ad_email

Policies

KeenNewsService.com is the website of Keen News Service, LLC, an independent, commercial news organization that produces and copyrights original work for sale to news organizations and other select clients for their publications. News articles appear on keennewsservice.com 24 hours after they have been distributed to clients.

Re-use restrictions: Keen News Service is the sole owner and copyright holder of material it sells to clients and publishes on this site. This material may not be replicated, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the expressed, written authorization of Lisa Keen, president of Keen News Service. Bloggers, for non-commercial purposes, are welcome to reference and link to Keen News Service articles through either keennewsservice.com or its paying clients.

Advertising: Goods and services of third parties may be advertised and/or made available on or through this Web site. Representations made regarding products and services provided by third parties are governed by the policies and representations made by these third parties. Keen News Service and keennewsservice.com accepts no liability or responsibility for such policies, representations, or customer reliance on such policies and representations of third parties.

Privacy Policy: Keen News Service and keennewsservice.com will not sell, share, or swap personally identifying information that is collected through this site, unless required to by law. It may use site-visitor information in aggregate for statistical, marketing, and other purposes. Visitors to the site should be aware that some companies that advertise on this site may track visitor activity for their advertising through the use of cookies. Visitors to this site have the option to turn off cookies in their computer’s browser.

Independence: Freelance reporters for Keen News Service warrant that they have no conflict of interest in stories on which they report and that they receive no payment or consideration from the subjects of their news articles or from persons or entities who stand to gain from news articles.

Posting comments: Keen News Service welcomes relevant comments on its news articles. Lisa Keen has no duty to monitor and delete inappropriate comments but will, in her sole discretion, delete any comment she considers slanderous, hateful, threatening, too far off topic, aimed at promoting a commercial venture, disrespectful, or otherwise inappropriate. (Persons and companies interested in advertising or sponsoring opportunities on this site should email advertising@keennewsservice.com.)

Podcast

Keen News Service Podcast, 7/10/2010


News Briefs

Kagan hearing: Day 1: partisan bickering

Except that she was wearing a bright blue jacket and sitting in the middle of the Senate hearing room, U.S. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan was, in one sense, invisible on the first day of her confirmation.

The members of the Senate Judiciary Committee spent much of their time Monday singing the praises of Senator Robert Byrd (D-WVa.) who died Sunday night, and much of the remaining time slinging partisan barbs at one another.

» more


White House hosts Pride event

It was not exactly the same rousing, sustained cheer of last year that greeted President Obama as he entered the East Room Tuesday evening for a reception in honor of LGBT Pride month. There was an awkward quiet as he shook some hands near the stage before making his remarks, and several moments of silence when normally one might have expected the requisite applause.

But the several hundred people attending the White House LGBT Pride Month Reception were enthusiastic in their reception of the president.

» more


Prop 8 proponents lose pre-closing skirmish

Closing arguments get underway Wednesday in the Proposition 8 case in California, and attorneys representing the various officials who campaigned for the ban on same-sex marriage were just dealt another blow.

» more


No cameras for Prop 8 closing

U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker gave no explanation late Wednesday for his decision to keep cameras out of the courtroom next week when he hears closing arguments in the landmark Proposition 8 trial.

» more


Breaking News

Gay issues continue to dominate as Senate committee recommends Kagan’s nominationGay issues continue to dominate as Senate committee recommends Kagan’s nomination

Both “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and same-sex marriage continued to be a prominent focus of the confirmation proceedings for Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, as the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday recommended the confirmation.

» more


ENDA prospects apparently goneENDA prospects apparently gone

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.

» more


DADT trial opens to little noticeDADT trial opens to little notice

While most people who are concerned about eliminating the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell law are focused on a bill in Congress and a survey by the Pentagon, there is important action elsewhere—in a federal district court in Riverside, California.

» more


Two giant blows against DOMATwo giant blows against DOMA

In an enormous victory for same-sex marriage, a federal judge in Boston Thursday, July 8, ruled—in two separate lawsuits—that a critical part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.

» more


Federal Judge Rules Part of DOMA UnconstitutionalFederal Judge Rules Part of DOMA Unconstitutional

In an enormous victory for same-sex marriage, a federal judge in Boston today ruled, in two separate cases, that a critical part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.

» more


A Closer Look

Movement to ban gay adoption: sacrificing the well-being of childrenMovement to ban gay adoption: sacrificing the well-being of children

The case of two gay foster parents in Florida has created a dilemma for the courts: either they honor state law banning adoption by gay men and lesbians or honor their duty to rule in the best interests of the children.

And beyond Florida, some LGBT experts and advocates think that adoption could be the next major target—after marriage equality—for opponents of LGBT civil rights.

» more