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Chief Justice Roberts' lesbian cousin to attend gay marriage hearing

By Kristen Butler, UPI.com
U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts. (File/UPI Photo/Yuri Gripas)
U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts. (File/UPI Photo/Yuri Gripas) | License Photo

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday on California's Proposition 8, which aims to ban gay marriage. In audience seating reserved for family and guests of Chief Justice John Roberts will be Jean Podrasky and her partner of four years.

Podrasky, 48, lives in San Francisco and says she sees Roberts on family occasions. She told the Los Angeles Times that Roberts is aware she is a lesbian and introduced her along with other relatives at his Senate confirmation hearing.

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Roberts is a conservative appointed by George W. Bush in 2005. Podrasky is more liberal, but said she still rooted for his confirmation because "he is family." She hopes to introduce him to her partner, Grace Fasano, during their visit to Washington this week.

Podrasky says she has no personal knowledge of her cousin's position on the issue, but believes the court will overturn Proposition 8.

“He is a smart man. He is a good man. I believe he sees where the tide is going. I do trust him. I absolutely trust that he will go in a good direction.”

The San Francisco-based National Center for Lesbian Rights invited Podrasky to write a guest column about being related to the chief justice.

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“Everyone in this country has a family member who is part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community…,” she wrote. “As a Californian, I want nothing more than to marry my wonderful girlfriend. And as a tax-paying citizen, I seek basic fairness.”

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