May 2010
You are browsing the archive for May 2010.
By Lisa Keen on May 29, 2010
Posted in Podcast
By Lisa Keen on May 28, 2010
The U.S. House voted 234 to 194 Thursday night to approve a compromise amendment that many believe will—with some conditions—eventually lead to the end of the military’s policy of discharging gay servicemembers.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 27, 2010
For the second time in three weeks, a federal judge in Boston heard arguments in a lawsuit that asks the court to strike down a significant part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Dana Rudolph on May 27, 2010
The full Senate on Friday, May 28 unanimously confirmed Laura Duffy as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, making her the second openly lesbian or gay U.S. attorney. Jenny Durkan, the first, was confirmed in September as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington.
Posted in Appointees, Issues, News, News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 27, 2010
The Murphy Amendment seeking repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy is slated to come up near the end of the House’s consideration this week of the annual defense authorization bill.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 26, 2010
The House Rules Committee was back in session Wednesday night, addressing 193 amendments submitted for consideration during floor action on the annual defense authorization bill. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, the committee had not yet taken up Rep. Patrick Murphy’s compromise amendment concerning repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 26, 2010
A measure to repeal the 16-year-old federal law excluding openly gay people from the military started up the Congressional ladder this week—with a reluctant nod from the White House and a controversial rewrite.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 23, 2010
Posted in Podcast
By Chuck Colbert on May 22, 2010
Leaders of gay civil rights groups and LGBT veterans organizations are optimistic about the next two-week time period, one that may well determine whether Congress moves forward this year to repeal the federal statute commonly referred to as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” that has banned openly gay people from the military for nearly 17 years.
But that is despite some disappointments.
Posted in A closer look, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, News
By Dana Rudolph on May 20, 2010
There’s a tug-of-war underway in the movement to pass more laws to address the growing problem of bullying, and it centers on whether such laws should “enumerate” bullying that targets LGBT youth.
Posted in Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 19, 2010
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reassured representatives of several LGBT organizations this week that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and a measure to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) will get votes this year.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, ENDA, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 19, 2010
More than a dozen mainstream media news organizations petitioned the federal judge Tuesday to allow broadcast and webcast of closing arguments in the Proposition 8 lawsuit “to enhance the public’s ability to witness the parties’ respective closing arguments in this historic case.”
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 16, 2010
Posted in Podcast
By Lisa Keen on May 14, 2010
Supporters of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) say they have the votes to pass the bill, they are just waiting for the Democratic leadership to call the bill to the floor. But the leadership has grown quiet.
Posted in Congress, ENDA, Issues, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 13, 2010
The number of results from a Google search of “Elena Kagan” plus the word “gay” more than doubled from 722,000 on Monday, when President Obama nominated her to the U.S. Supreme Court, to 1,950,000 on Tuesday night, when Politico.com reported two friends said she is not gay.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on May 13, 2010
The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday morning recommended the nomination of pro-gay law professor Goodwin Liu to the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals by a vote of 12 to 7.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 11, 2010
Gay legal activists are applauding President Obama’s second nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court: Solicitor General Elena Kagan. But it could hardly be described as a standing ovation.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on May 10, 2010
Gay legal activists are today applauding President Obama’s second nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court: Solicitor General Elena Kagan.
Posted in News Briefs
By Dana Rudolph on May 9, 2010
For the first time ever, a president’s annual Mother’s Day proclamation has included a specific mention of families that include two mothers.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 8, 2010
Posted in Podcast
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