Jenny Durkan, the first openly gay person to serve as a U.S. attorney speaks to the Associated Press in a recent interview, reports the Advocate.
Out lesbian Durkan, who was confirmed by the Senate last month, spoke about her momentous appointment.
"In this region I don't think it's very remarkable that you have someone who is gay in a position of authority, because it's woven throughout our culture and has been," Durkan told the AP. "In other parts of the country it might be, but I think a generation from now it will be a footnote."
Durkan, 51, acknowledged the enormity of her appointment, "I don't think I can fully appreciate how important it is to many people to have someone in a role like this who is gay," she said.
Gay rights activists say her appointment reflects a growing acceptance in the U.S. as well as the attitude of President Obama's administration. Earlier this month, Obama nominated an openly gay police sergeant to be the U.S. marshal in Minneapolis; she would be the first openly gay U.S. marshal.
Lambda Legal, a national organization that promotes equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, says it knows of no other openly gay U.S. attorneys in the nation's 93 judicial districts.
"The more people are able to see people in situations where pretty soon that's an invisible characteristic, the better it is for the entire community," Durkan said.
Ultimately she hopes to be judged on how the U.S. attorney's office handles those threats - not on her sexual orientation.
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