May 2011
You are browsing the archive for May 2011.
By Dana Rudolph on May 31, 2011
When Congress and the White House worked out their differences in early April concerning the Fiscal Year 2011 budget, it was clear that some programs important to the LGBT community would take a hit. But the consequences of their final agreement are now being felt.
Posted in Health, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 27, 2011
The headlines and leads of news stories about U.S. Rep. Barney Frank on Friday, May 27, used words like “Frank admits” in relaying a story that the most senior openly gay member of Congress “used his influence” as a member of a House finance committee to “land a job at Fannie Mae” in 1991 for his then-lover Herb Moses.
Posted in A closer look
By Lisa Keen on May 27, 2011
When openly gay federal district court nominee Paul Oetken went before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in March, Senator Charles Grassley was the only Republican who showed up. He introduced Oetken, who was born in his home state of Iowa, but had no questions.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law
By Lisa Keen on May 26, 2011
The U.S. House on Thursday, May 26, passed the House Armed Services Committee authorization bill that includes three amendments aimed at delaying implementation of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and shoring up the impact of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, Marriage/Relationships, Politics
By Dana Rudolph on May 26, 2011
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on May 23 announced up to $9.1 million in grants to address the housing needs of people with low-incomes living with HIV/AIDS.
Posted in Health, HIV/AIDS, Issues, News
By Lisa Keen on May 25, 2011
Gay legal activists are already working on a legal challenge to a new state law in Tennessee, signed into law Monday by Republican Governor Bill Haslam, which prevents local governments from requiring their contractors to abide by local human rights ordinances.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 24, 2011
Yes on 8 attorneys say no one would seek to vacate openly gay Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision concerning the law barring openly gay people from the military. But when he struck down California’s law barring same-sex couples from obtaining marriage licenses, he stood to benefit directly from his decision.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 22, 2011
A survey by the respected Gallup poll organization reports a stunning jump in support for legal recognition of the marriages of same-sex couples.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on May 19, 2011
The nomination of a liberal judicial candidate considered supportive, at least personally, of marriage equality, failed to muster enough votes in the U.S. Senate Thursday, May 19, to bring his confirmation to the floor.
Posted in News Briefs
By Dana Rudolph on May 18, 2011
A popular anti-bullying campaign has been telling bullied teens “it gets better”–but the effects of past bullying often linger, according to new research.
Posted in Health, HIV/AIDS, Issues, News
By Lisa Keen on May 17, 2011
The Antideficiency Act is not the sort of federal law that an ordinary American would be familiar with. It applies to government officials who are in a position to spend government money. And it prohibits those officials from spending federal money unless Congress appropriates it to be spent.
Posted in Congress, Issues, Marriage/Relationships, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 17, 2011
Former U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker doesn’t want to appear in court next month, when his successor tackles the question of whether Walker’s 10-year relationship with a man should be cause for vacating Walker’s decision to strike down Proposition 8.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 16, 2011
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s office is, thus far, silent on whether the openly gay legislator might make a bid for the U.S. Senate. But buzz about that possibility is hot.
Posted in Campaigns, Politics, Senate
By Lisa Keen on May 12, 2011
The full U.S. House Armed Services Committee approved three amendments late Wednesday night that seek to delay implementation of repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and to reiterate Congress’s support for the Defense of Marriage Act.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 11, 2011
The ACLU of Washington State announced Tuesday that Air Force Reserve nurse Margaret Witt has reached a final settlement with the Department of Defense in her highly publicized litigation to avoid discharge under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
According to an ACLU press release, the DOD has agreed to allow Witt to retire with full benefits and the Department of Justice will drop its appeal of a federal district court ruling in her favor.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 10, 2011
Former U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker recently told a small group of reporters that it would be a “very slippery slope” to say that a judge’s “sexuality” should prevent him or her from handling a case such as the trial against Proposition 8. Many legal activists—gay and straight—agree. In fact, the lead attorney for the Yes on 8 coalition that is defending California’s ban on same-sex couples marrying agrees.
Posted in A closer look
By Dana Rudolph on May 6, 2011
For the second time ever, a president’s annual Mother’s Day proclamation has included a specific mention of families that have two mothers.
President Obama’s May 6 proclamation said in part, “Whether an adoptive mom or grandmother, mother or partner, the women who raise us show us that no hurdle is too high, and no dream is beyond our reach.”
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 6, 2011
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Thursday (May 5) vacated a deportation ruling against a gay man, suggesting that his relationship with a New Jersey man might qualify him to be considered as a “spouse” under immigration laws.
Posted in News Briefs
By Dana Rudolph on May 6, 2011
Hundreds of thousands of children are in foster care in the United States, while discrimination prevents millions of willing LGBT people from being able to foster or adopt. U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) reintroduced a bill that aims to fix that discrepancy.
Posted in Adoption, Congress, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Dana Rudolph on May 5, 2011
The openly gay sponsor of a marriage equality bill in Rhode Island has said he would push for civil unions instead. Six states are considering legislation that would ask voters to ban recognition of marriage for same-sex couples. And all this was on the heels of a loss for a marriage equality bill in Maryland. Has the state legislative fight for marriage equality lost momentum?
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State 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