Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Treasury Secretary, would become the highest-ranking LGBTQ+ official in U.S. history. While progressives remain wary due to Trump's track record on LGBTQ+ rights, some advocates see this as an opportunity to push for equality.
Scott Bessent , President-elect Donald Trump 's nominee to lead the Treasury, is poised to make history as the nation's highest-ranking LGBTQ+ official. However, his nomination has not been met with universal acclaim, with progressives expressing concerns about Trump 's record on LGBTQ+ rights. Bessent's potential appointment would mark a significant milestone, as he would be the highest-ranking LGBTQ+ individual to ever hold a cabinet position.
Only four openly LGBTQ+ individuals have previously served in a presidential cabinet: Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, and former Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis.Bessent's nomination comes at a time when acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights appears to be waning. A Gallup poll conducted in 2024 revealed that 69 percent of Americans believe same-sex marriages should be legally recognized, a slight decrease from the 71 percent recorded in 2023. Despite this trend, Bessent's nomination has been met with a muted response from many LGBTQ+ groups and progressives. Organizations like GLAAD, which enthusiastically celebrated Buttigieg's nomination four years earlier, have remained silent on Bessent's appointment.This lack of vocal support stems from the perception that Trump's administration has been hostile towards LGBTQ+ rights. His actions, such as implementing a ban on transgender Americans serving in the military and appointing Supreme Court justices who are seen as a threat to marriage equality and other protections, have fueled these concerns. Nevertheless, some LGBTQ+ advocates have expressed cautious optimism. Kelley J. Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, acknowledged the historic nature of Bessent's nomination while also emphasizing the need for pro-equality LGBTQ+ nominees at all levels of government. Robinson stated that HRC, despite its opposition to Trump, is willing to engage in dialogue to advance LGBTQ+ rights.While Bessent is considered one of Trump's less controversial picks, his nomination has drawn criticism from certain quarters. Elon Musk, for example, characterized Bessent as a 'business as usual choice' on his social media platform X. The confirmation hearing for Bessent is scheduled for Thursday, and a vote on his confirmation has not yet been announced
LGBTQ+ Trump Scott Bessent Treasury Secretary Confirmation LGBTQ+ Rights
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