July 2011
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By Dana Rudolph on July 26, 2011
Just as the Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969 gave a lift to the nascent movement for equal rights for gays across the country, marriage equality in the Empire State appears to be giving a boost to marriage equality efforts outside its borders.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics, Uncategorized
By Lisa Keen on July 24, 2011
President Obama, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen signed and submitted a one-page written certification to Congress Friday afternoon (July 22) that the military is ready to implement repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, Law, News
By Lisa Keen on July 21, 2011
The Los Angeles Times and other media reported late Thursday that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen would announced Friday that the two can certify military readiness to Congress –one of the stipulations for enacting repeal of the federal law banning openly gay people from service.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on July 20, 2011
U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a legendary civil rights activist, led off Wednesday’s historic hearing to discuss repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, likening it to laws decades ago that requires separate water fountains and restrooms for “whites” and “coloreds.”
Posted in Congress, Issues, Marriage/Relationships, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on July 19, 2011
The U.S. Senate Monday evening (July 18) approved the confirmation of openly gay attorney J. Paul Oetken to serve as a U.S. district court judge.
Posted in Congress, Issues, National Politics, News, Nominees
By Lisa Keen on July 18, 2011
There is another anti-gay ballot measure brewing in California–this one, for 2012, seeks to repeal a recently passed state law that requires social studies curricula in California public schools to include information about the contributions of LGBT people.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on July 18, 2011
Her campaign stationary says “Tammy Baldwin 2012.” But the text of the July 13 press release walks the U.S. House’s only openly lesbian member one step closer to an historic bid for a U.S. Senate seat:
“She is a likely candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI).”
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on July 17, 2011
U.S. Census data released Thursday (July 14) shows a 40 percent jump in the number of same-sex couples in New York State between 2000 and 2010. And having released data now from a total of 18 states, the Census data indicates that the number of same-sex couples nationwide jumped 47 percent between 2000 and 2010.
Posted in A closer look
By Lisa Keen on July 15, 2011
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals granted an emergency order Friday night (July 15) temporarily reinstating its original stay of an order that had prohibited the government from enforcing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Law, News, U.S. Circuit Courts
By Lisa Keen on July 15, 2011
U.S. Senator Tom Coburn says lesbian federal court nominee Alison Nathan sounds like an “activist judge” to him, but he’s voting against her, he says, because she has lacks “substantial litigation experience.”
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on July 14, 2011
There was a hint of trouble ahead for the nomination of lesbian attorney Alison Nathan to the U.S. District Court for Southern New York.
Posted in Campaigns, Congress, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, Nominees, Politics, Senate
By Lisa Keen on July 14, 2011
Lambda Legal Defense is taking its fight for same-sex families to the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, Adar v. Darlene Smith, involves a gay male couple–Oren Adar and Mickey Ray Smith–who sought an amended birth certificate for the boy they adopted in the state of New York.
Posted in Adoption, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on July 13, 2011
The campaign of Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney and four other GOP presidential candidates said this week they would not sign the bizarre pledge that at least two other GOP competitors did sign–a pledge that promises the candidate will vigorously oppose even “court-imposed recognition” of same-sex marriage.
Posted in Election 2012, Presidential 2012
By Lisa Keen on July 13, 2011
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has set Wednesday, July 20, at 10 a.m. to hear testimony on a bill to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Posted in News Briefs
By Dana Rudolph on July 12, 2011
The United Church of Christ (UCC), the denomination to which President Obama belonged for two decades, resoundingly approved two resolutions support of civil rights for LGBT people–including the first-ever resolution by a major Christian denomination affirming the right of LGBT parents to adopt and raise children.
Posted in Adoption, Issues, National Politics
By Lisa Keen on July 12, 2011
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals issued yet another order this month, this time giving the federal government 10 days to “show cause” why the court should not dismiss as moot an appeal seeking to defend “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on July 7, 2011
A 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel on Wednesday issued an order that the Defense Department stop enforcing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and the Pentagon quickly announced that it will comply.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, U.S. Circuit Courts
By Lisa Keen on July 4, 2011
The Department of Justice on July 1 recommended a federal appeals court in California dismiss a motion promoted by the House of Representatives to dismiss a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Dana Rudolph on July 3, 2011
Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee (I) signed a civil union bill into law on Saturday, July 2–but LGBT civil rights advocates are not happy with his decision to do so. And Chafee himself said the bill “fails to fully achieve” the goal of providing same-sex couples with equal rights.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on July 1, 2011
For the first time in history, LGBT activists are initiating a ballot measure to win marriage equality. EqualityMaine and Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) announced that they are taking steps to place a citizen’s initiative on the November 2012 ballot.
Posted in Ballot Measures, 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
Rhode Island marriage bill clears final hurdle with all Republicans