Groups push for first gay Supreme Court justice

[meegbear]

President Barack Obama is looking to advance diversity with his pick to replace retiring U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter — and early speculation has focused on whether he'll pick a woman, or perhaps the first Hispanic justice.

But gay rights groups — disappointed that Obama didn't pick an openly gay man or woman for his Cabinet — are pushing him to put the first openly gay justice on the Supreme Court.

Within hours of word of Souter's departure, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund was hailing the candidacy of a First Amendment scholar and former dean of Stanford Law School, Kathleen Sullivan. "Out lesbian a contender for Supreme Court," one of the group's web sites declared.

Another Stanford law professor on the "frequently mentioned" lists, Pam Karlan, has been open about being a lesbian, colleagues and former students say. In response to an e-mail from POLITICO, Karlan expressed no reticence about discussing her sexual orientation, though she downplayed talk about being a possible nominee.

"It's no secret at all that I'm counted among the LGBT crowd," she wrote, using a common acronym for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. As for the possibility she'd be nominated, Karlan said, "Given the landscape, I'm flattered, but not fooled, by having my name tossed around."

Gay and lesbian activists said they were excited that the two women are being publicly considered — and guardedly optimistic that one of them might be picked.

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http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22106.html

w00t!

[graywarrior]

1. OMG, that would be so awesome!

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[xchrom]

3. as it should be -- recommend

[WI_DEM]

4. Perhaps he will but we won't know if that person is gay. David Souter never married

perhaps he is gay? and just doesn't talk about it. Of course just because you have never married doesn't mean you are gay. In the history of the Supreme Court there may have been gays on the court but we just don't know it.

[Blue Meany]

6. And perhaps it's nobody's friggin' business...n/t

[orleans]

5. great. just no log cabin pukes. i want a liberal on the court. period. n/t