Last month, Melissa DuBose and Nicole Berner achieved a significant breakthrough for the LGBTQ+ community as their judicial appointments were confirmed by the Senate.

DuBose, now a federal judge in Rhode Island, made history as the state's first woman of color and openly LGBTQ+ judge in its district court. She had previously served as a state court judge since 2019.

Meanwhile, Berner's confirmation to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals marked her as the first LGBTQ+ judge on the court. Notably, the Fourth Circuit, once known as a conservative bastion, has evolved into one of the most liberal courts in the country, particularly noted for its 2022 ruling recognizing gender dysphoria as a protected disability.

The Fourth Circuit, situated in Richmond, Virginia, has jurisdiction over Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Before her confirmation, Berner worked as a union lawyer and attorney at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Both Berner and DuBose are proud mothers. DuBose is married with two sons, while Berner is the stepmother to her wife’s son and made history in 2000 by successfully suing the Israeli government for recognition as the first gay couple parents in Israel.

These confirmations underscore a significant milestone for the Biden administration, with eleven LGBTQ+ federal judges confirmed since his inauguration, tying the record set by former President Obama. Notably, President Biden achieved this milestone in just one term, whereas it took Obama two terms to reach the same number.

In earlier appointments, Biden nominated Judge Beth Robinson in 2021, making her the first openly gay woman to serve on a U.S. appeals court. Additionally, in 2022, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman to ascend to the Supreme Court.