Solis chastizes employees for defacing gay pride posters at the Department of Labor.
Solis chastizes employees for defacing gay pride posters at the Department of Labor.
Late last week, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis issued a warning letter to department employees after office posters celebrating Gay Pride Month were defaced or removed. ThinkProgress obtained the Solis e-mail sent to the department’s entire staff. Solis, who helped found the House’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Caucus, wrote she was “particularly pleased to have the opportunity to be the first Secretary in the department’s history to publicly recognize Pride Month”:
“It appears, however, that some members of the Labor Department team have a different view, as it has come to my attention that most of the posters have been continually defaced or removed. On several occasions, even the poster frames have been torn completely off the elevator walls. [...]
I do not believe these actions represent the majority of our employees, so I refuse to let this situation define us. But I do want to make myself absolutely clear: Respect for others is non-negotiable at the U.S. Department of Labor.“
Solis added the Gay Pride posters will be immediately replaced if they are damaged or removed. Full e-mail below:
From: Secretary Hilda Solis
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 1:40 PM
Subject: Proud of Pride
Dear Colleagues:
On June 1st, I initiated an elevator poster campaign in the Frances Perkins Building, with the goal of recognizing department initiatives and accomplishments, and to share my thoughts and priorities with the entire DOL team. We are currently exploring ways to provide the same information to BLS and to our regional offices.
Something else far more important also happened on June 1st. The President issued a proclamation recognizing June as national Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. I was excited to have an opportunity, through our poster campaign, to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of the LGBT community and affirm our commitment to all workers across the country. The posters went up in the elevators on Monday.
As a founding member of the LGBT Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, I was particularly pleased to have the opportunity to be the first Secretary in the department’s history to publicly recognize Pride Month. I am very proud of that.
It appears, however, that some members of the Labor Department team have a different view, as it has come to my attention that most of the posters have been continually defaced or removed. On several occasions, even the poster frames have been torn completely off the elevator walls.
My reaction to this news has ranged from disappointment to outrage.
I do not believe these actions represent the majority of our employees, so I refuse to let this situation define us. But I do want to make myself absolutely clear: Respect for others is non-negotiable at the U.S. Department of Labor.
As the enforcer of fair and safe workplaces across the country, each and every one of us must be committed to working with all employers and employees, no matter their race, color, religion or sexual orientation. And as colleagues, each and every one of us must embrace, value, and celebrate the contributions of the entire Labor Department family.
The posters will stay up until the end of the month, and will be replaced immediately if they are removed or destroyed. This is a small way to remind everyone here how I, and most of our colleagues, feel about this issue.
We will continue to recognize and celebrate diversity at the U.S. Department of Labor, through the posters in the elevators, as well as education initiatives, special observances and events. I would very much like to hear your suggestions and thoughts on how we do this, as well as how we constructively address this specific issue at the department.
As always, I appreciate your efforts on behalf of working people across the country. And I wish each and every one of you a very happy Pride Month.
Hilda L. Solis
U.S. Secretary of Labor
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With all the spying on Americans that’s apparently continuing under this new administration, aren’t there video surveillance tapes available for review?
It shouldn’t be rocket science to identify the parties who defaced posters within a government building.
PEACE
June 29th, 2009 at 3:53 pm“But I do want to make myself absolutely clear: Respect for others is non-negotiable at the U.S. Department of Labor.“
– - Ahh, I see why Solis’ nomination was so abhorrent to the GOP.
June 29th, 2009 at 3:54 pmActually, as a retired Federal employee who last worked in Washington DC the internal “security” is pretty lax in most buildings. There are rent-a-cops at the front doors but little beyond that. Its curious how the government under Bush was the biggest intruder on personal liberties yet it cant and wont monitor its own buildings once past the front door.
June 29th, 2009 at 3:56 pmNow that’s change:
A Secretary of Labor we can actually be proud of!
