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your business now!
Governor Chris Gregoire
for Americans for Marriage Equality
YouTube.com, February 3, 2012
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire supports marriage equality.
In
NYPD custody, trans people get chained to fences
Jezebel.com, February 3, 2012
A trans woman says that when she was arrested for a minor subway violation,
NYPD officers belittled her, called her names, asked about her genitals
— and kept her chained to a fence for 28 hours. Now she's suing.
And it turns out she's far from alone.
‘Conscience’
adoption bill wins initial OK in Virginia
Washington Times, February 3, 2012
The Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday gave preliminary approval
to a bill that would protect state-licensed private adoption agencies
from placing children with families if the placement conflicts with the
agency’s religious beliefs. The so-called “conscience clause”
measure would allow agencies to deny placements based on sexual orientation,
but not to discriminate based on other qualifications which are protected
under federal law.
Komen
drops decision to cut Planned Parenthood funding
USA Today, February 3, 2012
The Susan G. Komen Foundation has reversed its decision to cut funding
for Planned Parenthood and apologized "to the American public."
The statement issued by founder and CEO Nancy Brinker and the Susan G.
Komen Board of Directors, says the foundation will immediately get in
touch with its network and key supporters "to refocus our attention
on our mission and get back to doing our work."
Gay
marriage foes to fight expected Washington state law
Chicago Tribune, February 3, 2012
As gay couples and their supporters cheered the Washington state Senate's
unexpectedly swift and decisive passage of a same-sex marriage bill, opponents
were already considering how to take down the anticipated law.
Outcry
grows fiercer after funding cut by cancer group
New York Times, February 3, 2012
The nation’s leading breast cancer advocacy organization confronted
the growing furor Thursday over its decision to largely end its decades-long
partnership with Planned Parenthood, with rising dissension in its own
ranks and a roiling anger on the Internet showing the power of social
media to harness protest.
Va.
Senate panel approves anti-gay adoption bill
Washington Blade, February 3, 2012
A subcommittee of the Virginia Senate on Wednesday approved a so-called
“conscience clause” bill that would allow state-funded adoption
agencies to refuse to approve adoptions or foster care placement on religious
or “moral” grounds.
SFPD
likely to promote gays
Bay Area Reporter, February 3, 2012
Despite being known for decades as a haven for gay men, San Francisco
doesn't have any out gay men ranking above sergeant on its police force.
But Police Chief Greg Suhr said recently that would change "by the
end of the year."
Washington
senate approves bill to legalize gay marriage
ABC News, February 2, 2012
The Washington state Senate passed a bill Wednesday night that would legalize
same-sex marriage, setting the stage for the state to become the seventh
to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed.
Cleveland
police ‘told gay couple faggots don’t deserve to wear pants
in jail’
PinkNews.co.uk, February 2, 2012
A US gay couple arrested on assault charges say they were denied trousers
for a day after being told “faggots don’t deserve to wear
pants in jail.” Jonathan Simcox and Steven Ondo of Ohio told Cleveland’s
FOX8 network they were suing police officers for use of “excessive
force and undisguised prejudice” during their arrest.
Quinn’s
friendship with lobbyist may pose test in NY mayoral bid
New York Times, February 2, 2012
They met as eager activists who leafleted for candidates and demonstrated
against antigay violence outside the Stonewall Inn. Young, female and
gay, Christine C. Quinn and Emily Giske became such close friends that
Ms. Giske moved into Ms. Quinn’s building in Chelsea. Over the two
decades of their friendship, each woman has become powerful — Ms.
Quinn is the speaker of the City Council, while Ms. Giske is one of the
best-connected and most popular lobbyists at City Hall and in Albany.
The
new DADT: The military’s ban on transgender service
OutServeMag.com, February 1, 2012
The ban on transgender service remains intact. Gender Identity Disorder
is considered a mental disorder by the American Psychological Association,
and the military considers it a medically disqualifying condition. Not
only are transgender individuals who wish to join the military prohibited
from doing so, but those already serving honorably in the Armed Forces
can be ousted if suspected to be transgender or found cross-dressing.
NC
governor's withdrawal from race shakes up prospects for gay marriage ban
Washington Post, February 1, 2012
Something unexpected happened on the way to North Carolina’s vote
on a gay marriage ban this May: Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue decided
not to run for re-election, meaning more voters who oppose the ban could
turn out at the polls.
