Openly Gay OPM Director Sworn In!

Last month I posted an article from Government Executive about John Berry being nominated as the director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The article noted that he would be the highest ranking openly gay person to serve in the Federal Government. He was sworn in on Thursday with both his domestic partner and First Lady Michelle Obama in attendance.

It is my personal hope that Berry will allow the domestic partners of Federal employees to receive health and retirement benefits, which are now only available to heterosexual married couples. How ironic it is that President Obama's remarks at the U.S. Holocaust Museum on Friday mentioned homophobia among the intolerances that "degrades its victims and diminishes us all." Isn't homophobia the root of these inequalities that are current U.S. Government policy? I know. I know. Baby steps.

Read a full account of the event The Washington Blade coverage.