By Lisa Keen on January 12, 2010
Take-home message from expert Nancy Cott’s testimony today: The push by gay and lesbian couples to obtain equal access to marriage has done much to improve the status of marriage in the U.S, not harm it.
Posted in Ballot Measures, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Lisa Keen on January 12, 2010
The trial to challenge Proposition 8 in federal court got underway Monday in San Francisco but the opening acts were upstaged in Washington, D.C.
Posted in Ballot Measures, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships
By Lisa Keen on January 10, 2010
The trial to challenge Proposition 8 opens at 9 a.m. Pacific time this morning, and it promises to be an event of historic proportions for the LGBT community on many levels—legally, politically, and dramatically.
Posted in Ballot Measures, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Dana Rudolph on January 9, 2010
A look at how Proposition 8 defenders seek to justify the same-sex marriage ban
What do gay political icon Harvey Milk, anti-gay marriage activist Maggie Gallagher, controversial military contractor Blackwater, and the Walibiri aborigines of Central Australia have in common?
Posted in A closer look, Ballot Measures, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, Marriage/Relationships, News
By Chuck Colbert on January 8, 2010
Even before the votes were tallied Thursday in the New Jersey Senate on a marriage equality bill, advocates of the bill knew they would fall short.
The marriage equality bill needed 21 votes to pass; it garnered only 14.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on January 7, 2010
News on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning suggested there was little hope for keeping pro-LGBT provisions in the health care reform legislation Congress hopes to pass. But Rep. Barney Frank says he’s still “somewhat optimistic.”
Posted in Congress, Health, Issues, National Politics, Politics
By Dana Rudolph on January 6, 2010
In a long-running interstate dispute, an “ex-lesbian” in Virginia failed to show up last Friday to transfer custody of her seven-year-old daughter to the woman’s former civil union partner.
Posted in Cases, Law, Lawsuits, News, State Courts
By Lisa Keen on January 6, 2010
Efforts are underway in both New Hampshire and Iowa to overturn marriage equality laws there.
On January 5, opponents of gay marriage were scheduled to deliver petitions to more than 200 town halls across New Hampshire.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 23, 2009
It’s still a little bit of a guessing game as to whether the U.S. Senate will pass a health care reform bill this month or next or never, but if and when it does, there’s little likelihood any pro-gay provisions adopted in the House will make into the final version Congress sends to the president.
Posted in Congress, Health, Issues, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 15, 2009
Though it was long-expected, the D.C. Council’s vote Tuesday to give final approval to a marriage equality law for Washington, D.C., came as a large relief to many LGBT civil rights supporters.
The 11 to 2 vote came on the heels to two recent, stinging losses –the New York Senate rejection of a marriage equality bill there, and the November 3 ballot loss in Maine of a measure approved by the legislature earlier in the year.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 11, 2009
U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) introduced a bill October 15 seeking to end discrimination against gays in adoption proceedings. The following are some excerpts from his remarks:
“Currently, over 65,000 adopted children and 14,000 “foster children are living with a gay or lesbian parent. Studies suggest that upward of 2 million gay and lesbian individuals are interested in adopting or fostering a child. Yet, statewide discriminatory bans and the practices of individual adoption agencies have resulted in fewer children being placed in safe and permanent homes.
Posted in A closer look, Adoption, National Politics, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 11, 2009
A Senate committee Thursday approved the nomination of openly gay law professor Chai Feldblum to serve as a member of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The nomination now goes to the full Senate, where it could still face opposition.
Posted in National Politics, News, Nominees, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 10, 2009
U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) introduced an amendment this month to help combat the military’s “Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell” policy, but no openly gay member of Congress has signed on.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Chuck Colbert on December 8, 2009
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee handed proponents of marriage equality an important first-round victory last night, approving a bill that could make New Jersey the sixth state to allow same-sex marriage.
The panel’s 7 to 6 approval came shortly after ten o’clock Monday night, after more than seven hours of emotional and at times highly personal testimony and discussion.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 3, 2009
When President Obama signed the Ryan White CARE Act in October, he noted that gay men comprise “two to three percent of the population,” yet account for “half of all cases” in the United States. A month later, when a House committee was debating a bill to provide gay federal employees with health coverage for their domestic partners, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) complained about the potential cost of the measure, saying the LGBT community “often” claims it makes up 10 percent of the population.
Posted in A closer look, Census, National Politics, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 2, 2009
Following one of the most dramatic and emotional discourses thus far in the gay marriage debate, the New York Senate voted 24 to 38 today to reject a bill guaranteeing equal marriage rights to same-sex couples.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 1, 2009
The City Council of Washington, D.C. voted 11 to 2 to support a bill to provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples the same as it provides to straight couples.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 30, 2009
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today the U.S. government must “stand against any efforts” to discriminate against the LGBT community worldwide.
Posted in HIV/AIDS, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 27, 2009
Annise Parker has been an out lesbian public official in Houston for 12 years. Yet this year, as she stands poised to become mayor of the fourth largest city in the country, her sexual orientation is an issue.
Posted in Campaigns, Issues, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 19, 2009
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) attempted to gut the federal employee domestic partnership bill by proposing an amendment to stipulate the legislation would in no way affect the intent of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, National Politics, News, 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