August 2010
You are browsing the archive for August 2010.
By Lisa Keen on August 31, 2010
Equality in hospital visitation policies is not a controversial issue. That’s what seems apparent from the 427 comments received during the just ended public comment period on the proposed regulation to implement President Obama’s hospital visitation memorandum.
Posted in A closer look, Health, Issues, National Politics, News, White House
By Lisa Keen on August 31, 2010
Openly Gay U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) is the seventh wealthiest member of Congress, according to a report this week by The Hill, a newspaper specializing in coverage of Capitol Hill and its lawmakers.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on August 27, 2010
Posted in Podcast
By Lisa Keen on August 26, 2010
Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman acknowledged publicly this week that he is gay. Mehlman was a close colleague of President George W. Bush’s political architect Karl Rove.
Posted in National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on August 20, 2010
Posted in Podcast
By Lisa Keen on August 19, 2010
The White House announced Thursday, August 19, that President Obama was using the recess appointment to install openly gay nominee Richard Sorian as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on August 17, 2010
It’s been 40 days since U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Tauro ruled—in two cases—that the federal benefits provision in the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. But the Department of Justice has still not indicated whether it intends to appeal those decisions to the 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on August 16, 2010
A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals issued an order granting Yes on 8’s request for a stay of Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on August 14, 2010
Posted in Podcast
By Lisa Keen on August 12, 2010
There were cheers outside San Francisco City Hall as news emerged that Judge Vaughn Walker had denied a request to delay enforcement of his ruling against Proposition 8. But those cheers were mitigated when details of the judge’s order were revealed: Walker continued to delay enforcement of his decision until August 18.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on August 9, 2010
The waiting game around the Proposition 8 challenge in a federal court in San Francisco grows curiouser and curiouser.
U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has issued his decision in the case. Now, people interested in the case are waiting again—this time, for Judge Walker’s decision on whether to approve a permanent “stay” until the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals can weigh in on the merits of the case.
Posted in A closer look, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on August 6, 2010
As expected, attorneys for the Yes on 8 campaign which secured passage of Proposition 8 in November 2008 filed notice of appeal of the U.S. District Court ruling in Perry v. Schwarzenegger. The appeal was filed one day after Judge Vaughn Walker struck down the state constitutional amendment as violating the federal constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on August 6, 2010
The U.S. Senate Thursday, August 5, confirmed the appointment of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, but not without complaints from nearly every Republican opposing her nomination about her actions concerning Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on August 4, 2010
In an historic, potent, and eloquent decision, U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker ruled Wednesday, August 4, that California’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage violates the federal constitution’s guarantees to equal protection and due process of law.
Posted in A closer look, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on August 4, 2010
U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker ruled Wednesday that California’s ballot measure banning same-sex marriage violates the federal constitution’s guarantees to equal protection and due process of law.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on August 4, 2010
Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican from Arizona, said he would oppose Elena Kagan’s appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court because she has “a history of ignoring the law when it conflicts with the gay rights agenda.”
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, Nominees, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on August 4, 2010
Attorneys representing supporters of Proposition 8 filed a motion with U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker Tuesday asking that—if he should rule Wednesday in favor of Proposition 8 opponents—he issue a stay of his decision to enable them to appeal. Such a stay, if granted, would prevent “another purported window of same-sex marriage in California,” [...]
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on August 4, 2010
Proposition 8 passed in November 2008 because parents with kids living at home were scared and the LGBT community did nothing to assuage that fear.
Posted in A closer look, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
Ginsburg on Roe: Is it a signal she’d curb a decision on marriage?
Immigration bill advances without provisions for same-sex couples
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