President Barack Obama last week
nominated an openly gay man to serve as ambassador to the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam.
The nomination of Ted Osius was
announced by the White House along with six additional posts.
“I am grateful that these talented
and dedicated individuals have agreed to take on these important
roles and devote their talents to serving the American people,”
Obama
said in a statement. “I look forward to working with them in
the coming months and years.”
If confirmed, Osius would become the
sixth openly gay ambassador nominated by Obama, and only the eighth
in the nation's history.
According to his White House bio, Osius
is a career member of the Foreign Service, having served in numerous
foreign posts since 2001. He received an A.B. From Harvard College
and an M.S. From the School of Advanced International Studies at The
Johns Hopkins University.
“I commend the Administration for
this nomination of a qualified career member of the Foreign Service,”
said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay
& Lesbian Victory Institute, a group devoted to promoting
openly LGBT candidates. “If confirmed, Osius would make an
excellent addition to the growing number of openly LGBT U.S.
Ambassadors (5). He will bring a unique perspective to the
ambassadorship along with decades worth of knowledge and experience.”
Osius is married to Clayton Bond, who
works at the State Department's Bureau of African Affairs.