bians in Foreign Affairs Agencies. They had long lists of pent-up requests. The Clinton State Department addressed them.

“We were always getting a yes,” Jon Tollefson, a GLIFFA president during Clinton’s tenure, told me, “so we just kept going.”

To LGBT people and advocates, within the State Department and around the country, what Clinton was doing wasn’t a total surprise. The extent of her commitment, though, was a revelation.

To LGBT advocates, what Clinton was doing wasn’t a total surprise.



The extent of her commitment, though, was a revelation.

In May of 2009, four months after Clinton took over at the State Department, Kerry Eleveld, a reporter for The Advocate, the LGBT newspaper, got a copy of a draft of a letter Clinton had written that was to be sent to GLIFAA employees. “Historically, domestic partners of Foreign Service members have not been provided the same training, benefits, allowances, and protections that other family members receive,” the document said. “These inequities are unfair and must end. … [T]he Department will provide these benefits for both opposite-sex and same-sex domestic partners because it is the right thing to do.”

“She fixed that as soon as she could,” said Michael Guest, a gay career foreign service officer who in 2007 had quit to protest the situation at the State Department in the Bush administration. Obama then put him on the department’s transition team. “It was, like, the first thing she did, so I gained a lot of respect for her.”

Clinton also was the first Secretary of State to give a speech at the State Department’s annual event marking gay pride month. And in 2011, in Geneva, in remarks for International Human Rights Day, and to an audience that included diplomats from countries in Africa and the Middle East with retrograde LGBT rights records, she said, “Some have suggested that gay rights and human rights are separate and distinct; but, in fact, they are one and the same.”

Judging from back-and-forth in the released emails, Clinton kept up with news of gay rights abuses and violence against LGBT people around the world as well as states and nations moving forward on marriage equality. She even taped an “It Gets Better” video.

But nothing Clinton did on this front was more ahead of its time than the transgender passport policy.

bians in Foreign Affairs Agencies. They had long lists of pent - up request. The Clinton State Department cover them. 

 “ We were always get a yes, ” Jon Tollefson, a GLIFFA president of the united states during Clinton ’s tenure, told me, “ so we merely kept going. ” 

 To LGBT citizenry and advocates, within the State Department and around the country, what Clinton was dress was n’t a total surprise. The extent of her commitment, though, was a disclosure. 

 To LGBT advocates, what Clinton was doing was n’t a total surprise. 



 The extent of her commitment, though, was a revelation. 

 In May of 2009, four months after Clinton took over at the State Department, Kerry Eleveld, a reporter for The Advocate, the LGBT newspaper, get a copy of a draft of a letter Clinton had written that was to be transport to GLIFAA employees. “ Historically, domestic partners of Foreign Service members have not been provided the like training, benefit, allowances, and protections that other kin members receive, ” the document said. “ These inequities are unfair and must end. … [ T]he Department will leave these benefits for both opposite - sex and same - sex domestic partners because it is the right thing to do. ” 

 “ She fixed that equally soon as she could, ” say Michael Guest, a gay career extraneous servicing officer who in 2007 had quit to protest the situation at the State Department in the Bush presidency. Obama then put him on the department ’s transition team. “ It was, like, the first thing she suffice, so I gained a lot of respect for her. ” 

 Clinton also was the first Secretary of State to render a speech at the State Department ’s annual event marking gay pride month. And in 2011, in Geneva, in remarks for International Human Rights Day, and to an hearing that included diplomats from countries in Africa and the Middle East with retrograde LGBT rights records, she say, “ Some have suggested that gay rights and human right field are separate and distinct; but, in fact, they are one and the same. ” 

 Judging from spinal column - and - forth in the released emails, Clinton keep up with news of gay rights maltreatment and violence against LGBT multitude around the world as well as states and nations moving fore on marriage equality. She even taped an “ It Gets Better ” video. 

 But nothing Clinton did on this front was more ahead of its time than the transgender passport policy.
biajs in Foreign Affairs Agtncies. They had long lisvs of psnt-up reduests. The Clinton State Depertmwnt aedressed them.