Washington
governor discusses marriage equality, criticizes Chris Christie
Advocate.com, February 1, 2012
In a new interview with XM Satellite Radio’s Michelangelo Signorile,
Washington governor Chris Gregoire said she wishes she had supported same-sex
marriage years ago. She also criticized New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s
recent assertion that marriage equality be put on the ballot, rather than
have state legislators decide the issue.
Illinois
Lawmaker: Discriminating against LGBT parents Is ‘common sense’
ThinkProgress.org, February 1, 2012
State Rep. Dwight Kay (R) has filed legislation “that would allow
religion based or affiliated adoption agencies with state contracts to
decline an adoption or foster family home application, as well as licensure
and placement, to anyone in a civil union.” Discriminating against
gay couples is, “common sense,” he says.
Tennessee
senator thrown out of restaurant for antigay stance
Advocate.com, January 31, 2012
A restaurant has refused to serve Stacey Campfield, the antigay Tennessee
state senator leading the charge behind the state’s “don’t
say gay” bill, due to his recent string of homophobic comments.
Maryland
governor to testify on same-sex marriage bill
Washington Post, January 31, 2012
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) plans to appear in front of the
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Tuesday to offer testimony in
favor of his same-sex marriage bill, his office confirmed Monday.
Wash.
senate to vote on marriage bill Wednesday
Washington Blade, January 31, 2012
Same-sex marriage advocates in Washington State are bracing for a tough
battle Wednesday as the Senate faces a floor vote on the governor-backed
bill to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples there.
SLDN
calls for extending benefits to gay and lesbian service members
TheVitalVoice.com, January 31, 2012
Army Veteran and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director
Aubrey Sarvis called upon Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to take immediate
action on equal recognition, benefits and family support for gay and lesbian
service members.
New
HUD policy extends protections to LGBTs
Citibiz Real Estate, January 30, 2012
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan will unveil
a new HUD policy to fight discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) people in federally supported housing programs.
The new rules, to be published the week of January 29, aim to help LGBT
people and their families to stay in their homes, get loans to buy homes,
and access federal assistance programs.
The
next DADT battle
MetroWeekly.com, January 30, 2012
The new issue of OutServe Magazine, which is available online and at select
military bases and outside of certain installations across the world,
takes on what it calls ''The New DADT: Transgender Service.''
Prospect
of gay San Dieogo mayor greeted with shrug
Union-Tribune, January 30, 2012
The chatter thus far in the mayor’s race — focused on pensions,
civic projects and budget woes — is drowning out the fact that the
winner could make San Diego one of a few major U.S. cities with an openly
gay mayor.
Maryland
governor responds to wife's remark on gay marriage
WDBO.com, January 30, 2012
Gov. Martin O'Malley sought to smooth over any raw feelings in Annapolis
after his wife referred to opponents of gay marriage as "cowards,"
saying Sunday that words of compassion, understanding and justice are
needed in the debate.
Young
LGBT activists take center stage in Baltimore
Colorlines.com, January 30, 2012
A few minutes into a breakout session at last week’s Creating Change
LGBT equality conference in Baltimore, the presenter noted that more than
150 colleges in the U.S. have programs aimed at supporting LGBT students—but
none of those schools are historically black colleges and universities.
Maryland
First Lady calls anti-gay-marriage lawmakers "cowards"
NBCWashington.com, January 27, 2012
Maryland’s first lady Katie O’Malley is behind her husband’s
push for the legalization of same-sex marriages in the state and she’s
not afraid to let everyone know how she feels.
Congressman
Frank to marry partner
PinkNews.co.uk, January 27, 2012
The first US Congressman to come out voluntarily as gay has confirmed
he plans to marry his partner of five years. Barney Frank, considered
the most prominent gay politician in the US, has sat in the House of Representatives
in Washington DC for over thirty years, political blog The Hill reported.
Romney’s
support for anti-gay groups revealed in tax returns
LGBT Weekly, January 27, 2012
Just two weeks ago, Mitt Romney said in New Hampshire that he opposed
discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.
Yet his tax returns tell a different story.
Washington
state senate committee approves same-sex marriage bill
SeattlePI.com, January 27, 2012
A measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state moved one
step closer to passage on Thursday as a Senate committee voted to approve
it. The Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee
approved the measure with a 4-3 voice vote split on party lines. The bill
is expected to head to a floor vote next, though a date has not yet been
determined.
