President Barack Obama is considering
nominating openly gay Fred Hochberg for the position of commerce
secretary, according to gay weekly the Washington Blade.
The Blade quotes an unnamed
source as saying that Hochberg, the current chair of the U.S
Export-Import Bank, is being considered for various positions.
“What I've been told is Fred very
well regarded, he's done a great job at the bank, and he's one of the
folks that they are looking at carefully for Commerce,” the
official said.
If nominated by Obama and confirmed by
the Senate, Hochberg would become the first openly gay Cabinet member
in history.
While stating that he's not aware that
Hochberg is under consideration for any senior position within the
administration, Fred Sainz, a vice president at the Human Rights
Campaign (HRC), said Hochberg would be well qualified.
“There are a number of highly
qualified candidates for cabinet and senior administration positions
and Fred is definitely among them,” Sainz said. “We have every
confidence that the president will select individuals that reflect
the great diversity of our country and that includes LGBT individuals
with sterling credentials.”