Of Gay Judges and Gay Stock Car Announcers

by Michael Jones · 2010-02-09 06:18:00 UTC
Topics:

Car racingWho's in the mood to bust some glass ceilings this morning?

First comes word out of Senator Chuck Schumer's office that the Empire State's senior senator is going to recommend the first openly gay man for a position on the federal bench. The man, Daniel Alter, has been recommended by Sen. Schumer to fill a vacancy on the bench in the Southern District of New York. Though it's far from a done deal, Presidents typically listen to the Senators when it comes time for the nomination process. If that pattern remains true, the U.S. Senate could be debating its first federal-level judicial nomination surrounding a gay nominee.

That has Sen. Chuck Schumer on Cloud Nine.

“Daniel Alter couldn’t be a more perfect choice. He is a brilliant attorney who possesses the knowledge, balanced views and temperament required of a federal judge,” Schumer said. "I’m proud to nominate Daniel Alter. Period. But I am equally proud to nominate him because he is a history-maker who will be the first openly gay male judge in American history.”

Quite the history-making title to put on you business cards.

Meanwhile, if legal systems aren't your thing, head on over to neighboring Vermont where an openly gay stock car racing announcer is making a national profile for himself. Profiled in Edge, Troy Germain has gone from announcing races at small tracks in rural Vermont to a national race with the American Canadian Tour, and even a NASCAR race in 2007. In Texas.

Turns out that folks within the auto racing industry aren't as concerned about Germain's sexual orientation, as they are about his great performance as an announcer.

"Troy is Troy," Dave Moody told Edge. Moody is the host of Sirius Speedway and one of the racing industry's senior broadcasters. "Our business is performance driven. The only thing that matters is if you can or can’t do his job. Troy is really good at his job."

Shocked and awed yet?

Photo credit: El Biffster

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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