By Lisa Keen on November 2, 2010
The results for some high profile openly gay candidates are often mixed, and they were Tuesday night–with nine of eighteen openly LGBT candidates winning. But there was one big surprise Tuesday night and one shining star.
Posted in Campaigns, Election 2010, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 2, 2010
LGBT Election Night Scorecard
Posted in Campaigns, Election 2010, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 1, 2010
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Monday granted the government’s request to permanently delay enforcement of a lower court order to stop enforcement of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT).
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, U.S. Circuit Courts
By Lisa Keen on October 28, 2010
President Obama said Wednesday (October 27) that he doesn’t think the “disillusionment” that some in the LGBT community have for his administration thus far is “justified.”
Posted in News, Politics, White House
By Dana Rudolph on October 27, 2010
Leaders of the U.S. House’s LGBT Equality Caucus called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tuesday to do more to stop suicides among LGBT youth, calling the suicides “a serious public health problem which cannot wait.”
Posted in Health, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Chuck Colbert on October 26, 2010
There are no anti-gay initiatives or referenda on any statewide ballots November 2, but that doesn’t mean that same-sex marriages is no longer a political hot potato. Quite the contrary.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, News
By Dana Rudolph on October 26, 2010
The U.S. Department of Education is issuing guidance to school officials today (October 26), reminding them that federal law requires schools to take action against bullying—including gender-based and sexual harassment of LGBT students.
Posted in Law, News
By Dana Rudolph on October 23, 2010
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced Friday that he will not challenge a September 22 state appellate court ruling that overturned Florida’s ban on adoption by gay men or lesbians. This means the 33-year-old ban has ended.
Posted in Adoption, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, State Courts
By Lisa Keen on October 21, 2010
A lawsuit over a referendum on same-sex marriage has reached the U.S. Supreme Court. And it’s not Proposition 8.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on October 20, 2010
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Wednesday night stopped the enforcement of a federal district court judge’s order that the military stop enforcing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, U.S. Circuit Courts
By Lisa Keen on October 19, 2010
The likelihood of Democrats retaining a majority of the U.S. Senate has diminished dramatically in recent days. But the news is worse than that for the LGBT community, which has had to depend on the Democratic Party to do any of its bidding in Congress.
Posted in Campaigns, Election 2010, News, Politics, Senate
By Dana Rudolph on October 13, 2010
Neither the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) nor Governor Charlie Crist will appeal a September 22 ruling that overturned the state ban on adoption by gay men or lesbians. But will state Attorney General Bill McCollum appeal on his own?
Posted in Law, Lawsuits, News, State Courts
By Lisa Keen on October 12, 2010
A federal judge in California Tuesday issued an order to put an “immediate” and global halt to all discharges and investigations under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, News
By Lisa Keen on October 7, 2010
Fred Phelps’ followers say their hate-filled messages constitute a contribution to public discourse. But, in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, attorney Sean Summers argued that these messages, when conveyed outside the funeral of a fallen soldier, inflict an injury for which the group should be made liable.
Posted in Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on October 6, 2010
Claiming that the Department of Justice is not doing enough to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) has asked a federal court for permission to serve as an intervenor-defendant in two cases expected to come before the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, News
By Dana Rudolph on October 5, 2010
The U.S. Department of Education announced the awarding of $38.8 million in grants to 11 states from a new Safe and Supportive School program, just days after a media blitz about the bullying-related suicides of five teenagers. But the grants weren’t made in reaction to the recent news.
Posted in National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on October 4, 2010
There are some important First Amendment cases coming before the U.S. Supreme Court in the session that begins today. The most important case for the LGBT community at the moment is Snyder v. Phelps, which the court will hear on Wednesday, October 6.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on October 1, 2010
President Obama announced that White House senior adviser Peter Rouse will take over immediately as his Chief of Staff, replacing Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel is leaving his post to launch a campaign to run for mayor of Chicago.
Posted in News, Politics, White House
By Lisa Keen on September 24, 2010
For the second time this month, a federal judge has ruled Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell violates the federal constitution.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, Lawsuits, News
By Dana Rudolph on September 23, 2010
Florida Governor Charlie Crist (I) and George Sheldon, head of the state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), said they would no longer enforce the state ban on adoption by gay men and lesbians.
Posted in Adoption, Law, Lawsuits, News, State Courts
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