Hillary Clinton, in a June 2011 Vanity Fair article, was paraphrased as saying that she “she could not fathom how an army private, Bradley Manning, with psychological problems and a drag-queen boyfriend could single-handedly cause the United States unprecedented embarrassment…” This remark has sparked concern for many people, including members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community. Please Note: To be fair the above mentioned may or may not be the exact words of Secretary of State Clinton. And in the same article, as highlighted by @lindaperrybarr, Clinton was described as “…popular with State Department employees for practical changes like providing full benefits for same-sex partners (“Fix it!” she scolded bureaucrats who were dragging their feet).” The LGBT community has over the years proved that it is a powerful force to be reckoned with on human rights issues impacting all people as well as specific LGBT issues of marriage equality, the US Military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, and others. LGBT citizen activists have taken strong stances and action which have influenced public policies and legal reforms in these areas and many others. This comment by Hillary Clinton as well as the fact that Bradley Manning is gay, has highlighted persistent stereotypes regarding those who are gay, living as “Queens” or others living lifestyles deemed “Not Straight” or “Alternative.”
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