LGBT Pride Month: Judge Shares Coming Out Experience and Reflections on Diversity
June is LGBT Pride Month, which commemorates the accomplishments of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and the civil rights gains the community has made since 1969, the year that the Stonewall riots in New York City proved to be a tipping point for the LGBT movement in the United States.
In this edition of On Topic, U.S. Judge Elaine D. Kaplan shares her thoughts and observations as an openly gay member of the judiciary. Kaplan describes her experiences coming out in law school, discusses the importance of diversity on the federal bench, and shares reflections on her work to advance equal access to federal benefits.
Kaplan sits on the Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. She joined the court in late November 2013 after serving first as general counsel and then as acting director of the Office of Personnel Management. Earlier in her career, Kaplan headed the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, provided legal counsel to the National Treasury Employees Union and served in the Solicitor’s Office of the Department of Labor.
On Topic is an interview series that focuses on the events, programs and people shaping the federal judiciary. This edition of On Topic was recorded on June 1.
Learn about other heritage month celebrations.