November 2010
You are browsing the archive for November 2010.
By Lisa Keen on November 30, 2010
Defense Secretary Robert Gates sent mixed signals Tuesday, in releasing the Pentagon’s long-awaited study about how to implement repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. He said repeal “can and should be done,” but he urged Congress to consider the views of all-male combat units who expressed concern about negative consequences.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 29, 2010
A federal appeals panel in San Francisco will hear oral arguments Monday in the landmark challenge to Proposition 8—California’s voter-passed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
We’ve compiled some key information most court watchers will need to know and will want to take notice of Monday.
Posted in A closer look
By Lisa Keen on November 25, 2010
The Senate Armed Services Committee announced Wednesday, November 24, that it will hold two days of hearings next week on the Pentagon study concerning Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on November 23, 2010
The U.S. Department of Justice sent notice to a federal district court in Tacoma, Washington, that it will appeal the court’s ruling that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell violates the federal constitution.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on November 22, 2010
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told reporters Sunday that he will release the Pentagon’s study on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” one day early, adding that, “if this law is going to change, it’s better that it be changed by legislation than it simply be struck down …by the courts with the potential for us having to implement it immediately.”
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on November 19, 2010
Supporters of repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell are talking a big game now. They say they have more than the 60 votes they need to break a Republican-led filibuster that has prevented consideration of the repeal and its underlying defense spending measure.
But no Republican senator has yet come forward and said, “I’m the 60th vote.”
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on November 19, 2010
Posted in Podcast
By Dana Rudolph on November 19, 2010
A national task force dedicated to suicide prevention among LGBT youth will be part of the new National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, a public-private partnership supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Posted in Congress, Health, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 18, 2010
It has become a day-by-day thing. One day, momentum for repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell takes a turn for the better; the next day, it takes a turn for the worse.
The latest turn is for the better. President Obama and the White House this week became much more actively involved in pushing the Senate to repeal the law that bars openly gay people from the military.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on November 17, 2010
A key supporter of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is poised to deal the legislation a significant setback. Sen. Carl Levin, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a strong supporter of repeal, said he will hold hearings on the upcoming Pentagon study about implementation of repeal.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 17, 2010
Hope springs eternal in a lame-duck Congress—or maybe it’s desperation. Democrats and their supporters, bracing for a more conservative Congress starting in January, are rushing to push legislation through during the few days left in the remaining session.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on November 17, 2010
The number seemed startling: 31 percent of voters who identified as “gay, lesbian, bisexual” in a national exit poll on November 2 said they voted Republican. Just two years ago, only 19 percent voted for Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
Is the “gay vote” for Republicans really changed that much?
Posted in A closer look
By Lisa Keen on November 15, 2010
When Congress came back to begin its lame-duck session on Monday, it was suddenly hearing mixed messages from LGBT groups concerning repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 12, 2010
In a move that did not catch anyone by surprise, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday denied a request from attorneys for Log Cabin Republicans to vacate an order that enabled the military to continue enforcing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Lawsuits, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on November 11, 2010
A 370-page Pentagon study on implementing repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will report December 1 that repeal poses only minimal risk to current war efforts, according to an article posted Wednesday night in the Washington Post.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Dana Rudolph on November 11, 2010
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) this month announced a grant of up to $22.4 million for suicide prevention, some of which will be used to address the needs of LGBT youth.
Posted in Congress, Health, Issues, News
By Lisa Keen on November 10, 2010
For the fifth time, the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a petition from ex-lesbian Lisa Miller who has been fighting a Vermont Supreme Court order that she share custody with her ex-civil union partner of a child they had together.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on November 9, 2010
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) stated the obvious Monday: “There’s zero chance” of any pro-LGBT legislation passing in the new Congress.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on November 9, 2010
Two civil rights law firms on Tuesday announced the filing of two major lawsuits aimed at taking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on November 9, 2010
For two years, Democrats held the White House and the majority in both chambers of Congress. The window of opportunity for eliminating federal laws that treated the LGBT community as second-class citizens was open. The window of opportunity for passing federal legislation to provide equal benefits of citizenship was open. Some hoped the windows might be open for as long as eight years. But last week’s mid-terms are shutting those windows now–in fewer than eight weeks.
Posted in A closer look
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