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National Politics

Senate confirms first openly gay man to federal bench

Senate confirms first openly gay man to federal bench

By Lisa Keen on July 19, 2011

The U.S. Senate Monday evening (July 18) approved the confirmation of openly gay attorney J. Paul Oetken to serve as a U.S. district court judge.

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Church supports rights of LGBT parents and their children

Church supports rights of LGBT parents and their children

By Dana Rudolph on July 12, 2011

The United Church of Christ (UCC), the denomination to which President Obama belonged for two decades, resoundingly approved two resolutions support of civil rights for LGBT people–including the first-ever resolution by a major Christian denomination affirming the right of LGBT parents to adopt and raise children.

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Schools have right to form GSAs, reminds Department of Education

Schools have right to form GSAs, reminds Department of Education

By Dana Rudolph on June 16, 2011

Schools receiving federal funds must provide equal access to school resources for all student groups, including gay-straight alliances (GSAs), said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a “Dear Colleague” letter to educators on June 14.

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Jennings leaving, but says White House commitment stays

Jennings leaving, but says White House commitment stays

By Dana Rudolph on June 1, 2011

Kevin Jennings, the openly gay head of the federal office that manages its largest safe-schools and anti-bullying programs, will be leaving the U.S. Department of Education next month. But he said President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan remain committed to addressing the bullying of LGBT students.

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Fighting without funds: Federal money pulls out of the war on bullying

Fighting without funds: Federal money pulls out of the war on bullying

By Dana Rudolph on May 31, 2011

When Congress and the White House worked out their differences in early April concerning the Fiscal Year 2011 budget, it was clear that some programs important to the LGBT community would take a hit. But the consequences of their final agreement are now being felt.

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As DOMA lawsuits proliferate, Boehner has a spending problem

As DOMA lawsuits proliferate, Boehner has a spending problem

By Lisa Keen on May 17, 2011

The Antideficiency Act is not the sort of federal law that an ordinary American would be familiar with. It applies to government officials who are in a position to spend government money. And it prohibits those officials from spending federal money unless Congress appropriates it to be spent.

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House Committee approves three DADT/DOMA amendments

House Committee approves three DADT/DOMA amendments

By Lisa Keen on May 12, 2011

The full U.S. House Armed Services Committee approved three amendments late Wednesday night that seek to delay implementation of repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and to reiterate Congress’s support for the Defense of Marriage Act.

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New bill seeks end to adoption bias

New bill seeks end to adoption bias

By Dana Rudolph on May 6, 2011

Hundreds of thousands of children are in foster care in the United States, while discrimination prevents millions of willing LGBT people from being able to foster or adopt. U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) reintroduced a bill that aims to fix that discrepancy.

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With children in need, states struggle over gay adoptive parents

With children in need, states struggle over gay adoptive parents

By Dana Rudolph on April 27, 2011

Each year, over 100,000 children in the U.S. foster care system are waiting for adoptive homes. And over two million gay and lesbian people are interested in adopting a child. But legislative and court battles are being waged in several states over whether gay and lesbian people should be allowed to adopt.

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HHS urges child welfare agencies to better serve LGBTQ youth

HHS urges child welfare agencies to better serve LGBTQ youth

By Dana Rudolph on April 20, 2011

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a memo April 6 encouraging child welfare agencies to better serve the needs of “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth” in the foster care system.

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House hired gun goes to work on DOMA; HRC attacks

House hired gun goes to work on DOMA; HRC attacks

By Lisa Keen on April 19, 2011

The U.S. House has obligated itself to pay more than $500,000 for outside attorneys to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in federal courts. And the House has chosen a firm which clearly prides itself on including LGBT lawyers among its staff.

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New ad campaign promotes equal access to housing for LGBTs

New ad campaign promotes equal access to housing for LGBTs

By Dana Rudolph on April 12, 2011

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it is launching a national media campaign to promote equal access to housing regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, among other characteristics.

