Gay groups deny ‘grand plan’ to derail Roberts

[kweerwolf]

The four national gay rights organizations that announced their opposition last week to the nomination of Judge John G. Roberts Jr. to the United States Supreme Court will urge the Senate to reject Roberts on grounds that he would work against rights for minorities, including gays, spokespersons for the groups said.

Officials with the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays dispute claims by Roberts’ supporters that they timed their announcement last week to help liberal “special interest groups” create an illusion that momentum was building against Roberts.

“We are aware that a number of groups are looking at when to take a stand on this,” said Ron Schlittler, PFLAG’s deputy executive director. “But we don’t have this grand, national plan on which shoes are going to drop first.”

Eldie Acheson, director of public policy and governmental affairs for NGLTF, said the group has been part of a coalition of gay and non-gay civil rights organizations that have conferred over the Roberts nomination. But Acheson said each of the groups within the coalition has made an independent decision on how to respond to the nomination, with some coming out against Roberts while others have chosen not to take a position.

http://www.washblade.com/2005/9-2/news/national/roberts-no.cfm