Lisa Keen
By Lisa Keen on May 21, 2013
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved an immigration reform bill Tuesday, May 21 without voting on two amendments seeking to provide benefits to same-sex couples, and the room erupted into loud applause and cheers.
Posted in Congress, National Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 21, 2013
The White House announced Monday (May 20) it would honor the late astronaut Sally Ride, whose same-sex relationship was revealed after her death last year. The White House will present Ride’s partner and other family members with the Medal of Freedom Award, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The ceremony will take place later this year.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 21, 2013
The U.S. Senate Monday (May 2) gave voice vote approval to Michael McShane to serve on the U.S. District Court for Oregon.
McShane is the fifth openly gay person to be confirmed for a district court seat under President Obama.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 18, 2013
Former Justice John Paul Stevens, 93, who retired from the high court three years ago after 35 years of service, recently offered his prediction for what the court will do on the two landmark marriage equality cases pending before it.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 16, 2013
The LGBT community sees U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a likely vote for equal protection in the two pending major cases involving marriage for same-sex couples.
But various mainstream media outlets recently jostled that confidence by noting that she continues to express the view that the landmark abortion rights decision, Roe v. Wade, went “too far too fast.” If the court’s most veteran supporter of equal rights for women believes Roe moved “too far too fast,” could she be urging an incremental approach to another controversial issue – marriage for same-sex couples?
Posted in A closer look
By Lisa Keen on May 14, 2013
For the third time in two weeks, a state has been moved into the “marriage equality” column. Democratic Governor Mark Dayton signed legislation Tuesday (May 14) that enables same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses starting August 1. He did so one day after the state senate voted 37 to 30 to approve the measure.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 9, 2013
The Minnesota House voted 75 to 59 Thursday (May 9) to approve a bill to allow same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses in the state. The bill goes to the state Senate on Monday, where supporters feel confident they have the votes to pass it. And Democratic Governor Mark Layton has said he will sign it. If that scenario plays out May 13,
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 8, 2013
As expected, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy introduced amendments Tuesday (May 7) to enable gay citizens to sponsor their “permanent” same-sex partners for immigration, under the proposed comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
Posted in Congress, Immigration, National Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 7, 2013
Just minutes before the Delaware Senate was set to vote on its marriage equality bill, a Democrat senator who had been quiet about how she would vote announced on her Facebook page that she would vote yes.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 2, 2013
Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee signed a marriage equality bill into law this evening, just an hour after the state House gave the measure its final procedural approval. Two more states could approve marriage for same-sex couples next week.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 1, 2013
This is a bad year gone worse for ENDA – the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Even though it might pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, the bill will have no realistic chance of passing the Republican-controlled House. Now, on the same day ENDA was re-introduced to this session of Congress, the LGBT legal community has raised objections.
Posted in A closer look
By Lisa Keen on April 30, 2013
President Obama expressed his support for the decision by professional basketball player Jason Collins to come out this week in an interview with Sports Illustrated.
Posted in National Politics, White House
By Lisa Keen on April 24, 2013
After a moving speech by a senator who described herself as a lifelong, devout Catholic and said she would support marriage equality, the Rhode Island Senate Wednesday afternoon voted to approve a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in the state.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on April 24, 2013
In front of an unusually combative U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, former Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe urged members on Monday (April 22) to “fix” the current immigration reform bill by adding language to help LGBT citizens with foreign partners or spouses.
Posted in A closer look
By Lisa Keen on April 23, 2013
The 21-member Nevada senate voted 12 to 9 Monday night (April 22) to approve a measure to amend the state constitution to remove language that currently bans recognition of marriages for same-sex couples. Because it is a state constitutional amendment, the measure must still pass the Assembly and then pass both the Senate and Assembly [...]
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on April 23, 2013
The Rhode Island Senate is scheduled to vote Wednesday (April 24) on a marriage equality bill that, if passed, will position the state just days away from becoming the tenth state to allow same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on April 18, 2013
The Obama administration’s highest ranking openly LGBT official has resigned his post, effective today (April 15).
John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management, announced his resignation April 11 in an email to OPM employees, just days before his four-year term was up.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on April 10, 2013
The race to become the tenth state to provide for marriage equality just got more interesting, as both Illinois and Rhode Island legislatures are on track to take final votes this month.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on April 2, 2013
Now that legal activists and experts have had a chance to go back over the U.S. Supreme Court arguments in last week’s two big marriage equality cases, most are predicting victories but only incremental ones.
Posted in A closer look
By Lisa Keen on April 1, 2013
Anyone who checked for the Supreme Court orders list before 10 a.m. Monday morning knew instantly it was a prank. But a few followers appeared to believe it, at least momentarily and some didn’t seem to think it was very funny.
Posted in News Briefs
