"It's About Equal Rights..."

The President of the United States - Barack H. Obama
"The Man In The Mirror"
Taken January 21, 2009

Despite many who say that President Obama has failed in his promise to a be "Strong Advocate" for GLBT rights, his administrations continues to achieve milestones undreamed of just a few years ago. To my mind, although impatience over the slow pace of dealing with DADT and DOMA is warranted, the president has proven his committment many times, most recently by supporting an inclusive ENDA and his Hospital Visitation Rights rulemaking. Now the president is again raising the bar and proving his support for GLBT equality with the nomination of openly gay Jurist Edward DuMont, to the Federal Appeals Court in Washington DC.

According to Keen News Service, the U.S. Court of Appeals has 16 judges and hears cases involving government contracts, patents, trademarks, customs issues, and veterans’ benefits. It is the only federal appeals court with national jurisdiction.

DuMont himself is a dream nominee who will represent us extremely well as a model of inclusiveness. He is a member of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Attorneys of Washington (GAYLAW) and a former member of the National LGBT Bar Association. While at the Department of Justice, he was a member of DOJ Pride, the GLBT employee organization and served as its vice president between 1994 and 1996. He is also a member of Yale GALA.

DuMont’s partner of the past 13 years is Dr. Newton Kendig, a Commissioned Medical Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service in charge of health services for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

DuMont earned the highest rating from the American Bar Association - "Unanimously Well Qualified." He has argued 18 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and he has had experience in cases involving computer crime and privacy, international treaties, and foreign corporations.

For more details read: Openly Gay Man Nominated to Fed Appeals Court

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"A life lived in fear is a life half-lived..."