Gay Ex-Ambassador Criticizes Rice Over Partner's Rights

Glenn Kessler, Washington Post reported on Michael E. Guest resignation as ambassador to Romania.
Tony Perkins, Family Research Council provided an excellent synopsis of the situation and comments on the issue: As Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice is used to dealing with civil unrest overseas. This month, however, it's an internal conflict in her department that's received the most attention. After 26 years service in the Foreign Service, Michael Guest, the U.S. ambassador to Romania, resigned in protest of the State Department's policy on homosexual and cohabiting partners. Frustrated that his boyfriend wasn't granted the same privileges as married spouses, Guest met with the Secretary personally and asked her to reconsider the rules. Despite the political pressure in a department that employs roughly 350 homosexuals, Rice refused. Acquiescing would not only violate the government's Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) but create an unwise precedent of forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for lifestyles that many consider morally reprehensible. Among the complaints, Guest says that same-sex partners don't have access to perks such as government medical care, anti-terrorism training, foreign language training, diplomatic passports or visas, and special emergency evacuation privileges. Secretary Rice is right to refuse to compromise. As Pat Kennedy, the undersecretary for management, stated, "The Secretary and State Department do not discriminate in hiring or promotions. We are committed to giving our personnel the support they need to get their jobs done." Rightly so; that commitment should not extend to ensuring the comfort of employees' "significant others." FRC praises Secretary Rice for maintaining the same decorum in her Department that she epitomizes abroad. Join us in applauding Condi for refusing to surrender on this policy matter and in encouraging other government officials to lead by the same example.

---

Tags: Condoleezza Rice, DOMA, homosexual activism, Michael Guest, State Department, FRC, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!