Openly lesbian labor activist Mary Beth Maxwell, founding executive director of American Rights at Work, has emerged as a strong contender for President-elect Barack Obama’s choice as Secretary of Labor.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

For the rainbow cabinet of the nation’s first African American president, Mary Beth Maxwell is the perfect labor secretary you’ve probably never heard of: a gay woman, community organizer and labor leader with an adopted African American son. And this founding executive director of American Rights at Work is about to get the full-court press.

Maxwell already had the strong backing of former Rep. David Bonior, who despite repeated attempts to get his name removed from consideration continues to be on the short list of potential labor secretaries. Bonior, 63 years old, says it is time for his generation to turn over power to a new generation, and Maxwell, whose labor-backed organization pushes for expanded collective bargaining rights, is his pick.

In August, the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute (GLLI) conducted a poll that indicated that 71 percent likely voters would support the appointement of an openly gay cabinet-level secretary if he or she was the most qualified person for the job. The Zogby poll collected responses from 1,089 likely voters.

GLLI, along with a coalition of partners, also launched the Presidential Appointments Project earlier this year to serve as a talent bank for openly LGBT professionals seeking appointed positions in the next presidential administration.