D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on Wednesday that she named local lesbian activist and public affairs lobbyist Courtney Snowden as her administration's Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity, a new position within the executive office of the mayor reports The Washington Blade. Snowden, who originally ran for a seat on D.C.'s City Council as an independent, is the highest ranking LGBT official in the Bowser administration and the fourth gay or lesbian appointee named to a cabinet-level position.
Over the last 10 years Snowden has worked as a lobbyist and public policy strategist for both corporate and non-profit clients for the Raben Group, a D.C.-based public relations and communications firm founded by gay attorney Robert Raben. Snowden has also worked in several policy positions for the Human Rights Campaign, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and then-Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin. Snowden also served on Bowser's mayoral transition team prior to Bowser taking office on Jan. 1.
The D.C. government website posted a revised organization chart showing the newly created post of Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity as one of four deputy mayor's positions. According to Bowser the deputy mayor "will be charged with creating solutions to improve outcomes for residents who face challenges to entering the workforce or starting their own ventures."
