With the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a longtime adversary of LGBT Americans, President Obama has a vacancy to fill. Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate, the body that votes whether to confirm a president's high court nominees, are vowing to block any Obama appointment, saying they'd rather wait for the next president to select a justice — and they're hoping the next president will be a Republican. Democrats, however, are saying such a long wait would be unprecedented and potentially disastrous, and Obama has pledged to submit a nominee no matter what. So, Mr. President, how about considering a jurist who's lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender — or, like some already on the court, at least an ally?
See our recommendations in each category on the next pages.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
