Mary Cheney

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Mary Cheney bigraphy, stories - Activists

Mary Cheney : biography

March 14, 1969 –

Mary Claire Cheney (born March 14, 1969) is the second daughter of Dick Cheney, the former Vice President of the United States, and his wife, Lynne Cheney. She is openly lesbian, has voiced support for same-sex marriage, and has been credited with encouraging her father to support same-sex marriage.

In 2013, Cheney was a signatory to an amicus curiae brief submitted to the Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage during the Hollingsworth v. Perry case.http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/28/the-pro-freedom-republicans-are-coming-131-sign-gay-marriage-brief.html

Career

In 1993, she became one of the first employees of the Colorado Rockies baseball team, working in Promotions when the team began playing in Denver.USA Today. (October 15, 2004) USATODAY.com. Accessed September 3, 2007. Thereafter, she was a Public Relations Manager for the Coors Brewing Company and worked as a Gay and Lesbian Outreach Coordinator, helping to end a national gay boycott of Coors.Cloud, John. (August 1, 2000) CNN.com. Accessed May 28, 2007.

She has been one of her father’s top campaign aides and closest confidantes. In July 2003, she became the Director of Vice Presidential Operations for the Bush-Cheney 2004 Presidential re-election campaign.

Cheney is a Vice President for Consumer Advocacy at AOL.Perry, Simon. (April 5, 2007) People.com. Accessed May 28, 2007.

Pregnancies and births of children

In December 2006, Cheney was reported to be pregnant; circumstances surrounding the conception were not reported.Argetsinger, Amy; Roberts, Roxanne. (December 6, 2006) The Washington Post. Accessed May 28, 2007. Cheney and Poe were said to be "ecstatic" about the baby, due in late spring 2007. "The vice president and Mrs. Cheney are looking forward with eager anticipation to the arrival of their sixth grandchild," spokesman Lea Anne McBride said on December 5. Some conservatives were critical, however. The Concerned Women for America called the pregnancy "unconscionable."BBC News. (December 7, 2006) BBCNews.com. Accessed September 3, 2007

On January 31, 2007, in a forum by Glamour Magazine at Barnard College of Columbia University, Mary Cheney stated that: "This is a baby… This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child."Mooney, Alexander. (February 1, 2007) CNN.com. Accessed September 3, 2007.

Cynthia Leive, the editor in chief of Glamour, asked Cheney if she had anything to say to critics like Dr. James Dobson. Cheney accused Dobson of distorting the research he cited and added: "Every piece of remotely responsible research that has been done in the last 20 years has shown there is no difference between children raised by same-sex parents and children raised by opposite-sex parents; what matters is being raised in a stable, loving environment." She also said that Dobson was entitled to his opinion, "but he’s not someone whose endorsement I have ever drastically sought."

Mary Cheney gave birth to her second child, daughter Sarah Lynne Cheney, on November 18, 2009.ABC. (November 19, 2009) ABCNews.com. Accessed July 24, 2011

Politics

2000 Presidential campaign

In 2000, the Bush-Cheney Presidential campaign freely discussed Elizabeth Cheney’s marriage and children, but they treated Mary Cheney’s private life as off-limits. Nevertheless, Cheney’s sexual orientation was publicly known, and some considered her presence during the campaign as bolstering, providing the Republican ticket with a "compassionate conservative" image.Miller, Mark; Rosenberg, Debra. (February 23, 2004) Newsweek. Accessed July 19, 2012. During an interview with Lynne Cheney, Cokie Roberts brought up the topic of Mary Cheney’s having declared herself a lesbian. Mrs. Cheney responded by stating that "Mary has never declared such a thing,"Dave Cullen and Daryl Lindsey. (August 1, 2000) Salon.com. Accessed September 3, 2007. and criticized Roberts and the media for their interest in the story.