WASHINGTON, D.C., June 18, 2024 – In celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Alliance for Justice announces the release of a special report, The Faces of Justice Volume 3: LGBTQ+ State Supreme Court Justices. This report is the third installment in a series dedicated to showcasing the important role of diversity in the justice system.
Only 12 state supreme courts have ever had an openly LGBTQ+ justice, none of whom have identified as bisexual or transgender. The first was appointed a mere 21 years ago. Notably, however, several of those states have had multiple justices from the LGBTQ+ community, including Oregon (three), Massachusetts (three), Hawaii (two), Washington (two), New York (two), and California (two). The report highlights all of these trailblazers who have served openly over the past two decades.
The report also highlights how quickly the legal landscape has changed for LGBTQ+ people over the last century and is still very tumultuous to this day, especially for the trans community. In recent weeks, for example, several federal judges across the country have ruled against the Biden administration’s trans-inclusive Title IX guidance. This volatile landscape of historic and ongoing discrimination helps explain why 38 states have never had an openly LGBTQ+ justice and the challenges faced in the legal pipeline for members of this community.
Alliance for Justice Vice President of Strategy Keith Thirion issued the following statement:
“Pride month is not only a celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, but also a rejection of shame for living authentically. If our legal system is not a place where judges can serve openly, it won’t be a system we trust to treat us equally. We know from recent history both the harm and the progress that the courts can provide to the LGBTQ+ community. As we celebrate Pride amidst waves of attacks on our rights, we must highlight the progress we’ve made and demand the progress we deserve. LGBTQ+ people exist everywhere and should be represented everywhere, including on our state courts.”
Click here to read The Faces of Justice Volume 3: LGBTQ+ State Supreme Court Justices.