Obama Wants This Homosexual To Be America’s First Out Federal Judge
Up for a federal judgeship in Manhattan is J. Paul Oetken, who, along with Edward C. DuMont, is now just one of two openly gay men nominated by President Obama and awaiting Senate confirmation. He is 45. He Is a Yale Law grad. He was suggested to the White House by New York’s Sen. Chuck Schumer. He worked in the Clinton administration’s legal department. He is general counsel for Cablevision. And I want to stick his bald head in oil and rub it all over my body. [NYT]
Judge Walker was not openly gay when he was appointed to the court. In fact, while he was generally known to be gay within San Fran legal circles, he was not publicly outed until the Proposition 8 trial. So these two men would be the first openly gay appointments.
Incidently, Professor Kenneth Miller, one of the two witnesses who testified in support of proposition 8, is widely suspected of being gay.
· Flag
Also, as far as I know, Walker has NEVER publicly acknowledged his sexual orientation. If we called someone “OUT” just because the press has reported rumors, then Ricky Martin’s been “OUT” for years, along with John Travolta, Lindsey Graham, David Drier, Condolezza Rice, etc. That’s not “OUT” to me.
· Flag
@redmont:
Judge Walker was closeted when he was appointed, hence the reporter’s contention that Oetkin would be the first “out” federal judge.
That said, you’re correct insofar as the reporter is wrong.
Judge Deborah Batts was the first openly gay federal judge, nominated by President Clinton.
[img]http://www.thehistorymakers.com/bio_images/1193873559.jpg[/img]
· Flag
People are kind of splitting hairs here. The New York Times article says that Oetken and DuMont would be the first openly gay men appointed to the federal courts; this is a pretty cool thing. Surely in the history of the United States there have been homosexual judges who have served but their sexuality was not publicly acknowledged.
Similarly there have been gay Senators, some even serving currently, but an openly gay Senator has yet to be elected.
· Flag
Um, I thought Vaughn Walker was originally appointed by Ronald Reagan and, after that failed, by George H. W. Bush. I mean, he’s definitely a federal judge and he’s also definitely gay. Queerty, do your homework please. Lazy reporting is embarrassing.