran.
:unsure: We have relations with Iran now?
:rolleyes:
There are no gays in the US diplomatic corps.
What is this, gay365.com?
Quote from: Fireblade on May 26, 2009, 07:03:15 AM
What is this, gay365.com?
We should rename the board Gayguish. :)
Just so long as gay Poles don't have equal rights.
Quote from: Tyr on May 26, 2009, 05:55:54 AM
Are there any?
Or is this a just in case?
Why wouldn't there be any gay diplomats? :huh:
IIRC, during the BUSHITLER era, the ambassador to Romania was a homo. I remember there was a minor stink over that.
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 26, 2009, 09:59:03 AM
I remember there was a minor stink over that.
Which begs the question: would you notice a minor stink in Romania?
Quote from: derspiess on May 26, 2009, 10:00:22 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 26, 2009, 09:59:03 AM
I remember there was a minor stink over that.
Which begs the question: would you notice a minor stink in Romania?
I assume everything south of Hungary smells like feet.
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 26, 2009, 09:59:03 AM
IIRC, during the BUSHITLER era, the ambassador to Romania was a homo. I remember there was a minor stink over that.
Makes sense. He might have pretended to have the hots for Mina but Dracula was FUH-LAMING.
Quote from: Caliga on May 26, 2009, 10:14:32 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 26, 2009, 09:59:03 AM
IIRC, during the BUSHITLER era, the ambassador to Romania was a homo. I remember there was a minor stink over that.
Makes sense. He might have pretended to have the hots for Mina but Dracula was FUH-LAMING.
You are insulting Vlad? YOU ARE BACK ON THE SHIT LIST MISTER!
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 26, 2009, 10:16:03 AM
You are insulting Vlad? YOU ARE BACK ON THE SHIT LIST MISTER!
Are you kidding? Vlad the Impaler was the SHIZNIT and one of my personal heroes.
Dracula != Vlad.
Quote from: Caliga on May 26, 2009, 10:18:49 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 26, 2009, 10:16:03 AM
You are insulting Vlad? YOU ARE BACK ON THE SHIT LIST MISTER!
Are you kidding? Vlad the Impaler was the SHIZNIT and one of my personal heroes.
Dracula != Vlad.
I accept your groveling apology.
:mad:
Dude, if Vlad the Impaler stepped into a time machine and came out circa 1992, Francis Ford Coppola would have found himself bisected by a telephone pole.
Vlad the Impaler was fucked by the Sultan, just as his brother was, when they were in the Turkish harem.
So? That doesn't mean he was gay.
Quote from: Viking on May 26, 2009, 05:38:06 AM
Yeah, makes you wonder why anybody voted for the other guy.
Seeing as how I've been wondering that since last spring, not so much.
Hillary Clinton: putting the "mate" back in "diplomate." :P
Anyway, there is apparently a whole organization of gay and lesbian foreign service members, so to whoever idiot that asked the question before (can't be bothered to look up), yes there are gay diplomats.
Diplomacy is gay. Not the game though. That's cool.
Quote from: Martinus on May 26, 2009, 03:06:07 PM
Anyway, there is apparently a whole organization of gay and lesbian foreign service members, so to whoever idiot that asked the question before (can't be bothered to look up), yes there are gay diplomats.
It was Josq, and normally I would assume such a question to be an obvious joke, but not sure in this case. :)
Quote from: Martinus on May 26, 2009, 09:55:49 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 26, 2009, 05:55:54 AM
Are there any?
Or is this a just in case?
Why wouldn't there be any gay diplomats? :huh:
Easy targets for the enemy.
Gays practice free sex and have no sense of loyalty for their partners, which are always temporary partners to begin with, and it would be easy for a foreign intelligence service to send a male operative to seduce them and gain access to clasified information. Therefore gays working for the State Department are a threat to national security.
Quote from: Siege on May 26, 2009, 08:42:44 PM
Easy targets for the enemy.
Gays practice free sex and have no sense of loyalty for their partners, which are always temporary partners to begin with, and it would be easy for a foreign intelligence service to send a male operative to seduce them and gain access to clasified information. Therefore gays working for the State Department are a threat to national security.
Ignorance, thy name is Siegebreaker.
