Yearly Archives: 2009

Health reform: Gay provisions likely to be lost in conference

It’s still a little bit of a guessing game as to whether the U.S. Senate will pass a health care reform bill this month or next or never, but if and when it does, there’s little likelihood any pro-gay provisions

D.C. marriage bill heads for Congress

Though it was long-expected, the D.C. Council’s vote Tuesday to give final approval to a marriage equality law for Washington, D.C., came as a large relief to many LGBT civil rights supporters. The 11 to 2 vote came on the heels

Parker wins mayoral race in Houston

Annise Parker, an openly gay public official, won the final mayoral election race in Houston Saturday, December 12, becoming the first openly gay person to be elected as mayor of one of the top five most populated cities in the

Best seats in the White House

At least four prominent gays were on the guest list for the Obama White House’s first State Dinner, with India, November 24. Hollywood producer David Geffen attended with his partner Jeremy Lingvall; Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg attended with his

Every child deserves a family

U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) introduced a bill October 15 seeking to end discrimination against gays in adoption proceedings. The following are some excerpts from his remarks: “Currently, over 65,000 adopted children and 14,000 “foster children are living with a gay

Gay nominee passes committee hurdle

A Senate committee Thursday approved the nomination of openly gay law professor Chai Feldblum to serve as a member of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The nomination now goes to the full Senate, where it could still face opposition.

Gay reps snub bill aimed at DADT

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) introduced an amendment this month to help combat the military’s “Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell” policy, but no openly gay member of Congress has signed on.

New Jersey Senate panel sends marriage bill to the floor

The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee handed proponents of marriage equality an important first-round victory last night, approving a bill that could make New Jersey the sixth state to allow same-sex marriage. The panel’s 7 to 6 approval came shortly after

Scrutinizing the numbers game

When President Obama signed the Ryan White CARE Act in October, he noted that gay men comprise “two to three percent of the population,” yet account for “half of all cases” in the United States. A month later, when a

NY Senate defeats marriage bill

Following one of the most dramatic and emotional discourses thus far in the gay marriage debate, the New York Senate voted 24 to 38 today to reject a bill guaranteeing equal marriage rights to same-sex couples.