U.S.
issues new guidance for LGBT asylum claims
Washington Blade, January 27, 2012
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services issued new guidance on Tuesday
to assist officers handling asylum and refugee claims from LGBT people
seeking to escape persecution by living in the United States.
Maine
will hold referendum on marriage equality
DailyKos.com, January 27, 2012
Equality Maine and friends, which in the Fall gathered more than twice
the required signatures (shades of Wisconsin!) for a marriage equality
initiative to be placed on the ballot in November, 2012, has announced
that they have decided to go forward with the ballot question. Marriage
equality proponents say their polling shows a significant 54% of Mainers
in favor of marriage equality.
Civil
rights leader urges unity among gay activists
AFP, January 27, 2012
The leader of the most venerable civil rights organization in the United
States opened a national gathering of gay and lesbian activists with a
call for unity among progressives. A record 3,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender activists have gathered in Baltimore for the 24th annual
Creating Change conference organized by the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force.
NJ
governor avoids all the thorns in the thicket of gay marriage
New York Times, January 26, 2012
In proposing a ballot question to let voters decide whether to legalize
same-sex marriage, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey argued this week
that the issue was “too serious to be treated like a political football.”
But his moves on same-sex marriage have also highlighted the considerable
political skills that have made him one of the Republican Party’s
rising stars.
LGBT
rights advocates gather in Baltimore
WBALTV.com, January 26, 2012
Thousands began to gather in Baltimore on Wednesday for the 24th annual
Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality, which is
considered one of the biggest gatherings in the nation for LGBT rights
advocates.
Matthew
Shepard's dad urges lawmakers to resist anti-gay bills
WLTX.com, January 26, 2012
Gay rights advocates, led by a Wyoming man whose son's 1998 murder became
a rallying cry for protecting gays and lesbians through federal hate crime
laws, on Wednesday accused Tennessee lawmakers of feeding anti-gay prejudice
by introducing bills that deal with homosexuality.
Colonel
‘proud, humbled’ to represent gay, lesbian troops
U.S. Dept. of Defense, January 26, 2012
Air Force Col. Ginger Wallace, an intelligence officer, had a choice seat
for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech yesterday
-- she listened to it live, as a guest of First Lady Michelle Obama. Wallace
was there at the White House’s invitation to represent gay and lesbian
service members and veterans.
NJ
governor wants voters to decide on gay marriage
New York Times, January 25, 2012
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said Tuesday that he would veto a bill
legalizing same-sex marriage, and he challenged the State Legislature
instead to put the issue on the ballot for voters to decide.
Maryland
governor seeks minority support for same-sex marriage
Washington Times, January 25, 2012
Gov. Martin O'Malley’s renewed fight to legalize same-sex marriage
will depend heavily on assuring religious groups that his proposed legislation
won’t infringe on their beliefs or opposition to the weddings.
NH
bill would allow refusal of services to gay couples
EagleTribune.com, January 25, 2012
Don't want to provide wedding services to gay couples? A bill before the
New Hampshire Legislature would let people refuse services for religious
or conscience reasons. Opponents say clergy already are protected and
this bill would open the door for individuals, businesses — even
government officials — to discriminate not only against gay couples,
but those who are of different faiths.
Same-sex
marriage may hinge on Supreme Court
National Public Radio, January 25, 2012
Same-sex marriage is currently legal in six states plus Washington, D.C.,
and it may come up for a vote in six more. All the while, legal challenges
are pushing the issue closer to getting an opinion from the U.S. Supreme
Court.
Romney’s
tax returns reveal donations to anti-LGBT groups
LGBTQ Nation, January 25, 2012
The tax returns for Mitt Romney’s charitable foundation reveal that
the GOP presidential hopeful has given at least $35,000 in recent years
to groups actively working to halt the spread of LGBT equality and, in
some cases, intentionally demonize LGBT people.
Washington
Senate has votes for marriage equality
PinkNews.co.uk, January 24, 2012
The state Senate at Washington now has enough supporters of equal marriage
rights to pass draft legislation. Mary Margaret Haugen, a Democratic state
senator representing Camano Island became the 25th senator to back the
move to allow gay marriage.
