Minnesota Independent » sharon lubinski

Klobuchar, Lubinski to headline Justice Department Pride event

Andy Birkey — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:30:33 +0000

Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Marshal Sharon Lubinski will headline a LGBT Pride event for Department of Justice employees on June 21. Lubinksi was sworn in as the U.S. Marshal for Minnesota and is widely believed to be the first lesbian in history to hold that post. Under John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales, the DoJ was prohibited from allowing LGBT groups to hold events in the department, even going so far as barring them from using the department’s email. That policy was reversed in the final year of President Bush’s second term.

The event, called “Serving Openly, With Pride,” will also feature Attorney General Eric Holder, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Tom Perez and Jenny Durkan, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington.

Founded in 1994, DOJ Pride “serves as the recognized organization for all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) employees working in the Department of Justice’s offices, boards and divisions.”

‘Punk’ ministry head Dean: Marshal appointment illegal because Lubinski’s a lesbian

Paul Schmelzer — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:00:31 +0000

Bradlee Dean

“Homosexuality is against the law in the United States,” says Bradlee Dean, the head of the “punk rock” ministry You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, which brings its overtly religious message to public schools at taxpayer expense. Therefore, he concludes, the appointment by Barack Obama of Minneapolis’ Sharon Lubinski, a lesbian, as a U.S. Marshal is illegal.

On his radio show on AM 1280 The Patriot on Saturday, Dean said, “Sodomy is against the law in the United States. Homosexuality is against the law in the United States.”

“…But, what did Obama do and Amy Klobuchar do? They nominated Sharon Lubinski to the U.S. Marshal in the state of Minnesota,” he continued. “Not only is she the first woman, but she is the first lesbian to serve in such a position. Again folks, this is against the law.”

A bit later, he chides Gov. Tim Pawlenty for not stopping the Lubinski appointment:

“Why are these laws not being enforced? Why was a lesbian just nominated for the U.S. Marshal nominated for the U.S. Marshal on your watch? Don’t sit there and tell me you don’t have any power to do anything about it. You have all the power to do something about it.”

Dean’s ministry has plenty of political support from big names in Pawlenty’s party. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann has been involved in You Can Run fundraising efforts, and GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer was among attendees at the group’s most recent fundraiser. Congressional candidate Allen Quist and Republican Mary Kiffmeyer, former secretary of state, are among the organization’s backers.

Lubinski, sworn in Friday, is widely believed to be the first openly lesbian Marshal in U.S. history.

Listen:

Lubinski becomes first gay U.S. Marshal

Chris Steller — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:05:25 +0000

Sharon Lubinski was set to be sworn in as U.S. Marshal Friday morning in Minneapolis.

The Minneapolis assistant police chief was recommended by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar last year, then nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate.

Lubinski is widely regarded as the first lesbian to hold the position. She will serve in the District of Minnesota.

U.S. marshals oversee federal courthouse security, witness protection, the apprehension of federal fugitives and the transport of federal prisoners.

Senate approves Lubinski, nation’s first gay U.S. Marshal

Andy Birkey — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:20:48 +0000

Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced on Monday that the United States Senate has confirmed Minneapolis Police Department Assistant Police Chief Sharon Lubinski as the nation’s newest United States Marshal. Lubinski is widely considered to be the first lesbian to hold that post and one of only a handful of women in history to serve as a Marshal.

Klobuchar made the recommendation earlier this year to President Obama, who nominated Lubinski.

“Sharon Lubinksi will be an excellent U.S. Marshal. It was a pleasure to recommend her to the President, and I was honored to vote for her,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “Her mix of experience managing a large, urban police department and working in a rural sheriff’s office makes her uniquely qualified for this position. I know she will make Minnesota proud as she serves in this role.”

Will Minnesota have the first gay U.S. Marshal?

Andy Birkey — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:43:03 +0000

Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Monday recommeded the nomination of the Minneapolis Police Department’s assistant chief, Sharon Lubinski, for the post of U.S. Marshal for Minnesota. Lubinski is openly lesbian and has served in law enforcement for more than 30 years.

Lubinski is one of the highest ranking LGBT members of law enforcement in the country and would be one of the first — if not the first — openly gay U.S. Marshal. The U.S. Marshals Service is charged with protecting the 94 United States District Courts. Lubinski would be in charge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

Klobuchar said of Lubinski:

Sharon Lubinski’s mix of experience managing a large, urban police department and working in a more rural sheriff’s office sets her apart and makes her uniquely qualified to serve in this new role. During my eight years as Hennepin County Attorney, I had the opportunity to work with Sharon on an almost daily basis. I observed firsthand the strength of her leadership abilities and the respect she commands from people at every level of law enforcement and in the larger community.

If President Obama takes Klobuchar’s recommendation (and with one Minnesota senator, it’s the highest recommendation he’s likely to see), Lubinski would be among the more than 35 appointments and nominations of LGBT people that Obama has made this year.

Lubinski would also be the second female U.S. Marshal currently serving in that capacity and would be the 13th female Marshal in U.S. history.

If the president nominates Lubinski, she would go to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.