How Important is Physical Representation of Minorities?
Perhaps because of the fact that the Democratic nomination for president this year is between a black man and a white woman, questions of identity politics seem much more prevalent in mainstream news coverage. Basically, they seek to ask the question - to what extent is having a phsyical representation of minority participation in government as important or more important than the policies that that person represents.
Earlier this year on an episode of The View, Kathy Griffin summed up one perspective when she said that voting for Condoleeza Rice as president (were she ever to run) would not be a pro-minority act, since although she is a black woman, the policies she supports are not pro-women themselves. Others made the argument, when John Edwards was still in the presdiential race, that his policies made him a better friend to minorities than the fact that both Obama and Clinton are actual members of minority groups.
Now, some GLBT groups are seeking to get into the representation game by actively seeking openly GLBT folks to serve in the next presidential administration, regardless of their political affiliation. As 365gay.com notes,
The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute, the Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Stonewall Democrats have formed The Presidential Appointments Project.
In a statement the groups said that the effort will be non-partisan. It is aimed at “growing the pool of openly LGBT professionals who would be qualified and ready to accept politically appointed positions in the next presidential administration.”
“Our goal is to make sure all Americans have an equal voice in their government,” said Chuck Wolfe, president of GLLI.
The Presidential Appointments Project will identify, recruit and vet openly LGBT applicants for thousands of executive branch positions that will be filled with political appointees after the next president is sworn in the organization said in the statement.
I think that this is an admirable goal, but that we shouldn’t substitute material representation for political change - if all the GLBT folks now in government as a result of this task force are there but don’t support programs to expand rights for Gay Families, it’s a step forward, but not a particularly big one. What do you think?
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