“For the past three years, I’ve urged [Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice] and her senior management team to redress policies that discriminate against gay and lesbian employees.
“Absolutely nothing has resulted from this. And so I’ve felt compelled to choose between obligations to my partner — who is my family — and service to my country. That anyone should have to make that choice is a stain on the Secretary’s leadership and a shame for this institution and our country."
Those are the words of former U.S. Ambassador to Romania Michael Guest as he announced his resignation.
His resignation represents so much that is wrong with the disrespectful way our country treats gay and lesbian people.
By not including same-sex partners in the definition of an "Eligible Family Member," the State Department excludes them from many of the benefits, protections, and services that are enjoyed by family members of married Foreign Service Officers, and that are important to the safety, effectiveness, and morale of our communities abroad.
Guest’s partner was denied security classes, language classes, and evacuation in the event of an emergency. Unlike spouses – and even, believe it or not, the family pet—partners of gay or lesbian Foreign Service Officers must pay their own travel and evacuation expenses, even in an emergency.
With three of my colleagues, I wrote to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice demanding immediate attention to the issue.
You can download a pdf of the two-page letter to read our specific demands. Many of the inequities could clearly be remedied through Rice’s leadership as Secretary, without legislative changes.
Last Monday Secretary Rice took some immediate action as a result of our letter. She officially granted permission for “members of households” (how same-sex partners are classified) to attend security classes.
While it’s noteworthy that Secretary Rice responded immediately, there are significantly more steps to take before same-sex partners are treated as spouses. It is so unfortunate that the inequitable treatment of gay and lesbian Foreign Service Officers and their partners is driving qualified employees to leave the State Department at a time when their service is needed more than ever.