Europe: US Ambassador marries same-sex partner
The US Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has married his same-sex partner.
Daniel Baer, who has served in Vienna as the US ambassador to OCSE since September, is one of six gay ambassadors appointed by Obama across the world.
The statesman tweeted today that he had married his partner, Brian Walsh.
The couple exchanged vows surrounded by family and friends – including Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin – in a private ceremony in the Austrian capital.
He wrote: “So, I got married this morning. Thank you @BarackObama, @HillaryClinton, & @JohnKerry for your commitment to equality.”
So, I got married this morning. Thank you @BarackObama, @HillaryClinton, & @JohnKerry for your commitment to equality pic.twitter.com/CHMDaW9gqG
— Daniel Baer (@danbbaer) August 2, 2014
In May, Obama nominated Ted Osius – who has a young son with his husband – as ambassador to Vietnam.
Other gay Obama-oppointed ambassadors include John Berry (Australia), James Costos (Spain), Rufus Gifford (Denmark), and Wally Brewster (Dominican Republic).
Same-sex marriage is not legal in Austria, though registered partnerships have been available since 2010.
Austrian Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst said recently: “I’m one of thousands of thousands of people who are waiting [for my right to marry].”
“I’m a human being and I have the same rights as everyone else, so I don’t need to discuss about that because it should be a common thing. So stop discussing, just make it equal.”
