Roberts Donated Help to Gay Rights Case In 1996, activists won a landmark anti-bias ruling with the aid of the high court nominee. By Richard A. Serrano Times Staff Writer August 4, 2005 WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. worked behind the scenes for gay rights activists, and his legal expertise helped them persuade the Supreme Court to issue a landmark 1996 ruling protecting people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation. Then a lawyer specializing in appellate work, the conservative Roberts helped represent the gay rights activists as part of his law firm's pro bono work....