Petrelis Files

Stachelberg: White House Gay Liaison
Designated to Serve the President

(Screen capture credit: C-SPAN.)

In Washington, when there's bad news to get out, experienced hands know to release it on a Friday because traditional and new media outlets, and the public, are not paying standard and alert attention to politics.

So it was that earlier today the Obama White House and gay kitchen cabinet advisor Winnie Stachelberg rolled out the appointment of an unknown low-level administration official to be the president's liaison to the LGBT community. A big yawn on many levels.

If it weren't for news burps about the latest Democratic Party flunky moving in or out of the liaison position, I'd forget about the guy and whatever the eff it is he supposedly does for ordinary gays. The former honcho at the gay Democratic Victory Fund served as Obama's first and longest rep to us, and he held lots of off-the-record meetings and arranged invitation lists to assorted bill signings and cocktail reception for gay leaders and a few ordinary folks.

He's now on the president's reelection team, doing basically the same essential bondage task - keep the gay dollars and votes secure and tied to Obama for 2012.

When his position on Democratic Party's plantation changed locations, the White House brought in a one or two month interim replacement. I can't be bothered to search for his name or be reminded of his thin resume.

And don't get me started on that terrible and obedient and subservient Richard Socarides, who took flack for Bill Clinton when Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act became law.

Presently, the third liaison is ensconced within the Office of Public Engagement and it's time to no longer task anyone in this office with liaising with LGBT Americans. We don't need this crumb and illusion of access to befuddle our political agenda. We have the Human Rights Campaign to do that.

Speaking of HRC, let's remember the president is addressing their DC dinner next month, he's already received their hearty 2012 endorsement and Stachelberg, who is the genuine gay liaison for the administration, maintains her bonds with her former employer and friends at HRC.

Please, brothers and sisters, let's end the quaint thinking that says we are so weak we require liaising. Can we grow up and reject this liaison sop business?

(Click here for coverage of the new liaison at Metro Weekly and the Washington Blade.)