Obama Nominates First Openly Gay Federal Appeals Court Judge

Religion Today | Updated: Feb 12, 2013

Obama Nominates First Openly Gay Federal Appeals Court Judge

President Barack Obama last week nominated Justice Department attorney Todd M. Hughes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit -- who, if approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, would be the first openly gay federal appeals court judge, the Christian Post reports. The prospect is being lauded by gay rights groups such as the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, whose president and CEO, Chuck Wolfe, wrote: "[Hughes'] nomination is a testament to the expanding opportunities for openly LGBT Americans who want to serve their country, and to the president's respect for the depth of talent and experience within the LGBT community. We look forward to his confirmation by the U.S. Senate." To date, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund website states that the Obama administration "has appointed more than 250 openly LGBT professionals to full-time and advisory positions in the executive branch, more than all known LGBT appointments of other presidential administrations combined."



Obama Nominates First Openly Gay Federal Appeals Court Judge