June 29th, 2009 at 3:58 pmThanks, Ms. Solis. You stated it loudly and clearly. It’s about time a top official in government said to employees that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:02 pmposters of teh family are much adored.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:03 pmlisten, badmoodman, we only asked – politely – that the secretary of labor have an epidural.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:06 pmit’s those burrowed bushies, no doubt…
June 29th, 2009 at 4:12 pmThere are lots of remnants of the Bush Administration remaining in middle/lower level positions throughout the various Departments in D.C. They apparently didn’t get the memo that Bush/Cheney and all of their intolerant attitudes were told to take a hike by the American people back in November.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:14 pmthe government has salary and great benefits. the private sector is for the liberals to navigate.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:17 pmOff-thread, but I’ve got something to say to one Tim Vaculik:
You’re a g*dd*mn*d f**king liar. You have no links, no proof, no nothin’, just like every other conservative Republican.
Where are the links you sent ME to get ‘proving’ YOUR point that Obama said, on the campaign trail, that he would implement a single payer system? Where are they?
You tell us your boss and his wife gave you all the information you need about the British single payer system, that they claim it was a nightmare. Not only are you asking us to take THEIR word for it, you ask us to take YOUR word for it. The word of a proven neocon nutjob liar.
I never should have written nice words to you, and I hereby retract the apology I gave you. Eat it, wad.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:18 pmYES! Way to go Solis. Badmoodman – right on! Now I see why the GOPers tried to hold up Solis’ nomination!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:18 pmHilda Solis should follow the steps needed to clean up after the W. monster…. “lather, rinse and repeat”.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:19 pmHoly cow.
How insecure does one have to be about his/her sexuality to deface a GAY PRIDE poster?
Care to answer that one, Twajie?
June 29th, 2009 at 4:21 pmNo wonder the RWers despised Solis’ nomination. The woman has no sense of humor . .
Party pooper, she’ll probably install a video camera in the elevators and really spoil ALL the SICKO fun!!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:22 pmTime to scrub all the Bushies. Seriously.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:23 pmGuess we know what all the Bob Jones U and Regent Law grads left over from the Bush years are doing these days. I just thought of a way to cut federal spending a little bit. . .
June 29th, 2009 at 4:26 pmIsn’t defacing government property a felony?
June 29th, 2009 at 4:26 pmdefacing poster? WTF are these clowns in the seventh grade or just emotionally disturbed?
June 29th, 2009 at 4:28 pmAhhhh — the light of truth, the fresh air of respect:
It’s all too blinding, too foreign for those who’ve spent recent years supporting torture and government intervention in the form of wiretapping, no-fly lists, and the sort.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:29 pmwait, you mean to tell me all those government employees who’ve it easy are .. conservatives!?! i hate people who cut corners and expect others to walk the interstate!!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:33 pmTP moderators, if your not going to post my comment the least you can do is send me an email as to why. Church and preists that molest children. lets see if this goes thru
June 29th, 2009 at 4:43 pmI thank Sec. Solis for her words and her actions. However, I have to point out that since the letter was dated Friday, June 29, “The posters will stay up until the end of the month, and will be replaced immediately if they are removed or destroyed,” really just means today and tommorow. As a lesbian, I would much rather she use her passion and energy to convince her boss to repeal DADT and DOMA.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:52 pmKudos to Solis!
Bigotry is everywhere and when bigots finally get the message that their actions are not tolerated, they may eventually get the message and cower back to their caves.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:08 pmsscncturn64 Says:
There is a word that starts with ped and ends with ophile that the filters at TP will not allow.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:54 pmMaybe Solis could have every defaced poster replaced with 3 more gay pride posters. So ripping down a poster would be like sowing dragon’s teeth. Gay Dragon’s Teeth!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:01 pm<thank you ms. solis
June 29th, 2009 at 6:10 pmwell, how ’bout that… the WSJ got the gist of the story right…
had to grab ‘em with that headline though…
Supreme Court Rules For White Firefighters
June 29th, 2009 at 6:19 pmWall Street Journal – Kristina Peterson, Brent Kendall – ?2 hours ago?
