Stay Well, RBG! Gorsuch Confirmation Alarms Pro-Choice, LGBT Groups

After Democrats filibustered President Trumps nomination of Neil Gorsuch and then Republicans broke the Filibusters by ‘going nuclear” and changing the Senate rules, the judge, widely expected to be very far right-wing on abortion and gay rights, was confirmed to the court today.

Pro-choice groups (including Jewish ones) are expressing dismay in press releases and on social media, rightly perceiving that a court with Gorsuch on it will be a threat to Roe v. Wade. Groups expressed anger that former President Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, was denied a confirmation process by the Senate.

“[Gorsuch] is the most far-right Supreme Court nominee in a generation, handpicked by Donald Trump to help fulfill his campaign promise of overturning Roe v. Wade, increasing the power of dark money in our elections, and ensuring powerful businesses can trample the rights of American workers and their families,” said Ilyse Hogue of NARAL, in a statement.

Stosh Cotler of Jewish social justice organization Bend the Arc, said, “This vote, which is yet another example of the Republican willingness to undermine critical democratic institutions in support of Donald Trump’s radical agenda, will mean new threats to workers’ rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights and the rights of all Americans.”

Here are some more reactions:

From Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards:

Women marched in January because they feared the worst. Today, those fears were confirmed along with Neil Gorsuch. #SCOTUS

— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) April 7, 2017

From the National Council of Jewish Women”

Gorsuch confirmed to #SCOTUS 54-45. He's #NotOurJustice. It's a sad day for the nation, but we fight on because #CourtsMatter.

— NCJW (@NCJW) April 7, 2017

From other women’s advocacy groups:

BREAKING: Senators just voted to confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. This was a vote against women—and we won't forget. pic.twitter.com/eXK1KhUT84

— NWLC (@nwlc) April 7, 2017

Retweet to say SHAME ON YOU to the 54 Senators who just voted to confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/rrIKmA9d2m

— UltraViolet (@UltraViolet) April 7, 2017

All this is to say: stay healthy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg!

Sarah M. Seltzer

Sarah Seltzer, former editor for Kveller, is a writer and editor in New York City. She is a journalist covering culture, activism and gender, most recently as Deputy Editor at culture website Flavorwire.com. Her print and online work has appeared in publications including Poets & Writers, The Forward, Lilith, The Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, The New York Times, Salon, The Nation, The Wall Street Journal, Jezebel, The Hairpin, Refinery29, The Toast, Rolling Stone, and many more. She is a graduate of Harvard University, where she edited The Crimson’s weekend magazine, as well as the MFA in writing program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her first baby, Mikey, is growing up way too fast and she can objectively report that he is very cute. You can follow her at @sarahmseltzer and reach her at sarah@kveller.com.