Chicago Tribune columnist Dawn Turner Trice reported July 25 that U.S. Supreme Court nominee John Roberts Jr. attended the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., alongside Paris Barclay, the openly gay, African-American, award-winning TV and film director. Barclay grew up in south suburban Harvey, and he and his brother were recruited when La Lumiere was looking to diversify: ' [ School representatives ] got a list of names from my school's football coach. They came out to our home in Harvey. They asked my brother and me if we'd like to attend this exclusive prep school in Indiana. I thought: bad idea. But it turned out to be the best thing I could have done.'
Of their time in school together, Paris told Trice: 'One of our most outstanding performances was the play, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I was Snoopy. My brother played Charlie Brown and John Roberts was Peppermint Patty.'
Roberts graduated from La Lumiere No. 1 in his class in 1973 and went to Harvard. Barclay graduated No. 1 in 1974 and also went to Harvard. Barclay is a two-time Emmy Award-winning TV director ( among shows he's been involved with are NYPD Blue, City of Angels, West Wing, ER, and he's co-executive producer of Cold Case—which has had some amazing pro-gay plotlines ) .
Roberts is being attacked by pro-choice progressives who fear his conservative views. He is seen as a strict interpreter of the constitution—which is one way the right wing tries to justify not expanding civil rights.