Tonight’s Senate vote to confirm Senator Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General marks a profoundly sad day for justice in our country

GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) Executive Director Janson Wu issued the following statement on today’s confirmation of Senator Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General: “Tonight’s Senate vote to confirm Senator Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General marks a profoundly sad day for justice in our country. It is the duty of the Attorney General to rigorously protect and defend the civil rights of all Americans. Senator Sessions’ past actions, voting record, and public comments, particularly regarding communities of color, LGBTQ people, women, immigrants, and those with disabilities offer little assurance that he is suited to uphold that critical responsibility. It is our hope that, now confirmed, AG Sessions will recognize the magnitude of his obligation to all Americans, and will seek to carry out the duties of his office accordingly. But our Constitution’s guarantees of liberty and equality apply regardless of who holds that office. As advocates for LGBTQ Americans and Americans living with HIV, we stand ready to hold Attorney General Sessions accountable, and to defend those constitutional guarantees at every turn.”