Washington D.C., Jan 5, 2010 / 17:35 pm
President Obama recently appointed a “transgendered” man as a Senior Technical Adviser to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Amanda Simpson, a former test pilot for Raytheon who now identifies himself as female, will serve in the Bureau of Industry and Security. Critics of the appointment argue that it is "political correctness run amok."
Simpson, a board member of Out & Equal and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), said on Dec. 31 that he is “truly honored to have received this appointment” and expressed a desire “that this appointment opens future opportunities for many others.”
“What's unfortunate,” said Matt Barber, Director of Cultural Affairs for the Liberty Counsel, is that Simpson “has a history of radical transgender activism.” Barber explained to CNA that the issue is not simply having a transgendered person in a prestigious position of authority in the government, but the apparent agenda that this individual has.
“He may very well be qualified for this position but it appears that he was not picked (merely) for his qualifications, he was picked because of his wardrobe,” Barber commented to CNA. “That is not diversity or tolerance. It's political correctness run amok.”