Right-Wing Groups Blast Bush's Picks
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE WASHINGTON BLADE - October 5, 2001 Right-wing groups Continuedfrom page 1 friendly attitude towards Romania and its people." Guest assumed his duties as ambassador blast Bush's picks Sept. 18 when Secretary of State Colin Powell administered the oath of office at a State Department swearing-in ceremony. Romanian foreign ministry praises Powell recognized Guest's parents and domestic partner ofsix years, school teacher appointment of gay ambassador Alex Navarez, as they stood beside Guest during the ceremony. Powell also noted dur by Lou Chibbaro Jn ing the ce'remony that Navarez would be The Romanian government issued a statement Oct. 1 praising joining Guest in Bucharest. A State President Bush's openly gay U.S. ambassador to Romania afterconser Department official said Guest departed by vative political groups in the U.S. and Romania criticized the president's plane for Romania on Sept. 25. decision to appoint a gay person to Bush nominated Guest for the ambas sadorial post in June, and the _S_enate approved the nomination by unanimous voice vote in August. In a statement released Sept. 27, Family Research Council President Ken Connor called Bush's appointment of Guest another in a series of actions by the president that demonstrate he is embracing a "homosexu al politicalagenda" and is "imparting legiti macy to the homosexual political cause." Connor noted that the Guest appointment follows Bush's appointment of gay Republican activist Scott Evertz as director of the White House National AIDS Policy Office and follows Bush's appointment of gay real estate developer Donald Cappoccia Romani^ Ministry of Foreign p^Me„t Bush too pro-gay? to the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts. Affairs. The statement praises Guest gome far-right groups say so. Connor also pointed to Bush's decision to for "his excellent and weli-known allow openly gay U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe (R- professional capability as an expert in NATO issues, his outstanding Ariz.) to speak at the Republican National knowledge of Central and Eastern Europe, and, last but not least, his Convention in July 2000 and Bush's Continued on page 20 appointment earlier this year of former Massachusetts Gov. Paul Cellucci, whom Connor called a_!'militant advocate of THE NEW YORK TIMES' homosexual rights," to the post of U.S. ambassador to Canada. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2001 in addition, Connor credited the Bush administration with giving tacit approval to World Briefing a decision by the House of Representatives on Sept. 25 to allow D.C. to implement its EUROPE domestic partners law. "The cumulative effect of these presiden ROMANIA: ANTI-GAY REMARKS AIMED AT ENVOY The For- • ipi|| . I II Ii|| eign Ministry condemned an at- tialactions, likea sports superstar endorsing tack by ultranationalists on the a breakfast cereal, have enormous influ new American ambassador over ence," Connor wrote in his statement. "We his homosexuality. "Intolerance urge President Bush to reconsider his and questioning someone's pri- embrace of this destructive, anti-family i vate life are against the values of political strategy, and reject the advice of democracy, human rights and in- those advisers who would undennine mar IIHIRL dividual freedom," the ministry riage and family for the sake of illusory said in a statement. The reaction political benefits." came after the group Vatra Romaneascasent a letter to FRC spokesperson Heather Cirmo President Bush expressing "disgust" at the nomination of Michael Guest, who has made no secret of his said Connor's statement was sent by fax homosexuality. He began his duties Sept. 24. and e-mail to 600,000 FRC members (Agence France-Pressv) and supporters. Officials with the Traditional Values IGuest's sexual orientation was known at Coalition, the Faniily Policy Network, and > C ^ the State Department, where he held vari the Concerned Women for America's ous foreign service positions for the past Cultural and Family Institute issued sepa 20 years. A Senate source said a full dis rate statements criticizing Bush for the closure of Guest's background, including Guest appointment. his affiliation with a gay employees group The White House did not return calls at the State Department, most likely was seeking comment on the criticism by the provided to members of the Senate religious right groups. Foreign Relations Committee, which Kevin Ivers, a spokesperson for the voted to approve Guest's nomination. national gay group Log Cabin Republicans, "We're disappointed the president would said the groups' harsh criticism of the pres appoint anyone who is known to be gay," ident over the Guest appointment would Traditional Values Coalition spokesperson further isolate them from the White House Steve Aiken told the San Francisco and the "mainstream" Republican Party. Chronicle. 'The only saving grace in this Charles Francis, a friend and longtime appointment is that he doesn't wear his supporter ofPresident Bush and the founder homosexuality on his sleeve." of the Republican Unity Coalition, which Aiken was comparing Guest's appoint bills itself as a "gay-straight alliance" of ment to President Clinton's appointment of GOP activists, said Bush chose Guest as San Francisco philanthropist and gay civil ambassador to Romania because he was the Family Research Council photo rights advocate JamesHormel as U.S.ambas Ken Connor, president of the Family Re most qualified person for thejob. sador to Luxembourg. Hormel, a longtime 'The president has told usthat a person's search Council, said President Bush is "im parting legitimacy to the homosexual cause." Democratic Party contributor, was selected sexual orientation is a non-issue when it for his post through a longstanding tradition comes toappointments," Francis said. through which U.S. piesidents nsward sup The statement from the Romanian porters by appointing them as ambassadors. Foreign Ministry says the Romanian gov Clinton administration officials noted that ernment was surprised and disappointed Hormel, an attorney and fomier law school when it learned that the two Romanian Human rights groups have said Romania dean, washighly qualified fortheposition. groups — the Romanian Cradle Union and has one ofthe worst records on the treatment Guest, a career foreign service officer the League for Combating Anti-Romanian ofgay people in the European Continent. The whohas notbeen involved in politics andis Manifestations — sent a letter to Bush and San Francisco Chronicle reported that the not a gay activist, was picked by Bush for the U.S. Congress criticizing Guest as the Romanian Senate voted in late September to his expertise in Eastern European affairs, U.S. ambassador. repealArticle200, a statute that made homo according to a White House statement in "Displays of intolerance, with direct sexual acts a crime. The Chronicle said the June thatannounced his appointment. manifestations of interference in the private Romanian president was expected toapprove Francis, noting that the president is life of any human being, irrespective of the repeal in the nextfew weeks. devoting most of his time developing the race, sex, ethnicity, [and] social status, are Joe Glover, president of the Family nation's response to terrorist attacks, said not at all characteristics of the Romanian Policy Networkof Forest, Va., said Guest's social conservative groups such as the people," the statement says. It saysthecrit appointment promotes "global homosexual Family Research Council should have icism of Guest by the two groups comes "in activism." Glover said he was especially "more importantthings to do" than to attack total contradiction with Romania's aspira concerned that the Bush administration kept Bush over his appointment of Guest. tions to consolidate the state of law, to pro Guest's sexual orientation a "secret" until "I just can't imagine taking up the presi mote the valuesof democracy and torespect after his confirmation by the Senate. dent's valuable time to respond to such human rights and individual freedom." "It's verydisconcerting to see a president small,pettyattacksat this moment, when we Guest's arrival in Romania also comes at a whocallshimself a Christian hiding grossly need national unity," Francis said. "In times time when the Eastern European nation is immoral conduct of a nominee, so Senate like this, you judge people bytheir character grappling with a requirement bytheEuropean members aren't able to 'advise and consent' or courage, not by their race, ethnicity, or Union thatit repeal itsexisting anti-gay laws with full knowledge,"he said. sexual orientation. Tonitpick on someone's as a condition for admittance into the EU. Iver^ of Log Cabin Republicans said sexual orientation isjust plain wrong."T.