Several key GOP senators say they’d consider confirming a Supreme Court nominee who is openly gay, according to The Hill newspaper.  

“I’m not inclined to think that’s an automatic disqualification,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions (pictured), the Alabama Republican who just became the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Republican senators Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaksa also agreed sexual orientation would play no role in whether they would vote to confirm President Obama’s nominee.

But some of Sessions’ colleagues seemed caught off guard by the question, The Hill reported:

“It’s something I’d have to think through with respect to whatever issues might be forthcoming that the court may have to consider,” said Sen. Saxby Chambliss (Ga.).

“I have never, frankly, thought about that situation,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the GOP standard-bearer in the 2008 presidential election.  

“I’ve never thought about it,” said Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.). “But I don’t look at things through that lens in regards to the type of position we’re talking about.”

GayPolitics last week raised the possibility of an out Supreme Court justice when we pointed out that at least one potential nominee on several media lists was openly lesbian.

Today the New York Times, in an article about several LGBT issues facing the Obama administration, cited the possibility of an openly gay justice:

Mr. Obama…is under pressure to engage on a variety of gay issues that are coming to the fore amid a dizzying pace of social, political, legal and legislative change.

Two of Mr. Obama’s potential Supreme Court nominees are openly gay; some advocates, irked that there are no gay men or lesbians in his cabinet, are mounting a campaign to influence his choice to replace Justice David H. Souter, who is retiring.

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, denied the organization is engaged in a pressure campaign.  ”It’s important to point out that 106 of the 110 justices that have served on the Court have been straight, white men.  All we’re saying is that maybe it’s time we look around and consider nominating someone with different life experiences and different perspectives,” Wolfe said.