Update: DOJ Investigating LesbianRumorgate
We mentioned this story in passing a few times. But we probably should have given it a more prominent place in these pages, since it involves one of our favorite legal celebrities: the high-powered Monica Goodling, who held top positions at the U.S. Department of Justice, and who came to prominence during the U.S. Attorney firing controversy.
Here's an update, from NPR:
The Justice Department's inspector general confirmed Tuesday that he is looking into whether a department lawyer was dismissed over a rumor that she is a lesbian.Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie A. Hagen was informed in 2006 that her contract working on Indian affairs in the Justice Department's Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys would not be renewed for a second year -- despite receiving the highest possible performance reviews....
Glenn Fine of the Inspector General's Office and H. Marshall Jarrett of the Office of Professional Responsibility said they are looking into whether Hagen was "discriminated against in employment decisions on the basis of alleged sexual orientation or other improper factors."
Some claim that Hagen had "a Monica problem" -- i.e., that she was not in favor with the powerful Goodling, due to these sapphic whisperings.
Now, if the allegation were that Monica Goodling fired a DOJ lawyer because of a rumor that he might be gay, we'd dismiss it out of hand. In light of her overall fabulosity, as well as her status as "a survivor" -- someone who has successfully weathered serious political storms, while still looking poised, polished, and perfect -- Goodling will be hailed as an icon by future generations of gay male lawyers.
But this allegation involves a rumor that a lawyer was a lesbian. That's a whole different kettle of fish. So we'll wait and see what the DOJ probe reveals.
Justice Inquiry Centers on Dismissal, Gay Rumors [NPR]
Confirmed: DoJ Investigators Probing Whether Goodling Fired Lawyer Due to Gay Rumors [TPM Muckraker]
(23) Comments
First to note the use of an old picture. The more recent tacky engagement photo shows her in full glory. And by full glory, I mean with 35 extra lbs.
Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation isn't prohibited under Title VII---why the internal investigation?
THAT'S RIGHT LAT - HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL ABOUT MONICA NOW????
As a gay male lawyer, I have to call out your crap claims that her bitch behavior and weathering the storm make her an "icon" for gay male lawyers. Being nasty and petty doesn't make one a diva, Lat. Further, discrimination against lesbians is discrimination against the GLBTQ community, and the idea that we would embrace her simply because she discriminated against a gay woman rather than a gay man is really abhorrent.
I know I'm up on my soapbox, but this really got under my skin.
947=L
9:24 - Federal government agencies aren't governed by Title VII but by other laws. And under an Executive Order issued by Clinton in the mid-90s, the federal government cannot discriminate against its employees on the basis of sexual orientation.
Lat's just wants to dismiss the rumor b/c it has bad implications about an ideological fellow-traveler. Conservatives stick together, even (or esp.) when their behavior is despicable and indefensible.
Then again, those two adjectives cover the vast majority of conservatives' behavior, so it's really not that surprising.
9:59 nails it. If it weren't for the Goodling/conservative ideologue angle, Lat would have found time to mention the incredibly impressive resume of the lawyer who lost her job because of the rumors.
High-powered? A fluke of politics got her way in over her head, making her instrumental in the biggest DoJ scandal since Bork and making her a national punchline for 5 minutes.
I guess Lat's motivation is both to defend conservatives, no matter how vile AND to create trashy "celebs" in order for his "legal tabloid" idea to make any sense.
Goodling is too boring and unspectacular to be a real gay icon.
Lat should be ashamed of himself. Condoning discrimination because it's directed towards a lesbian? As a member of the LGBT community himself, one would hope that Lat would be more sensitive.
9:24: I believe the civil service rules require that the decision be based on merit. The effect is that they're much broader than Title VII.
To the commenters angry at Lat:
First, I assume the comment is tongue-in-cheek. Effectively, he's admitting that a form of cognitive dissonance would prevent him from believing that Goodling could disapprove of gay males, even though its plently likely that she does.
Second, how did he say discrimination towards lesbians is OK? If anything, his claim that he would ignore allegations of discrimination against gay males but post allegations of discrimination against lesbians is anti-gay male.
Ditto to 9:47. Ann Coulter is very similar, and far from a gay icon.
9:47 AND 10:20, I hope you are law students and not lawyers as your inability to read and understand a few simple sentances is rather quite sad.
I believe Lat is saying that a) Monica is an Icon to gay men. This is an area he can comment on. As a straight man who believes in fairness I think she is a stupid cow, but regardless. b) he is saying that had she been accused of discriminating against a GAY MALE then he would have ignored the rumor out of hand BECAUSE she is an icon. HOWEVER Lat then goes onto say that c) Because it is a Gay Female rumor then it is NOT being dismissed out of hand.
The DOJ can try, but a lesbian just can't be probed.
10:09 is spot on. High powered is hilarious when placed in front of Monica Goodling. That is like calling a Geo Metro a high powered sports car. She is also no longer a diva, she is a lard-ass with a equally plump and awkward husband/fiance.
To echo and add to what others have said:
1) In what world is the Principal Deputy Director of Public Affairs "high-powered"? There are hundreds of people with equal or higher titles in DOJ, and that's not even a legal job! (Of course, why would we expect her to get a legal job, considering she went to Regent and has never worked a day as a lawyer in her life.)
2) In what world would gay men "hail as an icon" a woman who went to a school run by someone who blamed 9/11 on homosexuality? Please stop your fantasy that there are a bunch of like-minded gay men out there who would ever stick up for idiot conservative hack women. The Log Cabin is but a small shack.
As a queer female attorney myself...eh, I took Lat's comment to be a bit ridiculous but generally tongue in cheek. I'm not buying that Lat wouldn't take seriously an allegation of discrimination against a gay man, after his second-by-second, nearly ad nauseum coverage of Charney v. S&C.
The fact that gay men might like Goodling (which I find doubtful) doesn't have any relevance to whether Goodling feels the same about them.
Also, I've never really understood why Romer v. Evans doesn't essentially an antidiscrimination rule on the basis of sexual orientation for all public employees.
Dear Queer Female Attorney:
May I watch? Please advise.
Amen to 9:47.
Unless Lat is, you know, going to come out of the closet, I'm getting sick of his acting as an arbiter of what is "fabulous." The notion that gay men would rally around a homophone because of our alleged love for women "survivors" is absurd. Also, Goodling is a true-believer Christian type, who went to Pat Robertson's law school, so I doubt she really likes gay men much anyway.
Count me as one more gay man who is not a Goodling fan.
Hear, here to 3:01. Gay men wood knot ever Raleigh around a homophone. Everybody hates homophones. There just sew confusing.
How that stupid b*tch got that job is beyond me. She's nothing but an unpleasantly plump troublemaker and her shoes are cheap.