Politics: June 2011
Watch: Obama's LGBT Pride Reception Speech
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 30, 2011 6:00 PM |Obama spoke last night at the LGBT Pride Reception he hosted at the White House, where he continued to deflect questions about how far along his evolution on marriage equality is. Read More
Washington Gov. Candidate Supports Marriage Equality
Filed by Don Davis | June 30, 2011 3:00 PM |Congressman Jay Inslee is running for the gubernatorial position in Washington state. He's pro-marriage and supports legalization of medical marijuana.Read More
Maine Launches Pro-Marriage Equality Ballot Initiative
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 30, 2011 1:00 PM |LGBT advocates in Maine announced plans today to pursue a 2012 ballot initiative for marriage equality. They are confident that despite the state's previous failures in citizen ballot initiatives, voters will approve marriage equality in 2012. Read More
Marriage Equality: How We Won New York
Filed by Marc Solomon | June 30, 2011 10:00 AM |How did we pull this historic victory off? With lessons from my work in marriage battles from Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and California to draw on, I want to share my best thinking on what enabled us to win and what this means for the future.Read More
Rhode Island Senate Grants Civil Unions
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 29, 2011 8:30 PM |The Rhode Island State Senate has approved a bill allowing civil unions for same-sex couples. But LGBT organizations are urging the Rhode Island governor to veto the bill, citing a discriminatory, counterproductive amendment in the bill.Read More
White House Hosts Briefing with Pride Reception Attendees
Filed by Bil Browning | June 29, 2011 2:45 PM |The Obama administration hosted a briefing for LGBT leaders who will be attending this afternoon's pride reception at the White House. I asked two questions of Matt Nosanchuk, the Senior Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice. Read More
GetEqual Livens Up Ho-Hum White House LGBT Pride Reception
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 29, 2011 1:15 PM |Pride Reception at the White House. Ho-hum boring, right? Not this year. Read More
13 Senators Release Group "It Gets Better" Video
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 29, 2011 12:40 PM |13 U.S. Senators, all co-sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act and most co-sponsors of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, have released a group "It Gets Better" video. Read More
Lawsuit Filed for Marriage Equality in New Jersey
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 29, 2011 11:00 AM |Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit today for marriage equality in New Jersey on behalf of Garden State Equality and seven same-sex couples. The state currently offers "civil unions," which the organization says fail to offer an equal status to marriage.Read More
Group Releases Investigation of DADT Survey Leak
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 29, 2011 9:15 AM |As certification for final repeal of DADT awaits, the Center for Military Readiness has leaked the investigation into the December 2010 leak of the survey that showed that U.S. military members really didn't care about serving alongside gay peers.Read More
NY's Marriage Equality Republicans May Face Backlash
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 28, 2011 6:00 PM |Since the vote on marriage equality in New York, the Republicans who voted in favor have faced opposition from conservatives, who have said they would pull funding from the senators and seek to unseat them during reelection campaigns.Read More
Christianists, the Bible and Tyranny of the Majority
Filed by Michael Hamar | June 28, 2011 9:00 AM |The arguments against marriage equality are disingenuous and brazenly ignore the U.S. Constitution's protections afforded to minorities. Read More
71 AT&T-Funded Democrats Endorse Merger
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 28, 2011 8:00 AM |76 Democratic members of Congress submitted a letter to the FCC and Department of Justice yesterday endorsing the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, the focus of the Gay T&T debacle. 70 received substantial campaign support from AT&T. Read More
Mass Dems Blast Brown Over Marriage Stance
Filed by Bil Browning | June 27, 2011 5:00 PM |Oh, what a different world the east coast is... I can't imagine this happening in Indiana where the Democratic party sends out mailers attacking same-sex couples and the minority leader votes for a marriage amendment.Read More
Catholics Ban Pro-Marriage NY Legislators
Filed by Bil Browning | June 27, 2011 11:00 AM |Not only are the beliefs of Catholic leaders still stuck in the Middle Ages, but their leadership style seems to still be glued there too.Read More
From the Lawn to the House, Bi Activist Makes History Again
Filed by Amy Andre | June 27, 2011 9:00 AM |Like President Obama, bisexual activist Lani Ka'ahumanu is mixed-race and has ties to Hawaii. She'll be bringing her heritage and their common background to the forefront when she meets him for the LGBT Pride Reception this week.Read More
Reopening For Business: What? No Flying Cars?
