In a First, Asian-American Lesbian Confirmed to Ambassador-Level Post

Chantale Wong has been confirmed by the Senate as U.S. director of the Asian Development Bank, making her the first out lesbian and first LGBTQ+ person of color to serve in an ambassador-level position. President Joe Biden nominated Wong, an Asian-American, for the post last July, and the Senate confirmed her Tuesday.

Wong was previously chief financial officer of the Millennium Challenge Corp., budget director at NASA, acting budget director at the Treasury Department, and a U.S. representative to the Asian Development Bank.

When Biden nominated Wong, a White House press release described her as “a leading authority in international development policy with over 30 years of experience in the multi-disciplinary field that includes finance, technology, and the environment.”

Wong is founder of the Conference on APA Leadership, which encourages young Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders to pursue careers in public service.

https://www.advocate.com/politics/2022/2/08/first-asian-american-lesbian-confirmed-ambassador-level-post