By Lisa Keen on July 14, 2010
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is not on the agenda for Senate floor action for the next few weeks, prior to the August 9 recess. The Senate will take up work on as many as nine matters during the next month, but none of those are ENDA.
Posted in Congress, ENDA, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Dana Rudolph on June 29, 2010
The immediate replacement for U.S. Senator Robert Byrd will most likely be chosen by the governor, not by a special election—and that is good news for the chances of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 28, 2010
The U.S. House voted 234 to 194 Thursday night to approve a compromise amendment that many believe will—with some conditions—eventually lead to the end of the military’s policy of discharging gay servicemembers.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on May 5, 2010
Wording is everything in politics. What is not said can sometimes be more important than what is said, and what is said can be subjected to a multitude of interpretations that transform a simple sentence into a powerful new expectation.
Such has been the case with this statement, made by President Barack Obama in January during his State of the Union speech: “This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country.”
He did not say that he and Congress would “repeal the law this year.” He said he would work with Congress on it this year.
Posted in A Closer Look, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics, White House
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 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 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 26, 2010
One of the 41 amendments which the U.S. Senate voted on this week, while passing the companion bill of “fixes” to the landmark health care legislation, was an amendment to allow Washington, D.C. voters to hold a referendum on same-sex marriage. The amendment was defeated 36 to 59, with the newest—and Republican—senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, joining his party with a yes vote.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, National Politics, News, News Briefs, 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 Lisa Keen on January 29, 2010
President Obama side-stepped a question Thursday about what he’s doing “now” to ensure that gay couples “are treated as equal citizens,” but there was a signal from the Pentagon that same day that movement may be coming on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, Marriage/Relationships, National Politics, News, Politics, White House
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 Lisa Keen on January 28, 2010
Gay leaders offered only a lukewarm reception Wednesday night for President Obama’s statement, in his State of the Union address, that he would work for the repeal of the military’s discriminatory policy against gays.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics, White House
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 Chuck Colbert on January 16, 2010
Tuesday’s special election for the U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts took an ugly turn in the last few days, with a national anti-gay organization now playing the anti-gay marriage card in an apparent move to turn out social conservatives to vote for Republican Scott Brown.
Posted in Campaigns, Issues, Marriage/Relationships, National Politics, News, Politics
By Chuck Colbert on January 14, 2010
It may well be shaping up as nail-bitter. The race to fill the U. S. Senate seat held by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy has tightened up considerably in the past few days.
Posted in Campaigns, National Politics, News, 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 Lisa Keen on January 5, 2010
Amanda Simpson started work this week as one of the first transgender persons ever to receive a presidential appointment to an executive branch post in any administration. The honor as the first belongs to Dylan Orr, a 30-year-old law school graduate from Seattle.
Posted in National Politics, News, Politics, White House
By Lisa Keen on December 11, 2009
At least four prominent gays were on the guest list for the Obama White House’s first State Dinner, with India, November 24. Hollywood producer David Geffen attended with his partner Jeremy Lingvall; Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg attended with his partner Tom Healy; and former National Gay and Lesbian Task Force leader Urvashi Vaid and her partner comedian Kate Clinton.
Posted in A Closer Look, National Politics, Politics, White House
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
Gay issues continue to dominate as Senate committee recommends Kagan’s nomination
DADT trial opens to little notice
Two giant blows against DOMA
Movement to ban gay adoption: sacrificing the well-being of children