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)–The US Supreme Court, voting 5-4 in a case that has been a lightning rod for high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, invalidated a Connecticut city’s decision to scrap the results of a …
actually, i only read that much…
June 29th, 2009 at 6:20 pmwho knows where they went after that…
I have a question for President Obama. Isn’t it about time that you get rid of the Bush holdovers in our government? He still hasn’t replaced any of the Bush appointees in the Justice Department. Why is it that he is not getting rid of the Bush sycophants left behind in government jobs?
June 29th, 2009 at 6:44 pmThank you, Hilda Solis. Keep it up, find out who this trash is, & throw him/her/them out.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:48 pmha ha . oops .
i’ll just put that in it’s proper place…
heh…
June 29th, 2009 at 6:51 pmThere’s damned near a camera in the bathroom for most working class stiffs. Aren’t they under surveillance? Give fair warning. Catch them. Fire them—even if it’s the cleaning staff that’s responsible. That’s what Zero Tolerance is about. These officials are being payed well enough to be adults. I hope the rest of the people in the building are being payed fairly as well.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:15 pmSo?
June 29th, 2009 at 8:01 pmi havent heard of straight pride month yet!!!!!!
Yes you have, there are actually 12 of them every year.
June 29th, 2009 at 8:17 pmIs it possible that this thread could get any funnier?
June 29th, 2009 at 8:47 pmI have one question…Are there ANY hold-overs from the Bush administration working in this department?? If yes, fire them all!!!!!
June 29th, 2009 at 9:59 pmtrackere Says:
… queeeeeeeerrrrrrsssss … whinnnnnnnne … fagggggssss …
I picture Gollum.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:15 amTough to police posters in public areas . . . you really rely on folks to control themselves . . . although having had MANY visits to VA Hospitals the last couple years in California and Nevada, it amused me to see EVERY day atleast one or two “luggies” glistening on the portraits of Bush . . . . .
June 30th, 2009 at 12:27 am.
Good for her!
What I’m confused by, is that somehow the DoL tolerates VANDALISM.
.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:43 am.
Dear trackere,
Murphy’s Law…
… LOLOLOLOlololololol!
Watch, in your time of desperate need, the one who answers your plea for help will be, as you put it, a whinnnnnnnnie queeeeeeeerrrrrr. What will you do, choose to suffer and then use that as your next blast at the fagggggssss that offered a lending hand that you’ve slapped away?
At that moment, trackere, it will be the fagggggssss who’ve turned that proverbial cheek for you.
.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:51 amWay to go Hilda!
June 30th, 2009 at 7:02 amI think the Posters are inappropriate. People may have the right to chose to be gay, ( I’m all for freedom of choice), but I don’t think the government should encourage the behavior. It’s a decadent sub-culture at best and we have far to many of those already.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:26 am#44 – Peashooter Says:
———————————————————–
“I think the Posters are inappropriate. People may have the right to chose to be gay, ( I’m all for freedom of choice), but I don’t think the government should encourage the behavior. It’s a decadent sub-culture at best and we have far to many of those already.”
June 30th, 2009 at 8:26 am
I think religious posters are inappropriate. People may have the right to chose to be religious, (I’m all for freedom of choice), but I don’t think the government should encourage the behavior. It’s a decadent sub-culture at best and we have far to many of those already.
Notice how the changing of one simple word makes your statement completely foolish and wrong?
June 30th, 2009 at 9:15 amDemocrat Soldier Says: Notice how the changing of one simple word makes your statement completely foolish and wrong?
No. I agree with that also. Separation of church and state.
Absolutely perfect.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:03 amrepublicans hate facts Says: Various out of control simpleton stuff.
Answer. Gay is NOT some sexual orientation. It’s a sexual Choice. Based on this and a few other minor facts FULL discrimination protections are not warranted nor deserved.
Have a nice day :-)
July 1st, 2009 at 10:03 am