FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2019
Contact: Alex Stack | 207-742-1433
Susan Collins Just Voted For Two More Anti-LGBTQ+ and Anti-Reproductive Health Judicial Nominees
Today, Susan Collins voted to confirm Allen Winsor and Greg Guidry to be U.S. district judges - both of whom have anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-reproductive health records. This comes after Senator Collins had already voted for 98 percent of Trump's nominees, including 32 anti-reproductive health nominees. Here is more information on the two most recent judicial nominees Collins just yesterday voted for:
- Allen Winsor
- Defended Florida’s prohibition on same-sex marriage - “Mr. Winsor defended Florida’s prohibition on same-sex marriage in many cases. In Brenner v. Scott, for example, he signed a brief arguing there was ‘a clear and essential connection between [heterosexual] marriage and responsible procreation and childrearing,’[4] and that heterosexual marriage is more likely to result in ‘stable and enduring family units’ than same-sex marriage.[5] The brief also asserted that ‘disrupting Florida’s existing marriage laws would impose significant public harm,’[6] an assertion that received significant criticism.[7]”
- Made it harder for women to obtain abortions by defending waiting periods - “Winsor also fought for a variety of other restrictions on liberty. For instance, either through litigation or amicus briefs, he: protected a medically unnecessary, burdensome waiting-period requirement before a woman can exercise her right to have an abortion"
- Opposed the Affordable Care Act’s contraception coverage requirement - “”Winsor also fought for a variety of other restrictions on liberty. For instance, either through litigation or amicus briefs, he: … opposed the Affordable Care Act’s contraception coverage requirement”
- Greg Guidry
- Opposed ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity - “When an executive order by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards ‘banning discrimination in state government and state contracts based on sexual orientation and gender identity’ was struck down in the courts, Guidry voted to reject an appeal, thus preventing the order from going into effect and protecting LGBTQ+ Louisianans. The Chief Justice of the Court dissented, writing that the order was ‘a rational policy choice that is consistent with the governor’s legal obligation to faithfully execute the Equal Protection Clause and the broad remedial purpose of both state and federal anti-discrimination statutes.’”
- Was championed by staunchly anti-choice organization - “In 2008, the staunchly anti-choice Family Research Council (FRC) endorsed just one judicial candidate nationwide: Greg Guidry, who was running for Louisiana Supreme Court at the time. A local newspaper reported that, ‘David Nammo, executive director of FRC Action, said he had several conversations with Guidry and that they considered Guidry's election crucial to the future of the Louisiana court.’”