2009
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By Lisa Keen on December 23, 2009
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 adopted in the House will make into the final version Congress sends to the president.
Posted in Congress, Health, Issues, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 15, 2009
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 to two recent, stinging losses –the New York Senate rejection of a marriage equality bill there, and the November 3 ballot loss in Maine of a measure approved by the legislature earlier in the year.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 13, 2009
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 United States.
Posted in Campaigns, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 11, 2009
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 partner Tom Healy; and former National Gay and Lesbian Task Force leader Urvashi Vaid and her partner comedian Kate Clinton.
Posted in A closer look, National Politics, Politics, White House
By Lisa Keen on December 11, 2009
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 or lesbian parent. Studies suggest that upward of 2 million gay and lesbian individuals are interested in adopting or fostering a child. Yet, statewide discriminatory bans and the practices of individual adoption agencies have resulted in fewer children being placed in safe and permanent homes.
Posted in A closer look, Adoption, National Politics, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 11, 2009
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.
Posted in National Politics, News, Nominees, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 10, 2009
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.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Chuck Colbert on December 8, 2009
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 ten o’clock Monday night, after more than seven hours of emotional and at times highly personal testimony and discussion.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 3, 2009
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 House committee was debating a bill to provide gay federal employees with health coverage for their domestic partners, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) complained about the potential cost of the measure, saying the LGBT community “often” claims it makes up 10 percent of the population.
Posted in A closer look, Census, National Politics, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 2, 2009
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.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 2, 2009
The late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy was seen as one of Congress’ strongest supporters of civil rights for gays, yet in his autobiography, True Compass, he mentions almost no gay people and says almost nothing about civil rights for gays. The one exception was a brief recollection of a meeting he and other senators had with President Bill Clinton who had asked to hear their views concerning gays in the military.
Posted in A closer look, Congress, National Politics, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 1, 2009
The City Council of Washington, D.C. voted 11 to 2 to support a bill to provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples the same as it provides to straight couples.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 30, 2009
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today the U.S. government must “stand against any efforts” to discriminate against the LGBT community worldwide.
Posted in HIV/AIDS, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 27, 2009
Annise Parker has been an out lesbian public official in Houston for 12 years. Yet this year, as she stands poised to become mayor of the fourth largest city in the country, her sexual orientation is an issue.
Posted in Campaigns, Issues, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 19, 2009
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) attempted to gut the federal employee domestic partnership bill by proposing an amendment to stipulate the legislation would in no way affect the intent of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 19, 2009
There were expectations that Republicans would challenge openly gay EEOC nominee Chai Feldblum. But nothing came from Republicans.
Posted in Issues, National Politics, News, Nominees, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 11, 2009
The struggle for marriage equality looks like a juggling act this week: New York’s up in the air, New Jersey is poised to hop from one hand (the legislature) to another (the governor). And Washington, D.C., is about to be hoisted upward. But, wait! There are more bills in the air: Michigan has one seeking to repeal its constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and New Hampshire has one seeking to repeal its newly approved-but-not-yet-enacted marriage equality law.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 9, 2009
While conservatives riveted their attention to passing an amendment to ban the use of federal health care funds on abortion, the U.S. House passed a health care reform bill November 7 that includes a number of provisions of benefit specifically to the LGBT community.
Posted in National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on October 30, 2009
President Obama announced that his administration will end the long-standing policy that banned immigration by people with HIV infection.
Posted in HIV/AIDS, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on October 28, 2009
President Obama on October 28 announced his signing of the long-sought federal hate crimes prevention law.
Posted in Hate Crimes, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
Ginsburg on Roe: Is it a signal she’d curb a decision on marriage?
Leahy submits language to help bi-national same-sex couples
Delaware votes for marriage equality; becomes 11th state to make it the law
Rhode Island marriage law signed; Two more states could vote next week
President praises pro athlete Jason Collins for courage to come out
Rhode Island marriage bill clears final hurdle with all Republicans