OPINION: 40 Years After Stonewall, Still Second-Class Americans
Posted on Jun 30, 2009 at 08:34 pm
The New York Times
June 27, 2009
It’s a press cliché that “gay supporters” are disappointed with Obama - we should all be. Gay Americans aren’t just another political special interest group. They are Americans who are actively discriminated against by federal laws. If the president is to properly honor the memory of Stonewall, he should get up to speed on what happened there 40 years ago, when courageous kids who had nothing, not even a public acknowledgment of their existence, stood up to make history happen in the least likely of places. [Link]
June 27, 2009
It’s a press cliché that “gay supporters” are disappointed with Obama - we should all be. Gay Americans aren’t just another political special interest group. They are Americans who are actively discriminated against by federal laws. If the president is to properly honor the memory of Stonewall, he should get up to speed on what happened there 40 years ago, when courageous kids who had nothing, not even a public acknowledgment of their existence, stood up to make history happen in the least likely of places. [Link]
Representative Jared Polis on DOMA and that DOMA brief
Posted on Jun 30, 2009 at 07:38 pm
AMERICAblog
June 29, 2009
Congress is in recess, so Rep. Polis was in his district Monday, not at the White House party. For those who don't know him yet, Polis is an openly gay, first-term Democrat from Colorado. Chuck Todd interviewed Polis on Hardball about Obama and gay issues. I found the DOMA segment particularly interesting. Polis made it quite clear that the problem was the DOMA brief. Polis explained, as we and many others have explained, that the Obama administration didn't have to defend the law and certainly didn't have to respond in the way they did:
[Link]
June 29, 2009
Congress is in recess, so Rep. Polis was in his district Monday, not at the White House party. For those who don't know him yet, Polis is an openly gay, first-term Democrat from Colorado. Chuck Todd interviewed Polis on Hardball about Obama and gay issues. I found the DOMA segment particularly interesting. Polis made it quite clear that the problem was the DOMA brief. Polis explained, as we and many others have explained, that the Obama administration didn't have to defend the law and certainly didn't have to respond in the way they did:
[Link]
President Obama Recommits Himself and His Administration to LGBT Campaign Promises
Posted on Jun 29, 2009 at 08:42 pm
Law Dork, 2.0
June 29, 2009
The President of the United States, the leader of the free world, spent 20 minutes this afternoon telling the world that he views Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell as harmful to national security, that he is calling on Congress to repeal the “so-called” — his words — Defense of Marriage Act, and that he wants a fully inclusive ENDA and hate crimes bills on his desk. In all, I think the President used today well to acknowledge our impatience while not diminishing it, saying, “It’s not for me to tell you to be patient.” The President clearly recommitted himself and his Administration to the campaign promises he made to us. Yes, I want to see more action, and, sure, there is room for improvement — particularly in regards to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — but I am glad to hear directly from our President that he realizes our struggle and wants to work with us — and use his role in the White House — to advance LGBT equality. [Link]
June 29, 2009
The President of the United States, the leader of the free world, spent 20 minutes this afternoon telling the world that he views Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell as harmful to national security, that he is calling on Congress to repeal the “so-called” — his words — Defense of Marriage Act, and that he wants a fully inclusive ENDA and hate crimes bills on his desk. In all, I think the President used today well to acknowledge our impatience while not diminishing it, saying, “It’s not for me to tell you to be patient.” The President clearly recommitted himself and his Administration to the campaign promises he made to us. Yes, I want to see more action, and, sure, there is room for improvement — particularly in regards to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — but I am glad to hear directly from our President that he realizes our struggle and wants to work with us — and use his role in the White House — to advance LGBT equality. [Link]
White House Reaffirms Commitment to Repeal So Called Federal DOMA
Posted on Jun 29, 2009 at 08:28 pm
The White House Briefing Room
June 29, 2009
Today's event is more than just a reception honoring LGBT Pride month. It is an opportunity for the Administration to provide the world with a snap shot of the real heroes across the country that do the day-to-day work fighting for equality. People like State Representative Patricia Todd in Alabama to Sheriff Lupe Valdez in Dallas, and many other local LGBT elected officials that will be here today. And it’s people – ordinary families – that by simply living their lives openly are changing hearts and minds. It is also an opportunity to welcome the people upon whom shoulders we stand, people like Frank Kameny, as well as Phil Wilson, Bishop Robinson and Ambassador Hormel, and those who stood up to bigotry at Stonewall. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We will work together to pass Hate Crimes and ENDA and to end DADT and DOMA, but today is an opportunity to celebrate who we are and affirm who we are as Americans. [Link]
June 29, 2009
Today's event is more than just a reception honoring LGBT Pride month. It is an opportunity for the Administration to provide the world with a snap shot of the real heroes across the country that do the day-to-day work fighting for equality. People like State Representative Patricia Todd in Alabama to Sheriff Lupe Valdez in Dallas, and many other local LGBT elected officials that will be here today. And it’s people – ordinary families – that by simply living their lives openly are changing hearts and minds. It is also an opportunity to welcome the people upon whom shoulders we stand, people like Frank Kameny, as well as Phil Wilson, Bishop Robinson and Ambassador Hormel, and those who stood up to bigotry at Stonewall. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We will work together to pass Hate Crimes and ENDA and to end DADT and DOMA, but today is an opportunity to celebrate who we are and affirm who we are as Americans. [Link]
Political Shifts on Gay Rights Lag Behind Culture
Posted on Jun 27, 2009 at 06:12 pm
New York Times
June 27, 2009
"America is changing more quickly than the government,” said Linda Ketner, a gay Democrat from South Carolina who came within four percentage points of winning a Congressional seat in November. “They are lagging behind the crowd. But if I remember my poli sci from college, isn’t that the way it always works?” [link]