Quote from: Siege on May 26, 2009, 08:42:44 PM
Quote from: Martinus on May 26, 2009, 09:55:49 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 26, 2009, 05:55:54 AM
Are there any?
Or is this a just in case?
Why wouldn't there be any gay diplomats? :huh:
Easy targets for the enemy.
Gays practice free sex and have no sense of loyalty for their partners, which are always temporary partners to begin with, and it would be easy for a foreign intelligence service to send a male operative to seduce them and gain access to clasified information. Therefore gays working for the State Department are a threat to national security.
Gays living in America are a threat to its national security.
Quote from: Neil on May 26, 2009, 08:48:33 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 26, 2009, 08:42:44 PM
Quote from: Martinus on May 26, 2009, 09:55:49 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 26, 2009, 05:55:54 AM
Are there any?
Or is this a just in case?
Why wouldn't there be any gay diplomats? :huh:
Easy targets for the enemy.
Gays practice free sex and have no sense of loyalty for their partners, which are always temporary partners to begin with, and it would be easy for a foreign intelligence service to send a male operative to seduce them and gain access to clasified information. Therefore gays working for the State Department are a threat to national security.
Gays living in America are a threat to its national security.
So are Mossad agents serving in our armed forces.
Disagree.
Garbon is cool.
Certain polish gay poster... not so cool.
Quote from: Siege on May 26, 2009, 08:42:44 PM
Easy targets for the enemy.
Gays practice free sex and have no sense of loyalty for their partners, which are always temporary partners to begin with, and it would be easy for a foreign intelligence service to send a male operative to seduce them and gain access to clasified information. Therefore gays working for the State Department are a threat to national security.
I think the history of the honey trap proves that it's not just gays who are susceptible to this. Ironically the highest profile Western Soviet spy I can think of who was gay did it for ideology not sex, though when he moved to Moscow the KGB assigned him a live in 'minder' :mellow:
This is good, it gives somewhere for all the gay Arabic linguists to go :)
Quote from: Fireblade on May 26, 2009, 08:49:06 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 26, 2009, 08:48:33 PM
Quote from: Siege on May 26, 2009, 08:42:44 PM
Quote from: Martinus on May 26, 2009, 09:55:49 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 26, 2009, 05:55:54 AM
Are there any?
Or is this a just in case?
Why wouldn't there be any gay diplomats? :huh:
Easy targets for the enemy.
Gays practice free sex and have no sense of loyalty for their partners, which are always temporary partners to begin with, and it would be easy for a foreign intelligence service to send a male operative to seduce them and gain access to clasified information. Therefore gays working for the State Department are a threat to national security.
Gays living in America are a threat to its national security.
So are Mossad agents serving in our armed forces.
Both groups should be executed.
Are polish gays polished?
Would you touch a polish gay with a 10-foot pole?
Quote from: Neil on May 26, 2009, 08:50:29 PM
Both groups should be executed.
Hmm.. executing both the Jews and the gays. Sir, this is a reasonable compromise I believe we both can live with. :thumbsup:
Quote from: Fireblade on May 26, 2009, 08:52:43 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 26, 2009, 08:50:29 PM
Both groups should be executed.
Hmm.. executing both the Jews and the gays. Sir, this is a reasonable compromise I believe we both can live with. :thumbsup:
Not Jews. Traitrorous fifth column Israelis who are selling America out to the Chinese.
Quote from: Neil on May 26, 2009, 08:55:36 PM
Not Jews. Traitrorous fifth column Israelis who are selling America out to the Chinese.
So, the Jews then?
Quote from: Fireblade on May 26, 2009, 08:56:28 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 26, 2009, 08:55:36 PM
Not Jews. Traitrorous fifth column Israelis who are selling America out to the Chinese.
So, the Jews then?
Negative. Look at Joan Robinson. While he is an inveterate Obamaniac, he's merely misguided. He is not a dangerous traitor like Siegebreaker.
Quote from: Neil on May 26, 2009, 08:58:58 PM
Negative. Look at Joan Robinson. While he is an inveterate Obamaniac, he's merely misguided. He is not a dangerous traitor like Siegebreaker.
