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By Lisa Keen on June 29, 2010
Except that she was wearing a bright blue jacket and sitting in the middle of the Senate hearing room, U.S. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan was, in one sense, invisible on the first day of her confirmation.
The members of the Senate Judiciary Committee spent much of their time Monday singing the praises of Senator Robert Byrd (D-WVa.) who died Sunday night, and much of the remaining time slinging partisan barbs at one another.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on June 22, 2010
It was not exactly the same rousing, sustained cheer of last year that greeted President Obama as he entered the East Room Tuesday evening for a reception in honor of LGBT Pride month. There was an awkward quiet as he shook some hands near the stage before making his remarks, and several moments of silence when normally one might have expected the requisite applause.
But the several hundred people attending the White House LGBT Pride Month Reception were enthusiastic in their reception of the president.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on June 14, 2010
Closing arguments get underway Wednesday in the Proposition 8 case in California, and attorneys representing the various officials who campaigned for the ban on same-sex marriage were just dealt another blow.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on June 10, 2010
U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker gave no explanation late Wednesday for his decision to keep cameras out of the courtroom next week when he hears closing arguments in the landmark Proposition 8 trial.
Posted in News Briefs
By Dana Rudolph on May 27, 2010
The full Senate on Friday, May 28 unanimously confirmed Laura Duffy as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, making her the second openly lesbian or gay U.S. attorney. Jenny Durkan, the first, was confirmed in September as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington.
Posted in Appointees, Issues, News, News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 26, 2010
The House Rules Committee was back in session Wednesday night, addressing 193 amendments submitted for consideration during floor action on the annual defense authorization bill. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, the committee had not yet taken up Rep. Patrick Murphy’s compromise amendment concerning repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 19, 2010
More than a dozen mainstream media news organizations petitioned the federal judge Tuesday to allow broadcast and webcast of closing arguments in the Proposition 8 lawsuit “to enhance the public’s ability to witness the parties’ respective closing arguments in this historic case.”
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 13, 2010
The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday morning recommended the nomination of pro-gay law professor Goodwin Liu to the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals by a vote of 12 to 7.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 10, 2010
Gay legal activists are today applauding President Obama’s second nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court: Solicitor General Elena Kagan.
Posted in News Briefs
By Dana Rudolph on May 9, 2010
For the first time ever, a president’s annual Mother’s Day proclamation has included a specific mention of families that include two mothers.
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By Lisa Keen on May 4, 2010
In another case of faith-based groups versus non-discrimination laws, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from the Boy Scouts of America. The court’s refusal was not unusual; the high court rarely takes a case during a procedural phase and that’s where this case, Boy Scouts of America v. Barnes-Wallace, was.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on May 3, 2010
Several media organizations reported Saturday that President Obama interviewed Solicitor General Elena Kagan for a possible nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited only “an administration official,” the president interviewed Kagan on Friday.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on April 26, 2010
U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker issued a warning on Sunday afternoon to Equality California and the ACLU, giving them 48 hours to turn over documents sought by the proponents of Proposition 8. If the groups fail to comply, they will be held in contempt of court and fined $2,000 per day each, according to the order.
Posted in News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on April 22, 2010
A sidelines skirmish over document production in the Proposition 8 lawsuit rages on this month, forcing the continued delay of closing arguments and, ultimately, a decision on the constitutionality of California’s ban on same-sex marriage. And Ted Olson, the well-known conservative attorney leading the litigation against the ban, accused the ACLU and Yes on 8 proponents of “delaying the progress” of the trial.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, Lawsuits, News, News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on April 20, 2010
President Obama, appearing at a fundraiser for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in Los Angeles Monday, April 19, seemed initially irritated when his speech in support of Boxer’s re-election was interrupted with shouts that he do more to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
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By Dana Rudolph on April 14, 2010
The U.S. Senate yesterday unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Ugandan Parliament to reject a proposed bill that would impose harsh penalties—including life imprisonment and the death penalty—against gay people.
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By Lisa Keen on April 13, 2010
A 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel dismissed the appeal of two groups opposing Proposition 8 in which the groups sought to stop a district court order that they turn over documents to Yes on 8 groups.
The three-judge panel said it lacks jurisdiction at this point to review U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s order that the groups—which are not a party to the Perry v. Schwarzenegger lawsuit.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, Lawsuits, News, News Briefs
By Lisa Keen on April 2, 2010
Just two years ago, Steve Hildebrand was Barack Obama’s openly gay deputy campaign manager, a brain behind one of the most remarkable presidential campaigns in history. And just two weeks ago, he was toying with the idea of a run for Congress. But an article in the April 1 Washington Post suggests his influence is now all but gone.
Posted in National Politics, News, News Briefs, Politics
By Lisa Keen on March 26, 2010
One of the 41 amendments which the U.S. Senate voted on this week, while passing the companion bill of “fixes” to the landmark health care legislation, was an amendment to allow Washington, D.C. voters to hold a referendum on same-sex marriage. The amendment was defeated 36 to 59, with the newest—and Republican—senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, joining his party with a yes vote.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, National Politics, News, News Briefs, Politics
By Lisa Keen on March 26, 2010
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has repeatedly said he wants his working group on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to discuss the plan to repeal the policy with service members and their families to get their views. But Gates, on Thursday, began showing some toughness against views within the military that oppose President Obama’s directive that the military dismantle the policy.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, News, News Briefs
Gay issues continue to dominate as Senate committee recommends Kagan’s nomination
ENDA prospects apparently gone
DADT trial opens to little notice
Two giant blows against DOMA
Movement to ban gay adoption: sacrificing the well-being of children