On Thursday, the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Alison Nathan to serve as a federal judge in New York.

Nathan becomes the second out lesbian federal judge in the country. Deborah Batts became the nation's first openly gay and African-American federal judge in 1994. In July, the Senate approved the nomination of federal district judge Paul Oetken, who is openly gay. Both also serve in New York.

Nathan was confirmed with a narrow 48-44 vote and no support from Republican members.

She was nominated by President Barack Obama in March and the Senate Judiciary Committee vetted Nathan during a June hearing.

“The president welcomes the confirmation of Alison Nathan,” White House spokesman Shin Inouye told gay weekly Metro Weekly. “She will serve the American people well from the District Court bench.”

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions railed against the nominee during comments which lasted more than 18 minutes. Sessions called Nathan a potential “activist judge.”

Nathan and her partner Meg Satterthwaite are raising twin sons Oliver and Nathan in New York.