Category Archives: Congress

Leahy submits language to help bi-national same-sex couples

As expected, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy introduced amendments Tuesday (May 7) to enable gay citizens to sponsor their “permanent” same-sex partners for immigration, under the proposed comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

House passes inclusive bill for victims of domestic abuse

In a major victory for Democrats, the U.S. House voted Thursday to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

LGBT candidates score long list of firsts

A first-ever openly gay person elected U.S. Senator, the largest ever number of openly LGBT people elected to Congress, two new speakers at state houses, the first-ever openly transgender person elected to a state legislature, and the first openly LGBT

White House threatens veto as House omits LGBTs in two bills

Despite a warning that President Obama may exercise his veto power, the U.S. House Wednesday (May 16) approved a version of the Violence Against Women Act that omits provisions, approved in the Senate, to help LGBT victims of domestic violence.

House GOP shoot down effort to insert LGBT protections in VAWA

In a strict party line vote, Republicans on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee rejected three attempts Tuesday (May 7) to add protections for LGBT victims of domestic abuse in a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

Senate defeats effort to drop LGBT protections from domestic abuse bill

A casual listener to U.S. Senate debate Thursday (April 26) would not have heard the skirmish over protections for LGBT victims of domestic abuse.

Anti-bullying measures left out of education bill

In a blow to activists seeking to stop anti-gay bullying, two proposals to address bullying in schools were left out of an education reform bill approved by a U.S. Senate committee October 20.

Nov. 3 set for DOMA repeal vote in committee

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will debate and vote on a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on Wednesday, November 3. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced the scheduling Tuesday, October 25.

Gay Dems split over debt ceiling bill; LGBT groups worry about its bottom line

The U.S. Senate gave final Congressional approval Tuesday to a bill raising the nation’s current $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by $2 trillion, but it’s a bill that calls for $2 trillion in federal spending cuts that worry LGBT and AIDS

Hearing on repeal of DOMA: It’s not just the economy

U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a legendary civil rights activist, led off Wednesday's historic hearing to discuss repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, likening it to laws decades ago that requires separate water fountains and restrooms for "whites" and "coloreds."