I see. Point taken. But how do you seperate out the good Jews (Malthus, Joan Robinson, Martinus) from the bad Jews?
Edit: Jewishness not confirmed for one on my "good Jew" list. :blush:
Quote from: Fireblade on May 26, 2009, 08:59:47 PM
Quote from: Neil on May 26, 2009, 08:58:58 PM
Negative. Look at Joan Robinson. While he is an inveterate Obamaniac, he's merely misguided. He is not a dangerous traitor like Siegebreaker.
I see. Point taken. But how do you seperate out the good Jews (Malthus, Joan Robinson, Martinus) from the bad Jews?
Edit: Jewishness not confirmed for one on my "good Jew" list. :blush:
Martinus isn't a Jew, he's a homo. As such, he must burn.
I would think that Israeli citizenship would be a good guide.
Quote from: Siege on May 26, 2009, 08:42:44 PM
Easy targets for the enemy.
Gays practice free sex and have no sense of loyalty for their partners, which are always temporary partners to begin with, and it would be easy for a foreign intelligence service to send a male operative to seduce them and gain access to clasified information. Therefore gays working for the State Department are a threat to national security.
This is sorta like how all Jews are subversive 5th columns for Israel, and therefore are fundamentally unamerican, ain't it?
weird thread. weird thing... will that trickle down eventually... or will a Gay aristocracy arise in place of the current diplomat class? :tinfoil:
Quote from: Sheilbh on May 26, 2009, 08:50:20 PM
This is good, it gives somewhere for all the gay Arabic linguists to go :)
This is the sort of tragedy you create when you persecute great Americans like Arabic Linguists :weep:
It is getting time for another Pink Scare.
Quote from: Siege on May 26, 2009, 08:42:44 PM
which are always temporary partners to begin with
Perhaps people shouldn't be against marriage then...gays might then see further incentive to actually form partnerships when hurdles are removed.
Quote from: PDH on May 27, 2009, 10:21:25 AM
It is getting time for another Pink Scare.
I want to see marti being chased by a mob.
I think it is time for another one of these:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.opednews.com%2Fpopulum%2Fuploaded%2F1979-flyer--hat-tip-to-maggie-s--2795-20081115-182.jpg&hash=3f0d24e3857b246c1b5190b24eedc0709d52bdd5)
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 27, 2009, 12:04:34 PM
Quote from: PDH on May 27, 2009, 10:21:25 AM
It is getting time for another Pink Scare.
I want to see marti being chased by a mob.
That would be so awesome!
Quote from: Martinus on May 26, 2009, 09:55:49 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 26, 2009, 05:55:54 AM
Are there any?
Or is this a just in case?
Why wouldn't there be any gay diplomats? :huh:
Why would there be?
QuoteAnyway, there is apparently a whole organization of gay and lesbian foreign service members, so to whoever idiot that asked the question before (can't be bothered to look up), yes there are gay diplomats.
If you take a few hundred people the odds aren't impossible that they'll all end up being straight. Especially in a gay hostile environment. It wasn't clear this was talking of all involved in diplomacy as opposed to just ambassadors and whatnot.
Quote from: Siege on May 26, 2009, 08:42:44 PM
Quote from: Martinus on May 26, 2009, 09:55:49 AM
Quote from: Tyr on May 26, 2009, 05:55:54 AM
Are there any?
Or is this a just in case?
Why wouldn't there be any gay diplomats? :huh:
Easy targets for the enemy.
Gays practice free sex and have no sense of loyalty for their partners, which are always temporary partners to begin with, and it would be easy for a foreign intelligence service to send a male operative to seduce them and gain access to clasified information. Therefore gays working for the State Department are a threat to national security.
Hey, many famous diplomats and foreign operatives were gay.
Like, the Cambridge Five, for example.
Oh wait. :P
Anyway, the only group that is more untrustworthy as it comes to being Soviet spies, than gays, are Jews. :lol:
Quote from: Neil on May 26, 2009, 08:50:29 PM
Both groups should be executed.
Putting gays and Jews to death is so 1940. Get on with the pogrom. :rolleyes:
Quote from: PDH on May 27, 2009, 10:21:25 AM
It is getting time for another Pink Scare.
Another Gay Movie sequel? :unsure: