By Lisa Keen on December 8, 2010
All the focus was on Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins Wednesday, with the question being whether she could be persuaded to vote to end the Republican-led filibuster against the defense authorization bill.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 6, 2010
The second and final day of the Senate hearing on repealing “Don’t ask, don’t tell” has adjourned and the battle lines are still very much where they were at the beginning, with one exception.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 2, 2010
The Pentagon’s top four leaders stood their ground Thursday during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Defense Department’s report concerning Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal. But there was considerable pushback from Republicans on the committee—and not just John McCain.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 30, 2010
Defense Secretary Robert Gates sent mixed signals Tuesday, in releasing the Pentagon’s long-awaited study about how to implement repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. He said repeal “can and should be done,” but he urged Congress to consider the views of all-male combat units who expressed concern about negative consequences.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Dana Rudolph on November 19, 2010
A national task force dedicated to suicide prevention among LGBT youth will be part of the new National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, a public-private partnership supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Posted in Congress, Health, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 17, 2010
A key supporter of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is poised to deal the legislation a significant setback. Sen. Carl Levin, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a strong supporter of repeal, said he will hold hearings on the upcoming Pentagon study about implementation of repeal.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 15, 2010
When Congress came back to begin its lame-duck session on Monday, it was suddenly hearing mixed messages from LGBT groups concerning repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 11, 2010
A 370-page Pentagon study on implementing repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will report December 1 that repeal poses only minimal risk to current war efforts, according to an article posted Wednesday night in the Washington Post.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Dana Rudolph on November 11, 2010
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) this month announced a grant of up to $22.4 million for suicide prevention, some of which will be used to address the needs of LGBT youth.
Posted in Congress, Health, Issues, News
By Lisa Keen on November 7, 2010
Four days after President Obama said there will be enough time, “potentially,” to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” during the lame-duck Congress, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters that he is “not sure” what the prospects are for repealing it this year.
Posted in Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, News, Politics
By Dana Rudolph on November 7, 2010
A number of LGBT allies lost their races in last week’s elections–but one bit of positive news is that sponsoring LGBT-rights legislation did not negatively impact a candidate’s ability to win.
Posted in Campaigns, Election 2010, House, National Politics, News, Politics, Senate
By Lisa Keen on November 3, 2010
Among the more dismal losses in Tuesday’s results was the one in New Hampshire, where Republicans won a veto-proof majority in both the state House and Senate.
It gets worse.
Posted in Campaigns, Election 2010, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 2, 2010
All three Iowa Supreme Court justices up for retention this month have been given the boot. The vote sends a chilling message to other justices who face retention votes and must rule on the constitutionality of laws that adversely affect LGBT people.
Posted in Campaigns, Election 2010, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Courts, State Politics, State Supreme Courts
By Lisa Keen on November 2, 2010
The results for some high profile openly gay candidates are often mixed, and they were Tuesday night–with nine of eighteen openly LGBT candidates winning. But there was one big surprise Tuesday night and one shining star.
Posted in Campaigns, Election 2010, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 2, 2010
LGBT Election Night Scorecard
Posted in Campaigns, Election 2010, Politics
By Lisa Keen on October 28, 2010
President Obama said Wednesday (October 27) that he doesn’t think the “disillusionment” that some in the LGBT community have for his administration thus far is “justified.”
Posted in News, Politics, White House
By Dana Rudolph on October 27, 2010
Leaders of the U.S. House’s LGBT Equality Caucus called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tuesday to do more to stop suicides among LGBT youth, calling the suicides “a serious public health problem which cannot wait.”
Posted in Health, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on October 19, 2010
The likelihood of Democrats retaining a majority of the U.S. Senate has diminished dramatically in recent days. But the news is worse than that for the LGBT community, which has had to depend on the Democratic Party to do any of its bidding in Congress.
Posted in Campaigns, Election 2010, News, Politics, Senate
By Dana Rudolph on October 5, 2010
The U.S. Department of Education announced the awarding of $38.8 million in grants to 11 states from a new Safe and Supportive School program, just days after a media blitz about the bullying-related suicides of five teenagers. But the grants weren’t made in reaction to the recent news.
Posted in National Politics, News, Politics
By Lisa Keen on October 1, 2010
President Obama announced that White House senior adviser Peter Rouse will take over immediately as his Chief of Staff, replacing Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel is leaving his post to launch a campaign to run for mayor of Chicago.
Posted in News, Politics, White House
Ginsburg on Roe: Is it a signal she’d curb a decision on marriage?
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