Trump nominated anti-gay federal judge is confirmed
A Trump-Pence-nominated federal judge has been confirmed, despite an appalling record on LGBT issues.
L Steve Grasz has been confirmed for the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals despite comparing gay people to paedophiles and opposing same-sex adoption.
Grasz was confirmed for a lifetime judicial appointment for the 8th Circuit with 50 votes to 48.
The Human Rights Campaign condemned the confirmation.
HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy said: “We are deeply disappointed that Senate Republicans have voted to confirm a nominee who is clearly unfit to serve as a federal judge.
“Grasz’s confirmation is in line with the Trump-Pence administration’s alarming trend of advancing under-qualified nominees with terrible anti-equality records. This radical ideological transformation of our justice system will lead to long-term, harmful consequences that will live well beyond the Trump-Pence administration.”
Previously Grasz served on the board of a nonprofit which backed LGBT conversion therapy on minors.
He has since refused to clarify his own views on the controversial and universally outlawed practice.
The judge has also attacked sexual orientation protections saying they would open the door to legal protection for child abusers.
Mike Pence
Grasz has also lobbied against same-sex marriage in Nebraska and abroad as well as arguing against same-sex adoption rights.
He opposed allowing same-sex couples to adopt.
The HRC calls for the American Bar Association to deem him unfit to serve for the 8th Circuit.