Christie
nominates gay Republican to N.J. Supreme Court
Advocate.com, January 24, 2012
New Jersey governor Chris Christie has nominated a gay Republican mayor
to the state Supreme Court. The Republican governor announced the nomination
of Bruce Harris, mayor of Chatham, N.J., at a Jan 23 press conference.
GLAAD
lays off 25% of employees
EdgePhiladelphia.com, January 24, 2012
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) laid off nearly
25 percent of its employees due to a slowly recovering economy and lack
of donations. The organization let go 11 people from its 45-member staff
but says it’s "core programs," such as Entertainment Media,
Religion Faith & Values and National and Local News, have not gone
away.
Missouri
teen fights for LGBT rights
Advocate.com, January 24, 2012
A lesbian teenager in a Kansas City suburb is leading a fight against
discrimination wherever she finds it — for instance, at a shop that
refused to print T-shirts for her school’s gay-straight alliance.
Virginia
gay adoption battle kicks off
PinkNews.co.uk, January 23, 2012
At the General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia, a battle is heating up
over whether adoption agencies should be allowed to discriminate against
prospective parents based on their sexual orientation.
Kansas
law on sodomy stays on books despite a cull
New York Times, January 23, 2012
Gov. Sam Brownback created an office to eliminate out-of-date or burdensome
laws, but the “criminal sodomy” statute was not selected for
repeal.
Washington
state one vote away from marriage equality
On Top Magazine, January 20, 2012
Washington state Senator Jim Kastama on Thursday announced he would support
an effort to make Washington the seventh state to legalize gay marriage,
the AP reported. Kastama's support puts the proposed legislation just
one vote shy of passage in the Senate. The measure is expected to clear
the House with ease and Governor Chris Gregoire pledged her support during
a press conference earlier this month.
Microsoft:
Equal marriage is good for business
PinkNews.co.uk, January 20, 2012
Software behemoth Microsoft has put its weight behind Washington state’s
proposed equal marriage laws. The corporation joined a variety of other
employers, including Nike, to build on its “history of supporting
corporate and public policies that promote inclusion and equality”
by supporting the proposal to extend marriage rights to gay couples.
Seventy
mayors to press Obama on gay marriage
PinkNews.co.uk, January 19, 2012
A number of large-city mayors in the US have formed a coalition with the
hope to achieve same-sex marriage equality. The group have joined together
with a view to increasing the pressure on President Barack Obama and to
achieve full support of equal marriage rights nationwide.
Campaign
to reject NC gay marriage vote begins
939KissFM.com, January 19, 2012
Opponents of a North Carolina voter referendum on banning gay marriage
say they hope to have 1 million conversations with people before the May
primary about the far-reaching effects of changing the state constitution.
Gay
marriage rifts appear in several US states
PinkNews.co.uk, January 19, 2012
Politicians and campaigners in Minnesota, New Jersey and North Carolina
on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate are gearing up for battle
ahead of legislative sessions later this month.
Log
Cabin Republicans want new gay city council district in L.A.
LA.Curbed.com, January 19, 2012
The founding L.A. chapter of the nation's preeminent gay GOP group, the
Log Cabin Republicans, is pushing for the City Council's Redistricting
Commission to create a council district that would cover Silver Lake to
West Hollywood to Studio City--areas that historically have had a higher
concentration of gay residents.
Sarvis
to leave SLDN, national search begins
Washington Blade, January 19, 2012
Five months after the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,”
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network executive director Aubrey Sarvis
will leave the organization after four years in what the group called
a “planned departure.”
Religious
leaders cry bigotry
Bay Area Reporter, January 19, 2012
A group of nearly 40 conservative religious leaders released an open letter
last week that seeks to reframe the battle over same-sex civil marriage
as a threat to their freedom of religion. And in a new tactical twist,
the signatories say their concern is not that their ministers will be
forced to preside at same-sex weddings. Rather, they say, allowing gays
to wed would end up "forcing or pressuring both individuals and religious
organizations to treat same-sex sexual conduct as the moral equivalence
of marital sexual conduct."
Money
flows to G.O.P. backers of gay marriage
New York Times, January 18, 2012
Gay rights advocates from Wall Street to Hollywood poured donations into
the coffers of four little-known Republican state senators after the lawmakers
provided the decisive votes for same-sex marriage in New York last June,
according to new campaign finance filings released on Tuesday.
