CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION
HRC opposes the nomination of Jay Bybee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Bybee's record shows a lack of respect for Supreme Court precedent on the constitutional rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, and he has characterized sexual orientation-inclusive civil rights laws as "preferences" for "homosexuals." Bybee helped drafted a brief for the Justice Department regarding security clearance for gays and lesbians working in defense-related jobs. The Department of Defense labeled homosexuality "deviant sexual conduct" and lumped it together with "bestiality, fetishism, exhibitionism, necrophilia, nymphomania or satyriasis, masochism, sadism, pedophilia, transvestism, and voyeurism."
In addition, Bybee exhibited further disregard for civil rights protections with his critical views regarding a court ruling in Bob Jones University v. United States, which stated that the IRS could deny tax-exempt status to a university that banned interracial dating.
For further background on Jay Bybee, click here.
On Feb. 27, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-6 to approve Bybee's nomination. If your senator sits on the Judiciary Committee, please see how he or she voted in the list below.
Voting to approve were: Sens. Chambliss (R-GA), Cornyn (R-TX), Craig (R-ID), DeWine (R-OH), Graham (R-SC), Grassley (IA), Hatch (R-UT), Kohl (D-WI), Kyl (R-AZ), Schumer (D-NY), Sessions (R-AL), and Specter (R-PA).
Voting "NO" were Sens. Biden (D-Delaware), Durbin (D-IL), Edwards (D-NC), Feingold (D-WI), Feinstein (D-CA), and Kennedy (D-MA).
Senator Leahy (D-VT) voted "present/pass."
* If you have not already contacted your senator, please send a free fax to your senator IMMEDIATELY by clicking on the "take action" button above. Urge him or her to oppose the nomination of Jay Bybee.
* For residents of New York, Vermont and Wisconsin: Please send your fax AND specifically call your Senator:
Schumer-NY 202/224-6542
Leahy-VT 202/224-4242
Kohl-WI
202/224-5653
Tell your senator, in a respectful and pleasant manner, that you are very concerned about Bybee's record on civil rights issues and you urge him to vote "NO" in a full floor vote.
Thank you for being a member of HRC's action network and for taking this important step towards equality.
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