“For
decades, the Supreme Court has recognized the fundamental equality of
LGBT people under the law. The Court’s landmark decisions in cases such
as Romer, Lawrence, and Obergefell are deeply
rooted in the Court’s jurisprudence and have been relied upon by
millions of LGBT people and others. Any backtracking on those precedents
would be unthinkable.
At
the same time, the potential for decisions that cause lasting harm to
LGBT people and their families is real as new issues and cases come
before the Court. We urge the Senate to explore these issues carefully
and to ensure that any person who sits on our nation’s highest court
understands the realities facing LGBT communities and others for whom
our Constitution’s promise of freedom and equality is not yet fully
realized. To date, there is nothing in Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s record to
indicate that he understands
the real-world impact of discrimination on LGBT people or the
importance of construing our nation’s laws to enable them to participate
fully and equally in society. The Supreme Court must be a court for
all, not just for the privileged few.
It
is sobering that a president who has shown disregard for many of our
nation’s most cherished rights and freedoms has an opportunity to
appoint a second justice to the Supreme Court. This moment is a wake-up
call to LGBT people and others about the critical importance of
elections and the need to vote this November.”