Raising the Wrong Questions : Helms’ attack on nominee Achtenberg’s sexual orientation is outrageous

The qualifications for the post of assistant secretary of housing and urban development do not specify that the applicant have a particular sexual orientation any more than that the applicant be of a particular race or gender.

The assistant HUD secretary directs the office of fair housing and equal opportunity and will advise HUD Secretary Henry G. Cisneros on civil rights matters and equal opportunity in housing, employment and business.

So although it is hardly surprising that Roberta Achtenberg’s sexual orientation--she is a lesbian--has become a cause celebre for a few conservatives, it is nonetheless extremely disappointing.

Achtenberg, nominated by President Clinton, is a lawyer and member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as well as a long-time civil rights activist.

Because she has supported gay rights in particular and because if confirmed she would become the first openly declared lesbian in a high federal post, Senate conservatives have tried to kill the appointment. Sens. Jesse Helms of North Carolina and Trent Lott of Mississippi led a handful of Republican conservatives in a two-day filibuster last week. Helms assailed Achtenberg as a militant extremist and unfit to serve because of what he called her promotion of an immoral lifestyle.

Their gambit ultimately failed for lack of support among Senate Republicans. And the fight prompted Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.) to announce Friday that his daughter is a lesbian and that he supports Achtenberg because he would not want his daughter barred from any job because of her sexual orientation. A vote on Achtenberg’s nomination is scheduled for today. She should be confirmed.

The ferocity of the conservatives’ attack on Achtenberg embarrassed many moderate Republicans still pained by memories of rabidly anti-gay speeches at last summer’s national convention.

One GOP pollster says Helms’ attack only underscores “an increased sense that the Republican Party is intolerant.” Unless a nominee’s sexuality bears directly on job performance, he adds, “people want folks left alone.” We agree.