John Roberts’ lesbian cousin to attend gay marriage hearings
John Roberts speaks after becoming the new chief justice of the US Supreme Court during a swearing-in ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Sept. 29, 2005 in Washington, DC.
Jean Podrasky is one of many gays and lesbians attending this week's historic US Supreme Court hearings on same-sex marriage.
She also happens to be the first cousin of conservative Chief Justice John Roberts.
More from GlobalPost: US Supreme Court takes up gay marriage debate
Podrasky, 48, told the Los Angeles Times she hopes her cousin will overturn California's gay marriage ban so she can marry her longtime partner.
“He is a smart man,” she said of the justice appointed by George W. Bush. “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.”
Podraksy's girlfriend of four years, Grace Fasano, will be there too.
More from GlobalPost: Obama urges Supreme Court to overturn California's gay marriage ban
The high court will hear challenges to Proposition 8, California's voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, and to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a 1996 congressional law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.
While Podrasky only sees Roberts on family occasions, she told the Times he knows she is gay and invited her to attend his Senate confirmation hearing in 2005.
"Everyone in this country has a family member who is part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community," she wrote in a column for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. "And that includes Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts."
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