Mari Carmen Aponte was appointed by the Obama administration as Ambassador to El Salvador. Because she has been a controversial appointment, twice rejected by the US Congress, Obama appointed her while the Congress was not in session to avoid a traditional confirmation.

Almost immediately after beginning her tenuous tenure, Ms Aponte exposed the justification for opposition to bestowing the ambassadorship on her shoulders.

This June, Ms Aponte submitted an editorial to the local publication La Prensa Grafica stating that everyone has a responsibility to “inform our neighbors and friends about what it means to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”1

An ambassadorship position is largely seen as a way to promote cooperation between the two countries, while respecting the values of both countries.

Her comments drew criticism by a coalition of pro-life and pro-family groups within El Salvador, and across Latin America, which published a response in El Diario de Hoy. She has drawn criticism about her interest to drive her personal agenda in a country where 80% of the population identifies as either Catholic, or Protestant.

Her initial rejections in the US Congress stem from concerns over amorous ties to Cuban spy networks.

1 “Aponte’s Agenda – HUMAN EVENTS.” Conservative News, Views & Books – HUMAN EVENTS. 9 Nov. 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. <http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=47410>.