June 27, 2009
"America is changing more quickly than the government,” said Linda Ketner, a gay Democrat from South Carolina who came within four percentage points of winning a Congressional seat in November. “They are lagging behind the crowd. But if I remember my poli sci from college, isn’t that the way it always works?” [link]
A grassroots movement to end DOMA
Posted on Jun 24, 2009 at 05:44 pm
People For the American Way
June 24, 2009
The so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has got to go. And with the support of our members, People For the American Way is going to wage the fight to make sure that happens. Marriage equality for same-sex couples is now a reality in six states, and there will be more to come soon. But even as barriers are being broken down in the states, DOMA remains a roadblock to legal recognition of same-sex couples, to legal and social equality, to benefits and protections that committed, loving families have the right to enjoy -- around healthcare decisions, child custody and so much more. The effort to repeal DOMA is a true ground-up, "movement-style" campaign and that's why we need as many people involved and invested in it as possible. [Link]
June 24, 2009
The so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has got to go. And with the support of our members, People For the American Way is going to wage the fight to make sure that happens. Marriage equality for same-sex couples is now a reality in six states, and there will be more to come soon. But even as barriers are being broken down in the states, DOMA remains a roadblock to legal recognition of same-sex couples, to legal and social equality, to benefits and protections that committed, loving families have the right to enjoy -- around healthcare decisions, child custody and so much more. The effort to repeal DOMA is a true ground-up, "movement-style" campaign and that's why we need as many people involved and invested in it as possible. [Link]
Gay couples can use married names on passports
Posted on Jun 20, 2009 at 12:17 am
The Associated Press
June 19, 2009
Gay couples traveling overseas can now show passports that feature their married names. Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, a New York-based group that campaigns nationally for gay marriage rights, said the change in passport regulations is a "very small step in the right direction," but falls "far short of the work that needs to happen to keep the federal government from discriminating against gay couples across the country." [link]
June 19, 2009
Gay couples traveling overseas can now show passports that feature their married names. Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, a New York-based group that campaigns nationally for gay marriage rights, said the change in passport regulations is a "very small step in the right direction," but falls "far short of the work that needs to happen to keep the federal government from discriminating against gay couples across the country." [link]
White House: Census to better count gay couples
Posted on Jun 19, 2009 at 11:36 pm
The Associated Press
June 19, 2009
U.S. Census Bureau officials said Friday that married same-sex couples will be counted as such in the 2010 national tally, reversing an earlier decision made under the Bush administration. Steve Jost, a spokesman for the Census Bureau, said officials already were identifying the technical changes needed to ensure the reliability of the information, but remained committed to providing an accurate tally of gay spouses. [link]
June 19, 2009
U.S. Census Bureau officials said Friday that married same-sex couples will be counted as such in the 2010 national tally, reversing an earlier decision made under the Bush administration. Steve Jost, a spokesman for the Census Bureau, said officials already were identifying the technical changes needed to ensure the reliability of the information, but remained committed to providing an accurate tally of gay spouses. [link]
Video Log: Kate Clinton
Posted on Jun 18, 2009 at 06:59 pm
KateClinton.com
June 18, 2009
Comedian Kate Clinton is pissed! Check out her weekly Vlog talking about DOMA, the federal benefits extension memorandum, and other current events below:
[Link]
June 18, 2009
Comedian Kate Clinton is pissed! Check out her weekly Vlog talking about DOMA, the federal benefits extension memorandum, and other current events below:
[Link]
Federal marriage equality challenge is a Hollywood tale
Posted on Jun 18, 2009 at 06:39 pm
Reuters
June 18, 2009
The story of two famous U.S. lawyers from opposite ends of the political spectrum banding together to launch a bold and unexpected fight for marriage equality sounds like it could have been written in Hollywood. Their bid, which has its first hearing in a San Francisco federal district court on July 2, could make gay marriage a national right in a few years -- or cripple the movement. "The lawsuit has been filed. We all have an interest in it going as well as possible," said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry. "The best way is to win more states and to continue moving more hearts and minds," he said. A loss could mean years before the Supreme Court revisited the freedom to marry, even if societal attitudes change. Moreover, an opinion backing marriage for only heterosexual couples could backlash against gays in other legal fights. It could take a couple of years for the case to wind its way up to the Supreme Court, which also could refuse to hear it. In the mean time, the public debate led by the super-lawyers may help the marriage equality cause. [Link]
June 18, 2009
The story of two famous U.S. lawyers from opposite ends of the political spectrum banding together to launch a bold and unexpected fight for marriage equality sounds like it could have been written in Hollywood. Their bid, which has its first hearing in a San Francisco federal district court on July 2, could make gay marriage a national right in a few years -- or cripple the movement. "The lawsuit has been filed. We all have an interest in it going as well as possible," said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry. "The best way is to win more states and to continue moving more hearts and minds," he said. A loss could mean years before the Supreme Court revisited the freedom to marry, even if societal attitudes change. Moreover, an opinion backing marriage for only heterosexual couples could backlash against gays in other legal fights. It could take a couple of years for the case to wind its way up to the Supreme Court, which also could refuse to hear it. In the mean time, the public debate led by the super-lawyers may help the marriage equality cause. [Link]