James "Wally" Brewster, Jr.

James "Wally" Brewster, Jr.
United States Ambassador to Dominican Republic
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 22, 2013
President Barack Obama
Preceded by Raul Yzaguirre

James "Wally" Brewster, Jr. (born c. 1960), is the United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. He was unanimously confirmed by the Senate of the United States on November 14, 2013, and was sworn in by Vice-President Joe Biden at the White House on November 22, shortly before Brewster left Washington to take up his post in Santo Domingo.[1][2] In the evening of that same day, Brewster married his long-term partner of 25 years, luxury real estate executive Bob J. Satawake; the ceremony and reception were held at the Hay-Adams Hotel, near the White House.[3] Brewster and Satawake made history as the first openly gay couple to represent the United States at the ambassadorial level in the Americas.

A native of Lindale, Texas, Brewster earned an A.A. in Marketing at Tyler Junior College in Texas in 1980 and completed his education in Business Administration at Texas A&M University in 1983. His career began with marketing and management positions in the Dallas area. In 1996, he moved to Chicago to work for a real estate investment trust, General Growth Properties, where he eventually moved up to become senior vice president for marketing and communications. In 2010, Brewster started his own company, SB&K Global, also based in Chicago.[4]

In addition to his business career, Brewster served as the National Co-Chair of the LGBT Leadership Council for the Democratic National Committee and held the same role in the Obama 2012 campaign. It was reported that as a fundraiser for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign, Brewster and Satawake raised over $1,000,000 in donations.[5] Brewster was also involved with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for more than 30 years and served on their National Board of Directors.[6]

The nomination of an openly gay U. S. ambassador aroused controversy in the Dominican Republic, where during a press conference, Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, Archbishop of Santo Domingo, referred to Brewster as a maricón, equivalent to "faggot" in American English. An auxiliary Bishop of Santo Domingo, Monseñor Pablo Cedano, issued a statement: "I hope he does not arrive in the country because I know if he comes he is going to suffer and will have to leave." Evangelical Christian leaders also denounced the appointment. U.S. Embassy spokesman Daniel Foote told reporters that Brewster was nominated "because of his skills as an international businessman and his ideas on democracy and human rights," adding, "Brewster arrives as an ambassador, he's not coming here as an activist for the gay community."[7][8]

Upon arriving in the Dominican Republic, Brewster posted a video introducing himself and his husband on the embassy's web page.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Brewster became the first openly gay Ambassador in the Americas."Senate confirms James “Wally” Brewster as U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic," U. S. Department of State press release, no date, accessed 29 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Ambassador Brewster Arrives in Country to Assume His Duties," U. S. Department of State press release, 26 November 2013, accessed 29 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "Wally Brewster’s Really Big Day: Sworn In As A US Ambassador, Marries Bob Satawake," The New Civil Rights Movement, 22 November 2013, accessed 29 November 2013.
  4. ↑ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts," The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 21 June 2013, accessed 29 November 2013.
  5. ↑ "Ambassador to the Dominican Republic: Who Is James “Wally” Brewster Jr.?" allgov.com, 9 July 2013, accessed 29 November 2013.
  6. ↑ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts," The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 21 June 2013, accessed 29 November 2013.
  7. ↑ Lopez, Ezequiel Abiu. "Dominican groups reject gay US ambassador nominee," The Guardian, 29 June 2013, accessed 29 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Carroll, Rory. "Christian leaders rage at naming of gay US ambassador to Dominican Republic," The Guardian, 29 November 2013, accessed 29 November 2013.
  9. ↑ "James "Wally" Brewster Embajador de los Estados Unidos para la República Dominicana," United States Embassy to the Dominican Republic, 26 November 2013, accessed 29 November 2013.