Chantale Wong to Serve Ambassador-level Position

Chantale Wong is paving the way for all lesbians, especially those who wish to follow a career path within the U.S. Government. President Biden announced he’s nominating Wong, who will become the first lesbian women and first out, LGBTQ person of color to hold an ambassador-level position. During the position as an ambassador, Wong will serve as the U.S Director of the Asian Development Bank. Wong will oversee the government-level financial institution that employs more than 60 member countries and provides monetary and fiscal services. 

Wong is “a leading authority in international development policy with over 30 years of experience in the multidisciplinary field that includes finance, technology, and the environment,” says the White House in a statement following the announcement of her appointment.

Wong has been serving the government for at least 25 years; she’s served within both the Clinton and Obama administrations. Previously, she’d been appointed as the Budget Director at NASA, the Acting Budget Director of the U.S. Treasury Department, and the chief financial officer for the foreign aid agency Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Press Secretary Jen Psaki unveiled earlier this year that she was certain Biden would be appointing an LGBTQ individual to serve in an ambassador-level position “soon,” and at a question briefing in May, she says, “We hope to soon [name more ambassadors]; stay tuned,” continuing that “Certainly, the president looks to ensuring that the people representing him—not just in the United States, but around the world—represent the diversity of the country, and that certainly includes people who are LGBTQ, members of the transgender community.”

Victory Institute works with the administrations to recommend and advocate for LGBTQ leaders who are qualified to serve in the administration and be Presidentially Appointed. Victory Institute also aims to assist the Biden administration in becoming the most LGBTQ-inclusive administration in U.S. history.

“Chantale will represent the most powerful nation in the Asian Development Bank at a time when many of its member states criminalize LGBTQ people and deny them the right to marry. Her presence and leadership can change perceptions of LGBTQ people among representatives from other nations—potentially inching countries toward more acceptance of LGBTQ citizens. While she was nominated because of her exceptional qualifications and expertise, Chantale will be a powerful symbol of the Biden administration’s commitment to equality and member states will be forced to notice and respect it. We now call on the administration to nominate diverse LGBTQ people as ambassadors—including LGBTQ women, trans leaders, and LGBTQ leaders of color,” says Mayor Annise Parker, president and CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute.

Another barrier broken! President Biden has named Chantale Wong U.S. Director of the Asian Development Bank with the rank of ambassador. When confirmed, she’ll become the first out lesbian to ever serve as a U.S. ambassador. pic.twitter.com/8CaDZ3yzlQ

— LGBTQ Victory Institute (@VictoryInst) July 2, 2021