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Trump Names Anti-LGBT Billionaire Betsy DeVos As Education Secretary

The DeVos family has donated millions to fight marriage equality.

President-elect Trump has announced Betsy DeVos as his nominee for Secretary of Education.

DeVos, 58, is a former Michigan Republican Party chair and daughter-in-law of AmWay founder Richard DeVos.

Drew Angerer/Getty

BEDMINSTER TOWNSHIP, NJ - NOVEMBER 19: (L to R) president-elect Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos pose for a photo after their meeting at Trump International Golf Club, November 19, 2016 in Bedminster Township, New Jersey. Trump and his transition team are in the process of filling cabinet and other high level positions for the new administration. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Betsy has been a staunch advocate for school choice, which she says allows parents to send their kids to the best school, not just the one nearest them.

In a statement Trump called her "a brilliant and passionate education advocate.”

"Under her leadership, we will reform the U.S. education system and break the bureaucracy that is holding our children back so that we can deliver world-class education and school choice to all families.”

DeVos said she was ready to help Trump “make American education great again.”

"The status quo in education is not acceptable. Together, we can work to make transformational change that ensures every student in America has the opportunity to fulfill his or her highest potential."

While Trump opposes Common Core standards, DeVos opinion on them is not clear. Then again, Trump has threatened to get rid of the Department of Education altogether.

Not everyone is thrilled with the appointment, though.

“By nominating Betsy DeVos, the Trump administration has demonstrated just how out of touch it is with what works best for students, parents, educators and communities,” said Lily Eskelsen García of the National Education Association.

"She has lobbied for failed schemes... [and] wants her million and billionaire friends to profit off of childhood education."

It's not likely DeVos will support President Obama's efforts to support trans schoolchildren, or rally behind other LGBT issues in education, including comprehensive sex-ed, GSAs or LGBT representation in curricula.

In the past decade, the DeVos family has given $2 million in donations to fight same-sex marriage, to groups including the National Organization for Marriage.

AmWay founder Richard DeVos, who also owns the Orlando Magic, was appointed to an AIDS commission by President Reagan in the mid-1980s, and determined "that actions have consequences... and AIDS is a disease people gain because of their actions."

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