LGBTI groups and advocates gathered on the steps of the US Supreme Court on Tuesday (6 March). They were there to protest Donald Trump’s anti-LGBTI judges.
A December report revealed one-third of Trump’s nominees have anti-LGBTI records.
Today’s protest specifically called out nominees Thomas Farr and Kyle Duncan.
Farr was nominated for a seat in North Carolina. About him, Human Rights Campaign Government Affairs Director David Stacy said: ‘Thomas Farr’s long career undermining the fundamental rights to vote raises concerns about his ability to enforce equal treatment under the law, particularly for African Americans and other historically disenfranchised groups of Americans.’
Meanwhile, Duncan was nominated for a position in the Fifth Circuit for the US Court of Appeals.
He opposes same-sex marriage and defended North Carolina’s bathroom bill. Lambda Legal has his track record.
Stop Farr, Stop Duncan
Groups like HRC, Legal Defense Fund, and activists and politicians all joined forces today.
Representative Joe Kennedy, who brought a trans soldier to Trump’s first State of the Union, was there. He said: ‘We will not allow the bigoted beliefs of two men to unwind the progress of millions who came before them, or the millions who will come after.’
.@RepJoeKennedy: We will not allow the bigoted beliefs of two men to unwind the progress of millions who came before them, or the millions who will come after. #CourtsMatter #StopDuncan #StopFarr pic.twitter.com/rCvRSd6Ecf
— Alliance for Justice (@AFJustice) March 6, 2018
A mother of a transgender son was also present.
Sarah Watson, the mother of a transgender son, was here last year to speak out against Jeff Mateer’s nomination, and she’s here again today to urge opposition to Duncan and Farr. #StopDuncan #StopFarr pic.twitter.com/76eIb8c1R7
— The Leadership Conference (@civilrightsorg) March 6, 2018
Sarah Watson has long been speaking out against discriminatory figures.
LDF Policy Director @ToddACox: there is no position more important to our democracy than that of federal judge, and our courts require qualified judges who demonstrate a clear commitment the civil rights of all Americans. #StopFarr #CourtsMatter pic.twitter.com/aGHHr4eF3x
— Legal Defense Fund (@NAACP_LDF) March 6, 2018
NARAL Pro-Choice America also attended in protest of the nominees.
#CourtsMatter – and the Trump admin is stacking the courts against women, LGBTQ people, and people of color -Kate Ryan, NARAL #StopDuncan #StopFarr pic.twitter.com/ews1PDAiuv
— NARAL (@NARAL) March 6, 2018
This is what fighting for justice and standing up for fair courts looks like. We won't stop speaking out until Kyle Duncan and Thomas Farr are defeated. #courtsmatter
–@AFJustice
–@NAACP
–@HRC
–@NARAL
–@LambdaLegal
–@TransEquality
–@peoplefor
–@NAACP_LDF
–@MALDEF
–@NWLC pic.twitter.com/ieqXWuC80b— The Leadership Conference (@civilrightsorg) March 6, 2018
It has been over a year since Donald Trump’s inauguration and the activism has not ceased.