Filed by Don Davis | June 26, 2011 4:30 PM |In his first post in a few weeks, Don Davis shares his thoughts and commentary on a host of progressive issues and non-progressive scandals. Read More
Bachmann Responds to NY Marriage Equality
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 26, 2011 3:00 PM |Michele Bachmann, the Minnesota congresswoman who plans to run for president, reiterated her opposition to marriage equality while also saying that New York's decision was valid on the grounds that she supports states' rights.Read More
Gillibrand and Democracy for America Target DOMA Repeal
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 25, 2011 11:30 AM |Democracy for America and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand are looking to capitalize on the momentum of marriage equality passage in New York by making a renewed push to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. Read More
New York Senate Passes Marriage Equality 33-29
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 24, 2011 10:45 PM |After a week of deliberations, the marriage equality bill finally went to a vote tonight in the New York State Senate and passed by a vote of 33 to 29. The law will take effect 30 days after Gov. Cuomo signs the bill. Read More
Live Updates on NY Marriage Status
Filed by Rev. Emily C. Heath | June 24, 2011 12:00 PM |Rev. Emily Heath is spending the day in Albany to monitor New York's proposed legislation to legalize marriage equality. She'll be sending in dispatches throughout the day and this post will be updated as news comes in.Read More
Powerful #EvolveAlready Video
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 24, 2011 11:00 AM |GetEqual created a powerful video based on Joe Sudbay's #EvolveAlready campaign that's taken Twitter by storm. Read More
Obama Says Nothing New at DNC Fundraiser
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 24, 2011 8:00 AM |During a speech at an LGBT-specific fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee, Obama repeated past LGBT victories and reiterated that marriage equality decisions be left to individual states. Read More
Polis & Frank Roll With Ron Paul on Weed Reform
Filed by Bil Browning | June 23, 2011 7:15 PM |Have gay Representatives Barney Frank and Jared Polis been reading Andrew Belonsky on Bilerico Project? Andrew's post "Gay Rights Needs to Roll with Weed Reform," seems to have been taken to heart by the duo.Read More
Marriage: Live Updates From NY Statehouse
Filed by Rev. Emily C. Heath | June 23, 2011 8:45 AM |Rev Emily Heath is spending the day in Albany to monitor New York's proposed legislation to legalize marriage equality. She'll be sending in dispatches throughout the day and this post will be updated as news comes in.Read More
NY Marriage Vote Unlikely Tonight
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 22, 2011 9:30 PM |As finalized language is reached and bills are printed for several measures in the state senate, it's looking more and more likely that the vote on marriage equality in New York won't occur until Thursday. Read More
IL: Troubling Tax Loophole with Civil Unions
Filed by Waymon Hudson | June 22, 2011 5:30 PM |Opponents of full marriage equality for same-sex couples often ask why the LGBT community can't simply be happy with separate institutions and groupings of rights like civil unions and domestic partnerships. It seems pretty straightforward, but it's not.Read More
HHS Sec Sebelius Commits to Collecting LGBT Data in Health Surveys
Filed by Karen Ocamb | June 22, 2011 4:30 PM |You can't underestimate the importance of collecting data on LGBT people to better understand where problems lie and how to help. At a news conference on Tuesday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced they will start collecting LGBT data as part of federal health surveys.Read More
Celebrity Power Brokers Coming Out For Marriage Equality
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 22, 2011 3:00 PM |The Atlantic Wire has the scoop on Lance Bass, Cynthia Nixon, Michael Strahan, and Sean Avery, with videos. Read More
GOP's Huntsman Courts Gay Votes
Filed by Bil Browning | June 22, 2011 1:00 PM |After announcing his run for the presidency yesterday, Republican candidate Jon Huntsman told reporters that he would respect New York's marriage equality law and launched a fundraising campaign to win gay dollars.Read More
Live Updates from Albany: NY Marriage Vote
Filed by Rev. Emily C. Heath | June 22, 2011 8:30 AM |Rev Emily Heath is spending the day in Albany to monitor New York's proposed legislation to legalize marriage equality. She'll be sending in dispatches throughout the day and this post will be updated as news comes in.Read More
Not Just About Numbers: A Response From a Latino Democrat
Filed by Guest Blogger | June 21, 2011 7:30 PM |Recently, the president of the DC chapter of Log Cabin Republicans, penned a response to criticism by Bilerico's Alex Blaze regarding the lack of people of color in Log Cabin's national leadership. A Stonewall Democrat sets the record straight.Read More
