GLAA Expresses "Grave Reservations" Over Nomination of Rigsby as Corporation Counsel
[Note: Shortly after this letter was finalized, Mr. Rigsby agreed to meet with GLAA on December 22 to discuss our concerns.]
Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington
P. O. Box 75265
Washington, D.C. 20013
(202)667-5139
December 13, 1999
The Honorable Linda Cropp
Chairman of the Council
441 4th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
Dear Linda:
I am writing to express our grave reservations over the nomination of Robert Rigsby as permanent Corporation Counsel. We ask that the Council not move further to confirm his nomination until we have had a chance to meet with Mr. Rigsby in person to discuss our concerns in detail.
Mr. Rigsby has been serving as Acting Corporation Counsel for the last five months. During that period, his office has done nothing towards fulfilling the Mayor’s repeated promises to the gay and lesbian community to settle the case won against the D.C. government by Mrs. Margie Hunter a year ago concerning the wrongful death of her child Tyra Hunter in August 1995. The office’s longstanding homophobia was also shamelessly on display in the recently-decided case brought by Justen Bennett-Maccubbin against two D.C. police officers after he was arrested and kept handcuffed to his assailant in a November 1996 incident. The deeply entrenched homophobia in the Corporation Counsel’s office must be confronted and rooted out once and for all, and we are not at all assured that Mr. Rigsby is the right person for the job.
Mayor Wllliams has encouraged us to give Mr. Rigsby a hearing, and we are hoping to meet with Mr. Rigsby in the immediate future. In the meantime, we ask that the Council not take any further action towards his confirmation. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Craig Howell
President
cc: All Councilmembers
Robert Rigsby
The Honorable Anthony A. Williams
