What will Sonia Sotomayor Mean for LGBT Rights?

by Michael Jones · 2009-05-26 06:46:00 UTC
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Sonia Sotomayor

So President Obama didn't pick the first openly gay or lesbian Supreme Court Justice this morning, but he did pick someone who many think could be an advocate for LGBT rights - Sonia Sotomayor.  She will become the first Latin@ to join "The Nine," and only the third woman in history, if she's confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Of course, it's unclear how supportive Sotomayor will be, but is pretty clear that the right-wing in this country is going to pounce on her to find out how she might rule on issues like same-sex marriage, overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, anti-discrimination legislation, and more.

One other thing to watch out for?  Sotomayor is Catholic.  Be prepared to watch right-wing groups like the Catholic League jump down her throat and call her anti-Catholic if they detect that she might uphold a woman's right to choose, or be sympathetic to LGBT issues.

How do you think Sotomayor's nomination will affect the trajectory of the highest court in the country when it comes to LGBT issues?  And do you think her appointment today will swallow up news coverage, to the point where the Prop 8 decision expected later today in California gets moved to Page 7?  We'll see....

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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