By Lisa Keen on April 29, 2010
No on 8 groups turned over CDs of “highly confidential” material to attorneys for the Yes on 8 coalition this week, ending a months-long effort to fight a court order to do so.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, Lawsuits, News
By Lisa Keen on April 27, 2010
When President Obama signed a memorandum this month, calling for an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians in hospital visitation policies, many unmarried LGBT people assumed that meant hospitals would no longer be able to bar them from being with their partners during a time of medical crisis.
But not all presidential memoranda are created equal: Some go into effect immediately; some require months of rule-making bureaucracy and are subject to public comment.
Posted in A closer look, National Politics, News, Politics, White House
By Lisa Keen on April 24, 2010
In an historic move, President Obama this month nominated an openly gay person, Edward DuMont, to a federal appeals court judgeship—the first such openly gay nomination at that level. He also becomes the first openly gay man to be nominated to a federal judgeship.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, News
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 Dana Rudolph on April 22, 2010
From the beginning of the Obama administration, the general attitude of the LGBT people was that things would be better for the community than they were under the administration of President George W. Bush. But even from the beginning, there were signs that protections for LGBT youth might not be better and that “safe schools” might not be a priority for the Department of Education (DOE).
Posted in A closer look, National Politics, News, White House
By Lisa Keen on April 21, 2010
In what may be a legal first, a national gay legal group has filed suit against a national gay sports group for discriminating based on sexual orientation—against straights and bisexuals.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, Lawsuits, News
By Lisa Keen on April 20, 2010
By the time a lawsuit reaches the U.S. Supreme Court, the facts of the conflict are rarely in dispute. But Monday’s oral argument at the Supreme Court revealed a great deal of confusion over those very basic facts of the case.
Posted in Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on April 17, 2010
The confirmation hearing Friday, April 16, for a well-known liberal nominee to a federal appeals court deteriorated quickly into a political battlefield. Republicans seemed intent on settling old scores.
Posted in Congress, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, Nominees, Politics
By Lisa Keen on April 16, 2010
A mainstream news organization has published a story identifying as gay a prominent public official who has never identified as such. The subject of the story is U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan, reportedly one of President Obama’s leading contenders to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.
Posted in News, Politics, White House
By Lisa Keen on April 16, 2010
President Obama issued a surprise memorandum Thursday night, April 15, calling for an end to discrimination against LGBT people by hospital visitation policies that limit visitors to immediate family members.
Posted in News, Politics, White House
By Lisa Keen on April 15, 2010
The White House has begun floating trial balloons for candidates President Obama might appoint to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, News, Politics, U.S. Supreme Court, White House
By Dana Rudolph on April 14, 2010
The Obama administration’s proposal to reform the nation’s educational system includes no specific call for anti-bullying programs in schools, and no mention of protections for students from harassment or discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This is despite the fact that an openly gay man with considerable experience in combating such bullying heads the Department of Education (DOE) Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
Posted in A closer look, News, Politics, White House
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 11, 2010
Some court observers credit U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens with having forged a majority of the court to overturn laws banning private sexual relations between persons of the same sex—the most beneficial gay-related decision ever rendered by the Supreme Court.
Posted in Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on April 9, 2010
U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who turns 90 this month, announced today he will retire from the high court at the end of June. The potential impact of the retirement will be measured once President Obama nominates a replacement who is confirmed by the Senate.
Posted in Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on April 8, 2010
Lesbian law professor Chai Feldblum was sworn in as one of five commissioners on the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC). President Obama nominated Feldblum in September and she was approved along with other EEOC nominees during a Senate committee vote in December. But a Republican senator put Feldblum’s nomination, along with others, on an indefinite hold.
Posted in Congress, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on April 7, 2010
When Concerned Women of America, the Boy Scouts, and Evangelical Scholars line up on one side of a legal case, one might naturally assume that gay groups are lined up on the other side.
Christian Legal Society v. Martinez is not that case—at least not perfectly.
Posted in Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
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 29, 2010
Using a constitutional provision known as a “recess appointment,” President Obama on Saturday appointed lesbian law professor Chai Feldblum and three others to positions on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Posted in Congress, Issues, News, Nominees, Politics, White House
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