WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign sent a letter to Senate members Monday urging members to vote no on the cloture motion in the nomination of Judge Leslie Southwick to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. Southwick has a disturbing record on equal rights, having participated in a decision removing an 8-year-old child from the biological mother due in part to the mother's sexual orientation. This motion, if passed, would place Southwick one step closer to a lifetime position on the federal bench.

"During his tenure on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, Judge Southwick participated in a custody case involving a lesbian mother," said Allison Herwitt, Legislative Director for the Human Rights Campaign. "The majority decision, which Southwick joined, took an eight-year-old child from the mother, citing in part that the mother had a 'lesbian home.' The opinion further denigrates what it calls the 'homosexual lifestyle' and the 'lesbian lifestyle.'"

A copy of the full letter is available on the HRC blog: http://www.hrcbackstory.org.

On Monday, the Human Rights Campaign issued a nationwide Action Alert to its 700,000 members and supporters. To read the action alert visit: http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/southwick-2

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.