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First Out Lesbian Latina Confirmed to Federal Judgeship

First Out Lesbian Latina Confirmed to Federal Judgeship

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The Senate confirmed Nitza Quinones Alejandro to a seat on a federal district court in Pennsylvania.

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The U.S. Senate today confirmed Nitza Quinones Alejandro to a federal judgeship, making her the first openly gay Latina to hold such a post.

She was confirmed by voice vote to a spot on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, along with fellow nominee Jeffrey Schmehl, the Washington Blade reports. She has served on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas since 1991.

"A Puerto Rico native, Quinones breaks a glass ceiling as the first openly LGBT Hispanic to serve on the federal bench," the Blade reports. "Additionally, she's the seventh openly LGBT person ever to receive confirmation as a federal judge."

President Obama first nominated Quinones to the federal judgeship in November and renominated her in January. At this afternoon's White House LGBT Pride Month Reception, he congratulated her, "even though she couldn't be here today, because she's getting ready to finally take her seat on the bench and get to work," he said.

Human Rights Campaign spokesman Michael Cole-Schwartz commented favorably on Quinones's confirmation, telling the Blade, "We are very pleased to see yet another highly qualified, openly LGBT nominee confirmed to the federal bench -- particularly a woman of color who helps reflect the diversity of the American people in the judiciary."

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Trudy Ring

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.