I’ve watched documentaries accusing the Reagan administration of being reluctant to take AIDS head on. People say it was because of the stigma regarding the population it mostly affected: Gay people like me and Richard Grenell. Whether that was the case or not at the time, it was unpopular to speak about us and unthinkable for either party to appoint us in government.

President Trump took a different approach to Republicanism by making Grenell part of his administration (“Richard Grenell, former U.S. ambassador and acting national intelligence director, joins CMU’s Institute for Politics and Strategy,” June 12, TribLIVE). Grenell has become an icon for those who dare to think the formerly hostile GOP now could be the party for them. He’s a celebrated figure within that party and has proven to be one of its most effective members.

As U.S. ambassador to Germany, Grenell oversaw America’s much-needed Germanic-tie restructuring, achieved groundbreaking results on Serbia-Kosovo relations and led the world’s first major governmental push to end criminalization of homosexuality — including pressuring many countries we consider strategic allies. It’s inspiring to picture him confronting countries like Saudi Arabia, in which homosexuals can be put to death for being themselves, on this very subject.

As acting director of national intelligence (the highest rank a gay person has ever achieved in the U.S. government), he brought necessary transparency to the Russia investigation. Now, with his hiring at Carnegie Mellon University, he continues to make significant strides for the community, further opening doors for people like me — a gay Republican.

Casey Flores

Mt. Oliver

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