An Openly Gay Nominee Clears Her First Congressional Hurdle

Chai Feldblum
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Chai Feldblum, an openly gay lawyer nominated to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, breezed through a Senate committee hearing on her nomination today, despite rumors that Republican senators would bring down “Armageddon.”

Some right wing blogs and groups, such as World Net Daily and the Family Research Council, have attacked Feldblum for statements supporting gay marriage and for saying “gay sex is morally good.”

And yesterday, Gay Politics Daily reported that “a source” claimed GOP senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee were planning an “Armageddon” against Feldblum. The rumor quickly traveled through the gay blogosphere.

But the hearing went rather smoothly.

Chairman Tom Harkin, who has worked with Feldblum on and off for 20 years (she specializes in equality in the workplace and helped write the Americans with Disabilities Act), asked the most potentially damaging question right away. He asked Feldblum about a petition she had signed that pushed for recognition of, among other things, households that include “more than one conjugal partner.”

The Family Research Council has said her signature is proof that she supports polygamy.

Earlier this month, Feldblum asked that her name be taken off the petition. Harkin asked her today, in a friendly tone, if she does indeed support polygamy.

“I do not support polygamy,” she answered. “I am sorry I signed that statement.”

Feldblum went on that she agreed with the “general thrust of the statement,” that the U.S. “should support the range of caregiving relationships.” However, she said, “the statement goes beyond what I would have said.”

The record of today’s hearing will stand open for 10 days, and committee members can submit questions in writing before they vote on whether to move the nomination to the full Senate.

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