How Obama's 'Evolution' on Marriage May Help Us
Filed by Jerame Davis | June 21, 2011 3:00 PM |Have we stopped to consider how Obama's "evolution" on marriage has benefitted us in media and public consciousness? By having this process of "evolving" on marriage, the media has kept a spotlight on the marriage debate in a way they likely would not have otherwise.Read More
Huntsman Joins GOP Crowd of White House Wannabees
Filed by Bil Browning | June 21, 2011 2:00 PM |Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman announced this morning that he would be seeking the GOP nomination for President. The moderate Republican is best known among the LGBT community for his support of civil unions.Read More
Liechtenstein Approves Civil Unions
Filed by Bil Browning | June 21, 2011 1:00 PM |The itty-bitty country of Liechtenstein has approved civil unions for gays and lesbians, but stopped short of including adoption rights. The measure was put up to a public vote and passed overwhelmingly.Read More
Justice Clarence Thomas' Growing Ethics Scandal
Filed by Michael Hamar | June 21, 2011 11:30 AM |Expensive gifts to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his pet projects appear to be continuing unabated. Read More
Michele Bachmann's 'Glittering' First Amendment Problem
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 21, 2011 9:00 AM |Michele Bachmann has equal disdain for the First Amendment and LGBT peopleRead More
Who We Are: A Response from a Black Log Cabin Republican
Filed by Guest Blogger | June 20, 2011 2:30 PM |Guest blogger Robert Turner, president of the DC Log Cabin Republicans, writes to rebut an earlier post about LCR's dearth of minority leadership. Turner is a black man and claims the piece is "nothing more than the status quo from the gay left."Read More
NY Marriage Vote: Live Updates from Albany
Filed by Rev. Emily C. Heath | June 20, 2011 11:30 AM |Rev Emily Heath is spending the day in Albany to monitor New York's proposed legislation to legalize marriage equality. She'll be sending in dispatches throughout the day and this post will be updated as news comes in.Read More
Conservatives Call for Violent Response to Glitterers
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 20, 2011 10:30 AM |Glitter isn't to blame. This is the Conservative zeitgeist, to whom violent thought is a habit, calling for violent deeds is a political modus operandi, and who are silent when violence results.Read More
Texas Gov Rick Perry's Ties to 'Hate-Monger' Bryan Fischer
Filed by Karen Ocamb | June 19, 2011 5:30 PM |The LGBT community should keep their eye on Texas Governor Rick Perry. While he's being touted as a potential GOP presidential candidate, Rachel Maddow examined his ties to hate-monger Bryan Fischer of the AFA.Read More
Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism Protest at LGBT Film Fest
Filed by Toshio Meronek | June 19, 2011 2:30 PM |The world's biggest LGBT film festival accepted funds from the Israeli Consulate, and Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism was on hand to protest outside of the Castro Theater.Read More
Senate's Proposed Defense Bill Leaves Out Antigay Amendments
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 18, 2011 12:00 PM |Three antigay amendments that appeared in the House defense bill were cut from the Senate's version, which included proposed elimination of the military's ban on sodomy.Read More
Latinos and LGBT Community Working Together on Immigration Reform
Filed by David Castillo | June 18, 2011 9:00 AM |A Netroots Nation session on "Immigration Reform Through a Queer Lens" demonstrated the power of bringing minority communities together to work toward common goals. Read More
White House Backs Off Forgery Response to 1996 Obama Marriage Support
Filed by Joe Mirabella | June 17, 2011 7:15 PM |At Netroots Nation on Friday, White House Communications Director Dan Pfifer received boos from the audience for insinuating a pro-marriage equality questionnaire Obama filled out years ago during state legislative election was a forgery. The White House would like to clarify.Read More
Obama Aide Dismisses 1996 Pro-Marriage Equality Questionnaires
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 17, 2011 3:00 PM |At Netroots Nation, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer said that two questionnaires from 1996, in which President Obama supported same-sex marriage, were not filled out by Obama.Read More
UN Human Rights Council Passes Pro-LGBT Resolution
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 17, 2011 1:30 PM |The resolution acknowledges the history of international violence against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity and pledges that this violence and discrimination violates human rights. Read More
Quantifying the Impact of Marriage Equality in NY
