SPLC statement on nomination of Jeff Mateer to federal judgeship

September 21, 2017 - The following statement is from David Dinielli, deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, on President Trump's nomination of Jeff Mateer to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas:

"President Trump has once again demonstrated his complete disregard for the LGBT community by nominating a person to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas who opposes LGBT rights and dignity. The nominee's past statements prove that he cannot and will not rule fairly on issues affecting the LGBT community.

"Jeff Mateer has demonized the most vulnerable members of our community and expressed support for conversion therapy – the dangerous, fraudulent, discredited and inhumane practice that purports to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

"There is no place on our federal bench for people who harbor this sort of extreme and dangerous bias."