Historic Confirmation of Chantale Wong as First Out Lesbian U.S. Ambassador
Today, the United States Senate voted 66-31 to confirm Chantale Wong to serve as the Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADP). The historic and bipartisan vote makes Wong the first openly lesbian – and first LGBTQ person of color – confirmed to an ambassador-level role in the history of the United States.
A statement from NCLR Executive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon:
“When President Biden took office a year ago, he pledged to transform the Executive Branch by including appointments that reflected the full diversity of our great nation – including people of color and members of the LGBTQ community. From appointing Secretary Buttigieg and Admiral Rachel Levine – the first Senate-confirmed openly gay and transgender cabinet-level appointments respectively – to today’s confirmation of Ambassador Wong, it is clear that President Biden is intent on fulfilling that promise.
While there is still much work to be done on elevating LGBTQ nominees to federal judicial roles, we are heartened to see LGBTQ individuals finally being represented in the highest levels of government for the first time in history.”
The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Since its founding, NCLR has maintained a longstanding commitment to racial and economic justice and the LGBTQ community’s most vulnerable. http://www.nclrights.org
National Center for Lesbian Rights
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Executive Director: Imani Rupert-Gordon
Mission
NCLR is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education.
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We know you care about where your money goes and how it is used. Connect with this organization’s leadership in order to begin to build this important relationship. Your email will be sent directly to this organization’s Director of Development and/or Executive Director.
A bright spot for Bev and me has been working with NCLR to resolve our case against Friendship Village. We’re thrilled that Friendship Village no longer has its discriminatory policy, and that no other same-sex couples seeking to live there will go through what we experienced.
Justice, Access + Equity Fund
NCLR’s major new campaign, the Justice, Access + Equity Fund, will support the work being done at the intersection of social justice and civil rights issues, through the lens of LGBTQ rights.
For 45 years, NCLR has worked at the live edge of the struggle for justice for LGBTQ people. We have made it our mission to identify racial, gender, and economic issues that have not yet been taken up by the movement, so that we can forge new paths forward and inspire others to take up work that will have the most powerful impact on the health and wellbeing of our communities, and enable more LGBTQ people to have a voice in shaping our shared world.
Key Supporters
Jay Cohen
MacKenzie Scott
Emily Doskow & Luan Stauss
Lesbians for Good
The Hugh C. and Thomas Lord Fund
NCLR Board Members
Karen Bowen
Dom Brassey
Nancy Geimer
Aubrey Hone, Esq.
Dr. Elisa Diana Huerta
Elizabeth Kim, Esq.
Shauna Madison, Esq.
Felicia Medina, Esq.
Adetunji Olude, Esq.
Arlette T. Smith
Hillary Smith
Sparks
Fresh Lev White