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 16, 2011 11:00 AM |A new study from The Williams Institute demonstrates just how many people stand to be positively affected by marriage equality in New York, which is under further consideration today. Read More
Rep Anthony Weiner Will Resign
Filed by Bil Browning | June 16, 2011 10:15 AM |Embattled Representative Anthony Weiner will resign his office according to Democratic sources. Just about every muckey-muck in the party has called for him to resign now - including President Obama.Read More
New York Marriage Equality May Face Vote This Week
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 15, 2011 7:30 PM |In the New York state senate and assembly, the marriage equality bill, submitted by Gov. Cuomo on Tuesday, was debated and its future - whether it would be put to a vote - was considered. Read More
The Anteater & the Mushroom: Debating Circumcision
Filed by Guest Blogger | June 15, 2011 3:00 PM |Guest blogger Alaric DeArment steps into the circumcision debate and the San Francisco ballot initiative to ban the archaic practice.Read More
Historic Prop 8 Ruling Rejects Effort to Disqualify Judge Walker
Filed by Kate Kendell | June 14, 2011 7:15 PM |Only 24 hours after hearing the Prop 8 supporters' motion to disqualify former U.S. District Court Chief Judge Walker and invalidate his ruling striking down Prop 8, Chief Judge James Ware issued an inspiring defense of the integrity of judges everywhere today.Read More
GOP Debate's LGBT Rights Recap
Filed by Waymon Hudson | June 14, 2011 3:00 PM |If there was any doubt about where the Republican field of presidential candidates stand on LGBT issues, last night's CNN debate should have cleared things up. When it came to basic rights for our community, there was really no debate at all.Read More
Rep. Allen West Fires Intern for Pro-Gay Retweet
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 13, 2011 1:30 PM |The anti-gay Republican representative from Florida, has "corrected" a Twitter misstep by firing the intern who retweeted a pro-gay statement from the Scissor Sisters. Read More
NY Marriage Equality Vote Next Week?
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 13, 2011 1:30 PM |HuffPo reports on high level negotiations and back room discussions on marriage equality in New YorkRead More
Examining Other Minority Groups' Opposition to Net Neutrality, Support of AT&T Merger
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 12, 2011 6:00 PM |After GLAAD's FCC debacle, it's surfaced that many other organizations with little obvious interest in net neutrality and the effects of the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, including the NAACP, LULAC, and NGLCC, have also weighed in on both subjects. But does their opposition to net neutrality make sense?Read More
Revenge: Elizabeth Edwards Video Revealed
Filed by Bil Browning | June 10, 2011 3:45 PM |Guess who's assisting the federal government's case against John Edwards for illegally using campaign funds to cover up his affair and subsequent child with Reille Hunter? Read More
Virtual Infidelity?
Filed by Terrance Heath | June 10, 2011 2:00 PM |Does the fact that Anthony Weiner didn't actually have sex with any of the women he's admitted to tweeting at mean that it doesn't "count"? Is it cheating if it's all online?Read More
CAP Poll: Support for Trans Rights
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 10, 2011 9:00 AM |While the overall average of support for "gay and lesbian" rights was about the same as that for "gay, lesbian and transgender" rights, a lot of people were unfamiliar with the term "transgender." What does that mean?Read More
Is He Stupid? Yep!
Filed by Mike Rogers | June 09, 2011 7:00 PM |Is Anthony Weiner stupid? Yep. Did he blow his chances to be mayor of the nation's largest city? Yep. Should he resign? I am not in a position to say.Read More
IL: Catholic Charities Sues for Right to Discriminate
Filed by Waymon Hudson | June 09, 2011 4:30 PM |Catholic Charities in Illinois continues to make news in the wake of the state's passage of the state's civil unions bill. They've made good on their threat to pull out of foster and adoption services in three dioceses.Read More
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders Endorses Lesbian Replacement
Filed by Jake Weinraub | June 09, 2011 4:00 PM |Sanders says that he trusts District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, claiming that she is the only candidate with "experience as a chief executive of a public agency."Read More
Target: We're Undecided About You, But Come Shop Here
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 09, 2011 1:00 PM |Confused much, Target?Read More
Maine Rejects Anti-Trans Bill
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 09, 2011 11:00 AM |Maine rejected a bill to prevent trans people from filing complaints.Read More
Will Rob McKenna's Anti-Gay Past Come Back To Haunt Him?
