|
|
A bill granting full health-care benefits to domestic partners of gay and lesbian federal employees cleared its first legislative hurdle today, as a House subcommittee approved the measure along a party-line vote.
The House subcommittee on federal workforce issues approved the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act by a 5 to 3 vote. It extends several benefits to gay partners, including access to health care coverage, retirement and disability plans, and life and long-term care insurance. Continue reading Same-Sex Benefits Bill Clears First Hurdle
WASHINGTON (CNN) — A key U.S. Senate committee will hold a hearing on the military’s controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays and lesbians, according to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat.
A New York senator says the Senate Armed Services Committee will take up “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold the hearing in the fall, she said in a written announcement.
A committee spokeswoman confirmed that there will be hearings but that no specific legislation is under consideration.
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” is the policy that prevents openly gay troops from serving in the U.S. military.
Former President Clinton instituted it in 1993 as a way of loosening restrictions on gay men and lesbians serving in the armed forces, but its opponents say it does not go far enough.
” ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ is an unfair, outdated measure that violates the civil rights of some of our bravest, most heroic men and women,” Gillibrand said in her statement. “By repealing this policy, we will increase America’s strength — both militarily and morally.“
Continue reading ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ to get Senate committee review
Why Ted Olson and I are working to overturn California’s Proposition 8.
by David Boies July 20, 2009 — The Wall Street Journal
When I got married in California in 1959 there were almost 20 states where marriage was limited to two people of different sexes and the same race. Eight years later the Supreme Court unanimously declared state bans on interracial marriage unconstitutional.
Recently, Ted Olson and I brought a lawsuit asking the courts to now declare unconstitutional California’s Proposition 8 limitation of marriage to people of the opposite sex. We acted together because of our mutual commitment to the importance of this cause, and to emphasize that this is not a Republican or Democratic issue, not a liberal or conservative issue, but an issue of enforcing our Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection and due process to all citizens.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the right to marry the person you love is so fundamental that states cannot abridge it. In 1978 the Court (8 to 1, Zablocki v. Redhail) overturned as unconstitutional a Wisconsin law preventing child-support scofflaws from getting married. The Court emphasized, “decisions of this Court confirm that the right to marry is of fundamental importance for all individuals.” In 1987 the Supreme Court unanimously struck down as unconstitutional a Missouri law preventing imprisoned felons from marrying.
Continue reading Gay Marriage and the Constitution
In the real estate world, location is everything, especially when it comes to finding a truly LGBT-inclusive enclave. While it may sometimes feel like a search for the proverbial needle in a haystack, by following a few practical tips for honing in on LGBT neighborhoods the process becomes easier and more financially and personally rewarding.
Buying opportunities are plentiful this year, with the inventory of bargain priced homes for sale larger and more diversified than it has been for decades. But the question in the mind of many buyers is whether or not the neighborhood is really supportive of the LGBT community. Before making the biggest and most important investment of a lifetime, it helps to know whether or not the money is going into a neighborhood that will not only enhance the value of the real estate but also compliment the individual values of the homeowner.
Continue reading Home Buyer Tips for Finding Quality LGBT Neighborhoods
Vandals in the Washington, D.C., area attacked a display of pro-gay T-shirts at an American Apparel store on Wednesday and telephoned a follow-up threat to another store, reports the Washington City Paper .
Glass was shattered around 5 a.m. at the Silver Spring, Md., store location, but nothing was stolen, according to the manager. T-shirts against Proposition […]
By Alexandra Levit
If you’re gay or lesbian and you’re closeted at your office, you’re not alone. Despite major strides in acceptance over the last 15 years, many still struggle with the decision to come out at work.
A recent Harris poll conducted with Out & Equal and Witeck-Combs Communications indicated that 44% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) participants feel unable to talk freely to co-workers about their partners, and up to 78% don’t feel comfortable bringing their partners to corporate social functions.
Thirty-one-year-old Vince Bozman of Chicago has been out to his close friends since college, but remained closeted while rising through the ranks at Starbucks’ corporate headquarters. “I didn’t know if telling people I was gay would limit my ability to move up in the company,” he says. “I was intimidated and at the same time jealous of people who could just be themselves. I’d make up stories about being with women, and if a co-worker drove me home, I’d have him drop me off down the street so he wouldn’t know I lived in a gay neighborhood.”
Continue reading Out of the Office Closet
By Michael Paulson
Episcopal bishops in New England and Iowa, the only parts of the nation where same-sex marriage is legal, are preparing for a wave of requests to allow priests to oversee the ceremonies as the result of a decision last week by the Episcopal Church that opens the door to church weddings for gay couples.
In interviews yesterday, none of several bishops interviewed said they were immediately prepared to allow priests to officiate at same-sex weddings, which remain prohibited by the canons of the Episcopal Church.
But, citing the denomination’s decision Friday to allow bishops in states where same-sex marriage is legal to “provide generous pastoral response’’ to same-sex couples, the bishops indicated that they are looking for ways to allow priests to at least celebrate, if not perform, gay nuptials in church.
“The problem is the prayer book says that marriage must conform to the laws of the state and the canons of the church, but if we respond to the laws of the state, we are in violation of the canons of the church,’’ said Bishop Stephen T. Lane of Maine, where the situation is further complicated by a possible referendum to overturn same-sex marriage. “We’re trying to respond pastorally, but not to get so far beyond the bounds of what the church understands that our clergy are just sort of hanging out there.’’ Continue reading Church ponders next step on gay vows
Los Angeles Times
By Jessica Garrison
6:04 PM PDT, July 13, 2009
Despite insisting just a few months ago that they wanted to go back to the ballot in 2010 to try to amend the state constitution to allow same-sex marriage, many of the state’s gay rights groups now say that is too soon.
They worry about raising the millions of dollars needed to run a campaign and suggest that the job of changing enough voters’ minds on same-sex marriage might take longer than 12 months. Continue reading Gay-rights coalition urges measured pace on same-sex marriage amendment
|
|
|