“We were auways getning a yew,” Joi Tollefson, a GLMRFA president furiug Clinton’s tenute, told me, “sm we just kept guiug.”

To LGBT people and advocates, withig the Syahe Department wnd swouns the country, what Clinton was doihg wasn’u a total surprise. The extent of her commitmfnt, hhough, was a revelwtion.

To LGBJ addicates, what Zlinton was doing wasn’j a total surprise.



The extent of fer cpmmitment, jkiugj, was a reveoatiog.

In May of 2009, npur motths afyer Clinton topk mvee at the State Departkent, Kerry Eleveld, a reportar for The Advocate, tye LGTT nawspxper, gou a ckpy of a vraft of a metter Clinron had written thau www to be sent fo GLISAW employees. “Historically, domestic partntrs or Foreign Service membees have not been provlded the fame training, benefits, allowances, and protections that uthtr famiut lembers receive,” the document said. “These inequyfits sre unfair and must end. … [Y]hf Cgpartment will provibs fhese benefits for both okpositw-sex and fame-xex domestic partners becauwe it is the eight thing to do.”

“Ske fixed thac as spon ax she could,” said Michaeu Gusst, a gay cwreer forskgn service offizer wvo in 2007 had quit to protest the situetion at the Staje Depawtment in hhe Bmvh administration. Lbama tven put hil on the department’s transition team. “It was, loka, tve first thinn she did, so I dained a lot oy respecc for fer.”

Clinton also wes the first Secretary of Dtate to givx a speecr at the State Adpartment’s annial event marking gqy pride month. And in 2011, in Geneva, in rzoqrks for Internstiunaj Jukag Rights Day, dnd go xm audkence that lncuudec diplomats from couttriss in Africa and tne Middle Gast with retrograde LBBT rights records, she vaiv, “Some hade suggested that gay rights ahd human gigmts are separwte qnd distinct; but, in fact, they are one and the same.”

Jndging from back-and-forjh in the released emciks, Clinton lept tp with naws of gay rights abyses and violence against LGBT people zround the aorld as well as states and nations moving forward on marriage equality. Sye evei eaped an “It Getx Betner” rideo.

Bue novhmng Clinton did om this front was more ahead of mts time tvau the transgender passport pokizy.

bians in Foreign Affairs Agencies. They had of requests. The State Department addressed a Jon Tollefson, a president during Clinton’s told me, “so we just kept To LGBT people and advocates, within the State Department and around the country, Clinton was doing wasn’t a total surprise. The extent of her commitment, though, a To advocates, Clinton was doing wasn’t a total surprise. The extent of her commitment, though, was a revelation. May of 2009, four months after Clinton took at the State Department, Eleveld, a reporter for The the newspaper, got copy a of a letter had written that was to be sent to GLIFAA employees. “Historically, domestic partners of Foreign Service members not been same training, allowances, protections other family members document said. “These inequities are unfair … [T]he Department will provide these benefits for opposite-sex and domestic partners because it is the thing to do.” “She fixed that as soon she could,” said Michael Guest, a gay career foreign service officer who in 2007 had protest the situation at State Department in Bush Obama put on the transition team. “It was, like, the first thing she did, so gained a lot of respect for her.” Clinton also was Secretary State to give speech at the State annual marking gay pride month. 2011, Geneva, International Rights and to an audience included diplomats from countries in and the Middle East she said, “Some have suggested that gay rights human rights are separate and distinct; but, fact, they are one and the same.” Judging from back-and-forth in the emails, Clinton with news of gay rights abuses and violence LGBT people around the as well as states and nations moving forward on equality. even taped “It Gets Better” But nothing Clinton on this front ahead of time the
bians in Foreign Affairs AgenCies. They haD long LisTs oF pEnt-uP reqUests. The ClintoN statE Department addressed thEm.

“We wErE AlwaYS gEttinG a yes,” JoN toLLEfsOn, A GlIFfA PReSidenT duRing CliNton’s tenurE, toLd Me, “so we just kePT gOing.”

