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
By Dana Rudolph on March 26, 2010
Three U.S. representatives have introduced separate bills in the past week designed to protect LGBT people from discrimination in housing. The flurry of interest comes when more popular LGBT bills are still awaiting critical votes and during an election year fraught with political tugs-of-war.
Posted in Congress, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on March 25, 2010
The Senate Judiciary Committee was squaring up for a showdown this week over President Obama’s most controversial judicial nominee to date, but that showdown has been indefinitely delayed, while Republicans use a parliamentary delaying tactic on the companion bill to the health care reform law.
Posted in Congress, Federal Courts, Law, News, Nominees, Politics
By Chuck Colbert on March 21, 2010
Rep. Tammy Baldwin acknowledged that the pro-gay provisions she sought in the health care reform legislation have not survived. But Baldwin also said that she has counted the votes in the House on two major pro-gay pieces of legislation and believes the votes for passage are there.
Posted in Congress, Health, Issues, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on March 5, 2010
Legislation can be like a train: It runs on a track, makes certain stops along the way, and is often attached to other trains. But, in Congress, the train doesn’t run on time.
Last October, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would likely get a House committee vote in September and a floor vote that fall. Didn’t happen.
Posted in A closer look, Congress, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on March 1, 2010
At least one senator has put a secret hold on the confirmation of openly gay law professor Chai Feldblum and four others to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Posted in Congress, News, Politics
By Chuck Colbert on February 3, 2010
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen told a Senate committee they have appointed a high-level working group to report on how the military can adapt should Congress choose to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Patti Tihey on January 28, 2010
Scott Brown’s special election victory this month, taking the late Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat, could have the power to derail passage of pro-gay civil rights legislation this year.
Posted in Congress, National Politics, News, Politics
By Dana Rudolph on January 26, 2010
Three openly gay members of the U.S. House of Representatives, along with 91 of their colleagues, have sent a letter to President Obama urging him to do everything he can to stop a bill in Uganda that calls for harsh penalties against gays.
Posted in Congress, HIV/AIDS, International, Law, National Politics, News, Politics, White House
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 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 2, 2009
The late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy was seen as one of Congress’ strongest supporters of civil rights for gays, yet in his autobiography, True Compass, he mentions almost no gay people and says almost nothing about civil rights for gays. The one exception was a brief recollection of a meeting he and other senators had with President Bill Clinton who had asked to hear their views concerning gays in the military.
Posted in A closer look, Congress, National Politics, Politics
Minnesota: Where the push for a marriage license began
Immigration bill advances without provisions for same-sex couples
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