The Ties That Bind

[William769]

Meet America's First Gay Ambassador to Vietnam



Ted Osius seems to be the right man in the right place at a very opportune time. Recently appointed the first gay U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, Osius now serves in a culture he and his family adore, in a country experiencing a burgeoning quest for LGBT rights.

Osius had previously served with the State Department in Vietnam after starting with the department in 1989. “The U.S. and Vietnam reestablished relations in 1995,” Osius said. “Vietnamese are very open and hospitable to foreigners today—particularly to Americans. It helps that I speak Vietnamese and have quite a few friends from when I served in Vietnam nearly 20 years ago. The job is very much a dream come true for me. It’s a return to a country I know well and care about deeply.”

David Huebner, former State Department representative to New Zealand and the first gay ambassador to be confirmed for service, acknowledged the importance of another gay ambassador working for the U.S. and indicated the unique nature of the Osius appointment shouldn’t get in the way of the work ahead.

“In my own experience, I found the ‘gay ambassador’ issue to be a short-lived media phenomenon,” Huebner said. “Once I was in the job, the novelty dissipated because of the diversity and complexity of the work. The experience will be different in each country, but the dynamics of the position will always trump individual demographics.”

http://www.advocate.com/politics/2015/03/02/meet-first-gay-ambassador-vietnam

[William769]

1. Kick.

[brer cat]

2. Sounds like an excellent choice.

K&R