The U.S. Justice Department’s civil rights division has hired a veteran Senate staffer and gay rights activist Matt Nosanchuk as senior counselor and liaison to the gay and lesbian community.
The announcement comes on the heels of yesterday’s move by the DOJ to dismiss a federal suit arguing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is discriminatory, and President Obama’s statement that the act should be repealed.
This latest announcement is among efforts by the Obama administration to temper growing impatience and displeasure among the LGBT community with how the White House is handling issues important to them.
Nosanchuk once worked for the DOJ’s Office of Policy Development, and advised Obama’s presidential campaign on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.
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Department of Justice spokesperson Alejandro Miyar issued the following statement on Nosanchuk:
“Matt Nosanchuk joined the Civil Rights Division earlier this summer as a Senior Counselor. He brings extensive experience as a civil rights attorney from his time in Congress, as well as work in the non-profit and private sectors. Among his primary duties, Matt will help manage the Division’s Criminal Section and pursue key policy priorities. He will represent the Division in many capacities, including work with Congress and the LGBT community. He returns to the Justice Department after having been a career attorney in the Office of Policy Development during the Clinton Administration.”