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LGBTs comprise 3.5 percent of U.S. adult population

LGBTs comprise 3.5 percent of U.S. adult population

By Lisa Keen on April 8, 2011

Remember this number: 9 million. And this percentage: 3.5. The former is the current best estimate of the number of adults in the U.S. who identify as LGBT; the latter is the percentage that number represents within the total number of adults in the U.S.

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DADT certification likely mid-summer

DADT certification likely mid-summer

By Lisa Keen on April 1, 2011

Pentagon officials told a House subcommittee Friday that training for implementation of repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has gone “extremely well so far” and that certification to Congress might come by mid-summer.

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Senate confirmations: A partisan pelt-and-wait game

Senate confirmations: A partisan pelt-and-wait game

By Lisa Keen on March 22, 2011

It looked like a cake-walk: President Obama nominated openly gay attorney Paul Oetken to a federal district court bench in Manhattan two months ago, and just last week, he had a confirmation hearing.

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DOMA repeal: All hands now on deck

DOMA repeal: All hands now on deck

By Lisa Keen on March 16, 2011

When U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced the Respect for Marriage Act in 2009, he conceded there was little chance for passage in the 111th Congress. Clearly, something’s changed.

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White House Calls for Coordinated Anti-Bullying Efforts

White House Calls for Coordinated Anti-Bullying Efforts

By Dana Rudolph on March 11, 2011

The White House held a high-visibility conference on bullying prevention March 10, with the President and First Lady calling on parents, teachers, students, and communities to address the problem together.

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Student anti-bullying, non-discrimination bills face uncertain path

Student anti-bullying, non-discrimination bills face uncertain path

By Dana Rudolph on March 9, 2011

Members of Congress are introducing a flurry of bills this week designed to address bullying and harassment of students, including LGBT students, and timed to coincide with a major White House conference on bullying prevention March 10.

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Gay federal appeals nominee: 11 months and still waiting for hearing

Gay federal appeals nominee: 11 months and still waiting for hearing

By Lisa Keen on March 7, 2011

Republican members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee have been holding up the nomination of President Obama’s only openly gay nominee to a federal appeals bench.

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House plays “chicken” with budget votes; seeks huge cuts in current year

House plays “chicken” with budget votes; seeks huge cuts in current year

By Lisa Keen on February 21, 2011

The U.S. House of Representatives over the weekend passed a $1.2 trillion budget for the current Fiscal Year (FY 2011), one that includes significant cuts likely to impact the LGBT community and “massive” cuts to programs for people with HIV.

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A Closer Look

Ginsburg on Roe: Is it a signal she’d curb a decision on marriage?Ginsburg on Roe: Is it a signal she’d curb a decision on marriage?

The LGBT community sees U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a likely vote for equal protection in the two pending major cases involving marriage for same-sex couples.

But various mainstream media outlets recently jostled that confidence by noting that she continues to express the view that the landmark abortion rights decision, Roe v. Wade, went “too far too fast.” If the court’s most veteran supporter of equal rights for women believes Roe moved “too far too fast,” could she be urging an incremental approach to another controversial issue – marriage for same-sex couples?

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Breaking News

Leahy submits language to help bi-national same-sex couplesLeahy 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.

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Delaware votes for marriage equality; becomes 11th state to make it the lawDelaware votes for marriage equality; becomes 11th state to make it the law

Just minutes before the Delaware Senate was set to vote on its marriage equality bill, a Democrat senator who had been quiet about how she would vote announced on her Facebook page that she would vote yes.

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Rhode Island marriage law signed; Two more states could vote next weekRhode Island marriage law signed; Two more states could vote next week

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee signed a marriage equality bill into law this evening, just an hour after the state House gave the measure its final procedural approval. Two more states could approve marriage for same-sex couples next week.

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President praises pro athlete Jason Collins for courage to come outPresident praises pro athlete Jason Collins for courage to come out

President Obama expressed his support for the decision by professional basketball player Jason Collins to come out this week in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

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Rhode Island marriage bill clears final hurdle with all RepublicansRhode Island marriage bill clears final hurdle with all Republicans

After a moving speech by a senator who described herself as a lifelong, devout Catholic and said she would support marriage equality, the Rhode Island Senate Wednesday afternoon voted to approve a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in the state.

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