MEDIA CONTACT:
Roberta Sklar, Communications Director
646.358.1465 (office)
917.704.6358 (cell)
rsklar@theTaskForce.org

Task Force, Inc., outraged by Senate confirmation of Leslie Southwick to U.S. Court of Appeals

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc., expresses outrage over the Senate’s confirmation of Leslie Southwick to a lifetime seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The Senate approved the nomination yesterday by a 59–38 vote.

Included in his pattern of disturbing rulings on issues ranging from consumer rights to racism in the workplace, Southwick joined an egregious concurrence in 2001 in a custody case that asserts that sexual orientation is a choice and an individual who makes that choice must accept the negative consequences, including loss of custody of an individual’s biological child.

Statement by Matt Foreman, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc.

“It is unconscionable that a Democratic-controlled Senate, by an overwhelming majority, would confirm a judge with such a troubling civil rights record to a lifetime seat on the federal bench.

“A nominee to the federal bench bears the burden of demonstrating a commitment to rigorously enforcing the principles of equal protection and due process for all Americans. Southwick’s judicial record makes clear that he cannot meet that burden. It also makes clear that the individual and equal protection rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families are seriously threatened due to this confirmation.

We are deeply disappointed by members of the Senate who supported this unacceptable nomination, and applaud those who attempted to prevent this egregious confirmation.”

–30–