Filed by Joe Mirabella | June 09, 2011 10:00 AM |Attorney General Rob McKenna (R) announced his candidacy for Governor of Washington State on Wednesday, but will his past anti-gay slurs come back to haunt him?Read More
Poll: Huge Public Support for LGBT Rights
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 09, 2011 9:00 AM |The Center for American Progress's poll results are surprising because they don't agree with past polling data in one important respect.Read More
City of Portland Gets Trans Inclusive Healthcare
Filed by Tobi Hill-Meyer | June 08, 2011 5:45 PM |Earlier this morning the Portland, Oregon City Council unanimously voted to remove the trans exclusion clause in their employee health coverage and implement a trans inclusive policy, a proposal brought by mayor Sam Adams.Read More
Margaret Thatcher Refuses Visit with Sarah Palin
Filed by Jake Weinraub | June 07, 2011 3:00 PM |Palin hoped to stop in London for a visit with the Iron Lady during an upcoming trip to Sudan in July.Read More
Caption Contest(s): Palin the Librarian
Filed by Mike Rogers | June 07, 2011 8:00 AM |Artist Zina Saunders has generously offered to donate a signed print of her work on archival watercolor paper. After eight weeks of caption posts, an esteemed blue ribbon panel will select the best overall caption and award the print. Read More
Weiner Admits It Was His Junk In Twitter Scandal
Filed by Bil Browning | June 06, 2011 5:15 PM |Representative Anthony Weiner has now admitted that he did send a picture of his junk via Twitter last week after a conservative website dug up other incriminating photos of the Congressman.Read More
Santorum Throws Frothy Hat In Ring
Filed by Bil Browning | June 06, 2011 9:15 AM |Rick "Frothy Mix of Lube & Fecal Matter" Santorum has joined the presidential clown car.Read More
Rep Dannemeyer Thinks AIDS Will Become Airborne
Filed by Karen Ocamb | June 06, 2011 8:00 AM |Among the most vile and virulent of gay-haters from 1979-1993 was Rep. William Danneymeyer from Orange County. On June 29, 1989, he read a statement into the Congressional Record entitled: "What Homosexuals Do."Read More
Too Big To Tell: An Epic Without Heroes
Filed by Terrance Heath | June 05, 2011 1:00 PM |Monday night, I watched Too Big To Fail - HBO's eponymous adaptation of Andrew Ross Sorkin's book - from start to finish.Read More
Dept. of Education Hosts First LGBT Youth Summit
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 04, 2011 6:00 PM |The two-day summit, which starts on Monday, is called "Creating and Maintaining Safe and Supportive Environments for LGBT Youth."Read More
CT Passes Trans Rights Law
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 04, 2011 2:15 PM |After several years of trying, the Connecticut State Senate has passed a trans rights bill, which now heads to the Governor's desk for signature, and he has said he will sign it. Read More
Fred Karger's Proclamation for Gay Pride Month
Filed by Jake Weinraub | June 03, 2011 3:45 PM |Fred Karger is excited for Pride month, reiterating that he's the "only full equality candidate running for President in 2012." Who's skeptical?Read More
AIDS at 30: President Reagan with KS
Filed by Karen Ocamb | June 03, 2011 2:30 PM |How angry were activists at President Reagan for ignoring the burgeoning AIDS crisis? This photoshopped image I shot of Reagan with Kaposi's Sarcoma lesions plastered on walls on New York City streets during the 25th anniversary of Stonewall is one indication.Read More
John Edwards Indicted in Mistress Scandal
Filed by Bil Browning | June 03, 2011 11:30 AM |John Edwards, former senator and presidential candidate, has been indicted on six counts including violating campaign contribution laws, conspiracy, and issuing false statements.Read More
Palin's Tour Bus Tagged in NYC
Filed by Jake Weinraub | June 02, 2011 5:00 PM |Sarah Palin had her constitution edited during a tour date in Manhattan yesterday.Read More
Romney Joins GOP Presidential Clown Car
Filed by Bil Browning | June 02, 2011 1:30 PM |Romney's in and CNN has the best damn headline for the announcement: "Same man, different strategy, for Romney's second White House bid." Yup, same old crap.Read More
Civil Unions Start in Illinois
Filed by Adam Polaski | June 01, 2011 12:30 PM |Hundreds of couples are expected to request their civil union license today in Illinois, now the sixth state to allow civil unions for same-sex couples.Read More
White House 2011 LGBT Pride Month Proclamation
Filed by Jake Weinraub | June 01, 2011 9:30 AM |President Barack Obama proclaims June 2011 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.Read More
