Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed three of President Obama's federal judicial nominees. Two of them are gay African Americans. And as the Huffington Post reports, their confirmation was historic:

The Senate made history on Tuesday with its vote to confirm Darrin Gayles to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Gayles, who was confirmed 98-0, is the nation's first openly gay African-American man to be confirmed to the federal bench. His vote came just after the Senate confirmed Staci Yandle to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, by a vote of 52-44. She marks some milestones of her own as the first black lesbian federal judge in two decades and the second one in the nation's history. The first, Judge Deborah Batts, was sworn in during June 1994. "Never before in the course of the history of our state has there been an Article III federal judge who is openly a member of the LGBT community," Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said ahead of Yandle's vote. "In short, Staci Yandle's confirmation marks another important milestone in America's journey toward equality of opportunity."

The third nominee confirmed today, Salvador Mendoza, will be the first Hispanic judge to serve in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.

The White House notes that with today's confirmations, President Obama has appointed more female judges than any other President, and more Hispanic judges as well -- breaking the records previously held by Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush, respectively. And today was also the first time the Senate has ever confirmed two openly gay judges on the same day.

Sharon Lettman-Hicks, the executive director and CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition, applauded today's news in a press release:

"I am thrilled that the Senate has confirmed Attorney Yandle and Judge Gayles to the federal bench. NBJC celebrates both confirmations that will inspire so many in the Black and LGBT communities. In addition, we celebrate the vast life experiences that they will take with them to the federal bench as they work to render impartial decisions. It's a significant sign of progress in our nation when two individuals are judged solely on their merits when being considered for these important lifetime appointments."

Congratulations go to these LGBT trailblazers, and thanks to President Obama for his commitment to building a federal judiciary that more accurately reflects our country's fabulous diversity.