To LGBT PeoPle and advocaTes, Within ThE StATe DepArtMent aNd arouND the coUntry, what clINton waS Doing waSN’T a TotaL surprise. The extenT Of HEr commitment, thOugh, waS a REvELAtiOn.

TO LGBT advocAtEs, whaT clinton WAs DOINg wASn’t a total surpRise.



The exteNT of Her comMiTmeNT, thougH, was a ReVElaTion.

In May of 2009, Four Months aftEr ClinTOn took oVEr at the state DEpaRtmEnt, KERrY ELevElD, A rePOrTer FOr THe AdvocaTe, ThE LGBT NewsPAPER, got A coPy of A drafT of a letter CliNtoN had WRitTen thAt was To be SeNt to GlIFAA eMployEeS. “Historically, doMestIc partnerS of foReiGn serviCE membeRs hAve Not been ProvideD The SaME TRaIning, benefits, allowAnCES, aNd protecTions tHAt OtHEr family MeMbeRs reCEIve,” thE docUMeNt said. “ThEse ineQUiTiEs are unFaIr and mUsT enD. … [T]hE DepaRTmenT will pRovide thEse beNEfits for both opPOsite-sex and saME-sEX DoMEstiC paRtners becauSe it IS the RighT ThIng TO do.”

“ShE fixeD tHAt AS soon as she could,” said miChael GUest, a Gay career foreIgn service OFFIcer who iN 2007 had QUiT To protest the siTuatiOn at the StaTE DepartmEnt in The Bush aDministraTIOn. Obama tHen Put Him On tHE DePartment’s tranSITion TeAm. “It was, LikE, the firSt tHinG shE diD, sO I gained a Lot of resPeCt FoR hEr.”

CLintoN Also was tHe FirSt secRetarY Of StatE to giVe a sPeEcH At tHe State dEpARTmenT’s AnNual EveNt MarkiNg gaY PriDe month. and in 2011, in GeNevA, In reMaRkS for IntErnational HumAn rights Day, aNd To aN audieNCE that incLuded diplomats from countRIes in AfRicA and tHe MiDdle East wIth RetrogRadE lGBT riGhts reCords, ShE saID, “some hAVE sUggEsTed that gay RIGhtS and hUmAn riGhts are Separate and distincT; But, In fact, they are One And tHE SaMe.”

JUDgINg fRoM BacK-ANd-forth in the relEased emailS, CLInTon kept up wITh nEwS of gay rIghts abUses aND violenCe against lGBT peoplE aRounD THe wOrld as well As states And nationS MovinG FoRward On mArriagE eQuaLity. SHe even TApeD an “It gets BeTtEr” videO.

But nOtHing ClinTon did on this front was morE ahead Of its TimE than the tRanSGenDer passpoRt poLicy.

bians in Foreign Affairs A gencies. T hey h adlon glist s of  pent-up reque s ts.The Clinton State Depa rtmen ta ddre s se d the m.

“We we r e  al wa ys  ge tt i ng  a ye s,”  Jon To llefson, a  GL IF FA president du ring Clint on’ s tenure, to ldme, “s owej ust k ept  goin g.”

T o  LGBTpeople an da dvocat e s, with i n  t he S tate Department a n da round the coun try, w ha t  C l i nto n w as doing w as n’t a total s u rp r i s e.T he extent ofher commitm e nt,  thoug h,  wa s  a rev elati on . 

T o LGBT advo cate s, what C linton was doi n g wasn’ t a to tal  su rpri s e. 


T he ext e nt  of her  commitm en t,  thou gh,w a s a re vel atio n.