Romney's
devolution on LGBT Equality
ThinkProgress.com, January 18, 2012
In "The Real Romney," Boston Globe reporters Michael Kranish
and Scott Helman chart Mitt Romney’s devolution from embracing equal
rights for gays and lesbians in 1994 and 2002 to falling in line with
the anti-gay bigotry of religious social conservatives in order to win
the GOP presidential nomination at the end of his term as governor.
On
gay marriage, N.J. Gov. Chris Christie may let Republicans vote their
conscience
Star-Ledger, January 18, 2012
Could it be that Gov. Chris Christie is going wobbly on gay marriage,
that he actually could allow it to happen on his watch? He won’t
personally support it — he’s been clear on that. But when
asked on Thursday if he intended to veto a bill on marriage equality,
should it reach his desk, he wouldn’t say.
Colorado
bishops: Protect straight couples’ sacrifices with marriage
PinkNews.co.uk, January 18, 2012
In response to proposed equal marriage rights in Washington state, the
Archbishop of Seattle is among four Catholic leaders to argue marriage
“is grounded not in faith, but in reason and the experience of society”
and should not be expanded to include gay couples.
LA
to require condoms at porn shoots
PinkNews.co.uk, January 18, 2012
The Los Angeles City Council voted yesterday to introduce a rule that
condoms must be worn during pornographic video shoots in the city. The
AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest AIDS organisation in the world,
had been fighting a battle in Los Angeles for the new regulation.
With
bill, Washington state shifts its views on same-sex marriage
New York Times, January 17, 2012
The bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Washington State is
notable not just for the boldness of its ambition or for the fact that
it was proposed by Gov. Christine Gregoire, a Democrat whose last memorable
remarks on the issue placed her firmly in the not-yet camp. What is also
striking is that some of the legislators sponsoring the measure can recall
earlier debates — held years ago and sometimes only internally —
in which they were certain they would oppose such a law.
Bernice
King's gay-inclusive speech at MLK rally surprises LGBT participants
TheGAVoice.com, January 17, 2012
Bernice King took the stage today at Atlanta’s annual Martin Luther
King Jr. rally and included gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people
among the various groups she said need to come together to fulfill her
father's legacy. LGBT people who attended the rally said they were shocked
that King – who has a long anti-gay past — actually acknowledged
the community in a public speech.
LGBT
awareness license plate to go on sale in Indiana
Indianas4.com, January 17, 2012
The first license plate in the country to feature the logo of a lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender organization goes on sale next month in Indiana.
Girl
Scouts accepts transgender kid, provokes cookie boycott
CNN.com, January 16, 2012
The Girl Scout cookie can't seem to catch a break. Under fire in years
past for including trans fats, high fructose corn syrup and palm oil in
its cookies, the Girl Scouts' current cookie selling season is under fire
because of policies that have nothing to do with the actual composition
of the cookies.
Gay
marriage within reach in Wash. Legislature
Seattle Times, January 14, 2012
Washington's Legislature is on the verge of having enough support to approve
gay marriage, with votes continuing to realign in the state Senate. In
contacts with all 49 senators over the past week, The Associated Press
found that more lawmakers are now firmly supporting gay marriage than
opposing it. That margin currently stands at 22-18, and the measure needs
25 votes to pass the Senate.
Full
court martial recommended for gay Wikileaks soldier
PinkNews.co.uk, January13, 2012
Bradley Manning, the gay soldier at the centre of a storm over leaked
military information, has been recommended for a full court martial following
a pre-trial hearing over Christmas. Officials at Fort Meade, Maryland
said there was sufficient evidence to proceed with Manning’s case,
in which he stands accused of sending classified documents to Wikileaks.
Colorado
gov. pushes civil unions to attract same-sex business
DesertNews.com, January13, 2012
Gov. John Hickenlooper on Thursday urged lawmakers to move forward on
social and financial goals this session, encouraging them to prove "cynics"
wrong and show they can cooperate to legalize civil unions for same-sex
couples and make the Colorado more business-friendly.
Lawmaker
withdraws bathroom legislation
MSNBC, January13, 2012
Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, on Thursday withdrew the Senate version of a
controversial House measure requiring transgender people to use public
bathrooms and dressing rooms that match their birth gender.