Obama To Name Gay Lawyer As Ambassador

An administration official says President Barack Obama plans to nominate an openly gay lawyer as the United States' ambassador to New Zealand and American Samoa.

The administration official says Obama plans to nominate David Huebner to the post. The official would speak only on condition of anonymity ahead of an announcement.

If confirmed by the Senate, Huebner would the administration's first openly gay ambassador. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush both had openly gay ambassadors during their terms.

The announcements come days before Obama speaks to a gay fundraising dinner on Saturday and gay activists march on Washington on Sunday.