Obama's transgender appointee

What a presidential appointment of transgender former test pilot Amanda Simpson means for civil rights

Amanda Simpson started work Tuesday as a senior technical adviser in the Commerce Department, becoming America's first openly transgender presidential appointee. Simpson — an expert in military technology and a former test pilot — said the fact that she used to be Mitch Simpson shouldn't matter, "but on the other hand it does." Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said the appointment "shows that this president is serious about hiring an administration that looks like this country," but conservative Christian groups said Obama was just pandering to gay, lesbian, and transgender activists. Was this a victory for civil rights, or political correctness? (Listen to Amanda Simpson, Obama's transgender appointee)

Simpson is advancing the cause of freedom: "There are many employed and successful transgender individuals," says Joanne Herman in The Huffington Post, "but you don't often hear their stories because they are living 'stealth' (without disclosing transgender status)." Thanks to the acceptance being won by trailblazers like Amanda Simpson, others may soon be able to be open about who they are without fear of being fired.

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