Lisa Keen
By Lisa Keen on June 13, 2011
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday that he may be able to certify the military’s readiness to enact repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” before he retires from office June 30.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on June 12, 2011
“Traditional values” didn’t do too well in the latest CNN poll of American adults. For the first time in 18 years since the question has been asked, the percentage of adults thinking that the government should “promote traditional values” dropped below 50 percent.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on June 11, 2011
Famed attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies will not be in a San Francisco courtroom Monday when attorneys in the landmark Proposition 8 case square off once again.
This time, the fight is over a motion to vacate the ruling August 2010 by federal district court Judge Vaughn Walker, and over whether Walker must leave videotapes of the trial sequestered permanently with the court.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on June 10, 2011
Lesbian judicial nominee Alison Nathan told the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday that, despite her relative youth and inexperience, she thinks she is well qualified to be a U.S. District Court judge.
Posted in Congress, Politics
By Lisa Keen on June 10, 2011
Lesbian judicial nominee Alison Nathan told the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday that, despite her relative youth and inexperience, she thinks she is well qualified to be a U.S. District Court judge.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on June 9, 2011
Openly gay candidate Fred Karger will not be on the stage next Monday night when CNN broadcasts the first major debate of the 2012 presidential campaign. But enough major candidates will take part in this event to ensure a significant audience.
Posted in Campaigns, Politics, Presidential 2012
By Lisa Keen on June 7, 2011
The U.S. House’s four openly gay members have asked President Obama to issue a veto threat against a defense spending bill that includes a measure to delay repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on June 7, 2011
Openly gay Judge Vaughn Walker won’t be in the courtroom next Monday (June 13)—at least not physically. But he’ll certainly be there in name–and so may be U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on June 6, 2011
Lesbian federal court nominee Alison Nathan will have her confirmation hearing Wednesday, June 8.
President Obama nominated Nathan March 31 to a seat on the U.S. District Court for Southern New York, which covers Manhattan.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on June 4, 2011
If U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin makes a run for Wisconsin’s soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat, there’s another openly gay legislator ready to run for Baldwin’s seat in the U.S. House.
State Rep. Mark Pocan, who, like Baldwin, is a Democrat from Madison, told The Capital Times of Madison that he will run for Baldwin’s seat, if she chooses to run for the Senate.
Posted in News Briefs
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 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 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
Loud clash over same-sex marriage: Where personal and political meet
White House threatens veto as House omits LGBTs in two bills
House GOP shoot down effort to insert LGBT protections in VAWA
NC approves constitutional ban: 61 to 39
Iowa justices explain why they didn’t campaign to retain seats