We Asked. But Judge Kavanaugh Refused To Answer.
Following GLAAD’s efforts to push senators on the Judiciary Committee to ask about LGBTQ issues, including hand-delivering letters to members of the committee, Senator Kamala Harris and Senator Cory Booker took our questions to the floor, both questioning Judge Brett Kavanaugh on this topic during the second day of confirmation hearings. Yet Judge Kavanaugh refused to answer their questions directly—suggesting that, if confirmed, he won’t be ruling with LGBTQ rights in mind.
First, Senator Kamala Harris questioned Kavanaugh on the Obergefell v. Hodges case, which GLAAD specifically mentioned in the letters delivered by Campus Ambassador Tony Hernandez.
Obergefell, which brought marriage equality nationwide, was a crucial victory for LGBTQ rights. Senator Harris asked: Did Judge Kavanaugh think that Obergefell was correctly decided? Judge Kavanaugh dodged the question, instead responding with an explanation of the judicial history leading up to the case.
“My question is very specific,” said Senator Harris. “Can you comment, on your personal opinion, on whether Obergefell was correctly decided? It’s a yes or no. Please.”
Kavanaugh refused to answer.
Kavanaugh dodged and then refused to respond to @KamalaHarris’s questions on his support for marriage equality and position on the ruling of Obergefell v. Hodges, which brought marriage equality nationwide. pic.twitter.com/ahmO51z3mX
— GLAAD (@glaad) September 7, 2018
Later, Senator Cory Booker asked if it should be legal to fire someone just because they are LGBTQ, saying: “Do we have a legal right to fire somebody just because they’re gay, in your opinion?”
Once again, Kavanaugh declined to answer directly.
Kavanaugh refused to respond to @SenBooker when asked if it should be legal to fire someone just because they are LGBTQ. pic.twitter.com/j4un4GP36y
— GLAAD (@glaad) September 7, 2018
Senator Booker continued to raise questions around Kavanaugh’s previous support for an amendment that would ban marriage for gay and lesbian couples when he served in the Bush Administration.
“Judge Kavanaugh refuses to answer simple questions on the dignity of LGBTQ Americans and is unfit to serve on the Supreme Court,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “With the world watching, Kavanaugh refused to tell LGBTQ Americans that we deserve equal protections under the law and Congress should take action before appointing him to a lifetime position where he will no doubt work to undermine our basic rights to liberty and justice.”
If confirmed, Kavanaugh could carry out the expressed views of President Trump, who as a candidate stated that he disagreed with the Supreme Court’s gay marriage ruling in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges and said he would “strongly consider” appointing judges who would overturn the decision.
A Supreme Court appointment is a lifetime one, and the impact of Kavanaugh’s confirmation could be felt for decades. Judge Kavanaugh has demonstrated that he doesn’t care about LGBTQ interests, and the stakes are just too high.
Get involved: Contact your Senator. Ask them to oppose Kavanaugh’s confirmation at the Amp Your Voice Action Center.
www.glaad.org/blog/we-asked-judge-kavanaugh-refused-answer
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