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U.S. Senate conducts hearing for possible fifth openly LGBT ambassador

U.S. Senate conducts hearing for possible fifth openly LGBT ambassador

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this report indicated that James Brewster had been confirmed by the Senate. That was incorrect, only the confirmation hearing has taken place. We apologize for the error.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Thursday conducted a confirmation hearing on the appointment James “Wally” Brewster to serve as the country’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

If confirmed, makes Brewster the fifth openly LGBT ambassador confirmed this year after Daniel Baer (OSCE), John Berry (Australia), James Costos (Spain), and Rufus Gifford (Denmark).

US Embassy, via APJames
US Embassy, via AP
James “Wally” Brewster

Previously, Brewster served as the Senior Managing Partner for SB&K Global, a brand strategy and consumer dynamics consulting firm based in Chicago.

Brewster is a National LGBT Co-Chair for the Democratic National Committee and currently serves on the Board of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Fund.

At the time of the nomination, Chad Griffin, president of the HRC, said Brewster’s “global business and management expertise is matched by his enthusiasm and commitment to human rights and democracy around the world.”

When nominated by President Barack Obama took office in 2009, only two previous ambassadors had been openly gay.

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