Obama's Cabinet: The Most LGBT-Friendly Cabinet in History?

That was one good Inauguration speech by the 44th President today, eh? Now, we know that we've got to hold this new President's feet to the fire when it comes to LGBT rights issues, especially given the way his team completely mismanaged the appearance of Bishop Eugene Robinson at this weekend's Inauguration festivities.  But today is about looking ahead instead of backwards, right?  Heck, even conservative activist Richard Viguerie gave everyone permission to "drink the kool-aid" today.  So in the realm of keeping things moving forward, we took a look at President Obama's cabinet, and we're noticing that this is theoretically going to be the most LGBT-friendly Cabinet in history.  Are there a couple of weakest links?  You bet. (Robert Gates and his "overturning don't ask, don't tell will impede the War on Terrorism" comments come to mind.)  But they are far out-numbered by politicos with a track record of supporting LGBT rights issues.  Who are these folks?  We've got 'em for you below.

Eric Holder: It's going to be nice to have an Attorney General more worried about curbing hate crimes than covering up the private parts of statues.  Holder is a champion for expanding federal hate crimes laws to include protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  In 1999, back when it was still controversial to support such a measure, Holder testified before Congress and said, "[Current law] provides no coverage whatsoever for violent hate crimes committed because of bias based on the victim’s sexual orientation, gender or disability, and these crimes pose a serious problem for our nation."  It's also a good sign when the Republican Liberty Caucus is going after you for your lack of support to ban gay marriage and civil unions (though, we have to admit, we don't really know where Holder stands on these issues).

Hilda Solis: As a Congresswoman, Hilda Solis consistently voted for measures banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, including voting for passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).  Given that she's next in line to become Labor Secretary, it's good to know that she's a champion of ENDA.  Solis is also on record as opposing a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-gender marriage, and she joined the LGBT Equality Caucus in the House this past summer.  That's a pretty great resumé of support for LGBT rights.

Tom Daschle: Though it's a little aggravating to watch former Senator Tom Daschle (now Secretary of Health and Human Services) explain his support for the Defense of Marriage Act, Daschle has consistently opposed a federal amendment to the Constitution banning same-gender marriage, and he does favor civil unions for same-gender couples.  Daschle also co-sponsored the Matthew Shepard Act (which was then known as the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act) when he was in Congress, and he supported ENDA.  He also spoke out against an amendment to the South Dakota constitution banning same-gender marriage.

Hillary Rodham Clinton: The next Secretary of State received a great deal of support from LGBT communities during her career in the Senate and her run for the 2008 Presidential nomination.  And for good reason, too. Clinton voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, supports a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ("It hurts all of our troops, and this, to me, is a matter of national security," she said, even though her husband is the one who enacted the policy back in 1994), and supports civil unions.

Of all of those folks, our money is on Hilda Solis being the most LGBT-friendly.  Additional cabinet members have also shown signs of support for LGBT rights, albeit on a lower profile.  Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano urged Arizona to turn down efforts to amend its constitution to ban same-gender marriage, UN Ambassador Susan Rice has won plaudits from human rights activists and is likely to push the U.S. to sign a statement calling for countries around the globe to decriminalize homosexuality, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan has reportedly supported efforts to create LGBT high schools and to increase tolerance and diversity training in public schools.