I was riding on the exercise bike this morning, watching the Sotomayor hearings on TV, when I saw that President Obama had selected Dr. Regina Benjamin as Surgeon General. I was deeply, deeply moved.
Regina is a friend, and someone I hold in incredibly high esteem. I had the great fortune of participating in a two-year fellowship with Regina, through the Rockefeller Foundation, called Next Generation Leadership (LA City Council President Eric Garcetti was among the 24 people in our cohort). We traveled the country, and the world, exploring and discussing different aspects of American democracy. We came to LA to look at immigration; to Mississippi to examine race and poverty; and South Africa to consider the profound issues facing that new democracy with such an awful past.
At the time, Regina was running a rural health clinic in her native Alabama. She was serving patients who were the poorest of the poor. She was also the first African-American woman to be president of a state medical association, having served as chair of the Alabama Medical Association.
I’ll never forget the emails Regina sent right after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the clinic in 2005. Very matter-of-fact; never filled with pity; but the facts themselves were just devastating. Regina is exceptionally determined, and she figured out a way to get it rebuilt. Then, heartbreakingly, it burned down just before it re-opened.
Not one who engages in small-talk, Regina is a passionate advocate for the health and well-being of all, and especially those who have had a rougher go at it.
And she is a strong advocate for equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. At a time when I was just figuring out what role I wanted to play, Regina was a quiet yet forceful support to me as I decided to take a more public role advocating for our community.
I can’t think of a better choice. Our community, and all of us, are lucky indeed.
Marc Solomon
Marriage Director
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