Via Courage

"[A] gay judge's sexual preference will, without any question whatsoever, 'interfere with their job.' It's not possible for it to be otherwise... We simply should not elevate to the highest court in the land people who are known for engaging in sexually abnormal behavior which would technically make them felons in a quarter of the states over which they will have jurisdiction." -- Bryan Fischer, American Family Association

Dear Daniel --

Disqualified.

That's what the American Family Association and Focus on the Family -- both right-wing religious organizations -- think of gays and lesbians potentially serving on the Supreme Court following the retirement of venerable liberal Justice John Paul Stevens.

Their outrageous position is that gays and lesbians are "sinners" and since character is a consideration in approving judges, they should be automatically disqualified.

Sexual orientation should NOT be a factor in the appointment of a Supreme Court justice. Period.

With Focus on the Family, the American Family Association and the rest of the religious right firing up their massive lobbying machine, we need you to make your voice heard right now. Sign our letter to President Obama ASAP:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/NotAFactor

Last year, we thought that Focus on the Family -- the leading organization lobbying on behalf of the religious right -- might be turning over a page when they said being LGBT should not automatically disqualify someone from serving on the Supreme Court.

But now Focus on the Family wants a "do over" because they still think gays and lesbians are unfit immoral sinners. Check out their latest statement:

"To be honest, this is one of those conversations we'd like to 'do over.' We can assure you that we recognize that homosexual behavior is a sin and does not reflect God's created intent and desire for humanity. Further, we at Focus do affirm that character and moral rectitude should be key considerations in appointing members of the judiciary, especially in the case of the highest court in the land."

This truly scandalous attempt to marginalize and dehumanize LGBT people, shared by countless others in this country, is exactly why we need legislation like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. And it is exactly why we need to draw attention to this discrimination.

It's time to take a stand and say no to discrimination, especially on the highest court in the land. Sign our letter to President Obama and invite your friends to join you now:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/NotAFactor

In the coming years, the Supreme Court will adjudicate several historic cases, including Perry v. Schwarzenegger -- the Prop 8 case that will soon be decided in federal district court.

That's why it is so important that President Obama -- no matter the sexual orientation of his nominee -- gets this decision right.

Thanks for all you do in the name of equality.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign

The Courage Campaign is a multi-issue online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country.

To show your support for this critical campaign, please chip in what you can today: