Loretta Lynch, Obama Attorney General Nomination Gets LGBT Approval - NewsRescue.com

Gerald Farinas

When U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced his resignation, progressive advocates praised his efforts to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights. The same organizations are welcoming news that President Barack Obama has nominated Brooklyn prosecutor Loretta Lynch as Holder’s successor.

If she is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Lynch, 55, would be the first woman of color—specifically, the first black woman—to become attorney general. She would be the second woman since Janet Reno to hold the office. She would hold the position until 2017, when the next presidential administration takes over.

Human Right Campaign—the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy organization—spoke favorably of the president’s appointment. Chad Griffin is president of the Washington, D.C.-based group.

“Loretta Lynch will have big shoes to fill thanks to the incredible leadership of outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder and his unprecedented commitment to LGBT equality,” he said. “Based on her strong record on civil and human rights as a U.S. Attorney, we have no doubt she will continue that leadership as attorney general. We look forward to working with her to ensure equal justice under the law for all LGBT Americans.”

Read full: http://chicagophoenix.com/2014/11/07/loretta-lynch-attorney-general-nomination-gets-lgbt-approval/