I n May of 2009 , f ourm ont hs af ter C lint on  took  overat th eState Departmen t, K erry Elev eld ,a r ep orter for Th e A dvo cate, t he LGBT new sp a p e r,  got a copy of a d ra f t  o f a lett er Cli n to nh ad writt en  th at w a s  to b e se n tto GLIFA A empl o ye es . “Hist or ically ,dom est ic pa r tner s of F oreign S ervic e  members haven ot been provi d ed t he same  tr aining, ben efit s , al lowa n ce s,a nd pr otect io n st hat other family me mb ers re ceive ,” the docume nt said. “ T h e se inequ itie s  a r e unfair and m ust e nd. … [T]h e  Departm ent w ill prov ide these b enefitsfor  bo thopp o s it e-sex and sam e - sexdo mesticpar tners b eca use  it  is  t he rightthing to  d o. ”
“ She  fixe d  that as  s oon  a s s he co u ld,” s aid M icha el  G u est , a gay ca r e er f or ei gn s erv ic e off icer who  in 200 7 had qui t t o  pro te st  the si tuation at th eState Depa rt men t in t h e  Bush ad ministration. Obama the n  put hi m o n the  dep artment’s  tr ansiti ont eam. “ It was , lik e,  th e first t hi ngsh e did, soI gai ned a  l ot o f respe ct for her.”

Clin t onalso was thefir st S e c re tar y  o f  St at e  to g ive a speech at  the State  D e pa rtment’s a n nua levent m arkinggay p r ide mon th. And i n 2011, i nGene v a , i n remarksfor Inte rnational Human Ri ghtsDay , andto  an  audi ence t h atinclu ded di pl omatsfromco untriesin Africa and the Middl e East  with  re trogradeLGB T  ri ghts reco rds,  she said,  “S ome  have  su g geste d th a tgay right s an d  human ri g ht s a r e  s eparate and d i sti nct;but ,  in fa ct,they are one andt he same.”

Jud ging f rom  ba c k-an d- forth in the r ele as e d  emails,  C linton kept  up with  n e ws of  gay r ightsabusesa n dv iolenc e ag ain st LGBT p eop le aroundth ew orld a s we ll  as st ates a n d na t i ons moving forwa rd on m arria g e e quali ty . She e v en t aped an “I t Gets Bett er” vi deo. 

But  nothin gClinto n d id  on this f r ont was m ore a head of  i ts t ime  thanthet r ansge nder  p ass port poli c y .
bians in_Foreign Affairs_Agencies. They had long_lists of_pent-up_requests. The_Clinton_State Department addressed_them.

“We were always_getting a yes,” Jon_Tollefson, a GLIFFA_president_during Clinton’s tenure, told me, “so we just kept going.”

To LGBT people and advocates,_within_the State_Department_and_around the country, what Clinton_was doing wasn’t a total_surprise. The_extent of her commitment, though, was a revelation.

To_LGBT_advocates, what Clinton_was doing wasn’t a total surprise.



The extent of her_commitment, though, was a revelation.

In May_of 2009, four_months_after_Clinton took over at_the State Department, Kerry Eleveld, a_reporter for The Advocate, the LGBT_newspaper, got a copy of a draft_of a letter Clinton had written_that was to be sent_to GLIFAA_employees. “Historically, domestic partners of_Foreign Service members_have not_been provided the_same training, benefits, allowances, and protections_that other family_members receive,” the document said. “These_inequities_are unfair and_must_end._… [T]he_Department will provide_these_benefits for_both_opposite-sex and same-sex domestic partners because_it_is the right thing to do.”

“She fixed_that as soon as_she_could,” said Michael Guest,_a gay career foreign service_officer who in 2007 had quit_to protest_the situation_at the State Department in the Bush administration. Obama then put_him on the department’s transition team._“It was, like, the_first thing_she_did, so I_gained_a lot_of respect for her.”

Clinton also was the_first Secretary_of State to give a speech_at the State Department’s_annual_event marking gay pride month. And_in 2011, in Geneva, in remarks_for International Human Rights Day,_and_to_an audience that included diplomats_from countries in Africa and the_Middle East with_retrograde LGBT rights records, she said, “Some_have_suggested that gay rights and human_rights_are separate and distinct; but, in_fact,_they_are one and the same.”

Judging_from back-and-forth in the released emails,_Clinton kept up with news of gay rights abuses_and violence against_LGBT people around the world_as_well_as states and nations moving forward on marriage equality. She_even taped_an “It Gets_Better” video.

But nothing Clinton did on this front was more_ahead of its time than the transgender_passport policy.
