Outcomebuffalo.com lists the reactions of some of today’s big names in the gay rights movement to Bush’s nomination of Judge John Roberts Jr. to replace United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman:

“President Bush’s announcement that he is nominating U.S. Court of Appeals Judge John Roberts to the Supreme Court of the United States gives us great pause, particularly in light of Roberts’ role in the Counsel’s office of President Reagan and the Solicitor General’s office of President George H.W. Bush.

“In exercising its constitutional ‘advise and consent’ function, the Senate must take the time necessary to thoroughly review and evaluate Roberts’ commitment to individual rights and equal justice under the law, including his record and thinking about civil rights, the right to privacy and the reach of Congressional power under the Constitution.

“We especially call upon our allies in the Senate to determine whether Judge Roberts subscribes to the holdings of Romer v. Evans and Lawrence v. Texas, among other cases, and will affirm that the civil rights and privacy rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans are protected by the Constitution.

“And only if Judge Roberts meets these critical standards of qualification, judicial philosophy, fairness, independence and a dedication to protecting the rights of all under the Constitution, should the Senate vote to confirm his nomination to the court.”

Jo Wyrick, Deputy Director, National Stonewall Democrats:

“The nomination of any individual to the United States Supreme Court is a serious matter that requires a thorough and thoughtful review. Both the nominee, and the nation, deserves a confirmation process that is fair and free from partisan politics.

A nominee to the United States Supreme Court should be expected to uphold the Constitution and individual liberties. Our republic requires a nominee to be held to the highest ethical standards, and not be bound to narrow special interests and ideology. Therefore, we urge the United States Senate to fulfill its constitutional role and provide the American public with the best information on the record of Judge John Roberts, Jr. through a thorough judicial investigation.

An individual given a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court will affect the lives of millions of Americans for generations to come. Senate hearings into a nominee’s record will help prevent the American public from unfairly prejudging a nominee based on personality alone. National Stonewall Democrats looks forward to further review of the record of Judge Roberts.”

Patrick Guerriero, President, Log Cabin Republicans:

“Log Cabin looks forward to a thorough and thoughtful review of Judge Roberts’ nomination to the United States Supreme Court. Recognizing the importance and impact of the Supreme Court, we support the confirmation of all fair-minded jurists to the bench. Log Cabin will carefully study the record, writings, and testimony of Judge Roberts during this confirmation process, particularly as they relate to questions of basic fairness gay and lesbian Americans.”

Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart:

“In nominating Judge John G. Roberts to replace Justice O’Connor on the Supreme Court President Bush has just about guaranteed that divisiveness will continue to reign in the judicial nomination process. Some have suggested that Judge Roberts is well-liked, but with all due respect, we need to know if he will stand up for the rights of all Americans not whether some people think he’s a nice guy.

While we are continuing our review of Judge Roberts, we already know that we have reasons for serious concern. There are a number of issues that are important in determining whether a nominee will respect the rights of all Americans. Judge Roberts’ track record on reproductive freedom, privacy and federalism (respect for Congress’ power to enact important statutes like civil rights laws) merits particular scrutiny.

We’ll be using our more than 30 years of litigation experience to study Judge Roberts’ record and decide whether we believe he will, if confirmed, carry out his responsibilities in a fair-minded and thoughtful manner that respects the basic individual rights of all Americans. For us, the fundamental question is whether this nominee’s commitment is to protecting those rights, or advancing a hardened extremist agenda.

In the weeks ahead the U.S. Senate has the responsibility of closely scrutinizing this nomination and asking tough questions of this nominee. The burden is on Judge Roberts to demonstrate that he is qualified to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Lambda Legal looks forward to playing an important role in that process.”

More reading: LGBT groups alarmed by Bush Supreme Court pick

Abortion is definitely THE hot issue in Robert’s nomination and where the spotlight is presently focused. Click here for some of the comments Roberts has made regarding abortion in the past and here to contact your Senators and demand their opposition to John G. Roberts.