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Md. Senate committee to consider marriage bill Tuesday

The Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hold its first hearing on the Civil Marriage Protection Act tomorrow at 1 p.m. but LGBT supporters will be at work hours before the testimony begins....

Washington Blade • Jan 31, 2012


2012 could prove landmark year for marriage rights

Advocates are working to legalize marriage rights for gay couples in Washington State, Maryland and New Jersey; efforts are also underway to pursue civil unions in Colorado. Meanwhile, opponents are hoping to repeal same-sex marriage in New Hampshire. ...

Washington Blade • Jan 20, 2012


D.C. Council candidate no longer opposes gay marriage law

An outspoken advocate for placing D.C.'s same-sex marriage law on the ballot in a voter referendum in 2010 says he no longer holds that view and will express "respect" for the law as a candidate for the City Council in a special election this spring. Civic activist Delano Hunter has announced plans to run for the Ward 5 Council seat that became vacant last week when incumbent Harry Thomas, a Demo...

Washington Blade • Jan 11, 2012


Maryland to take up marriage, trans bills

Bills calling for legalizing same-sex marriage and banning discrimination against transgender persons are among the hot-button issues set to emerge next week when the Maryland State Legislature begins its 2012 session. Officials with an expanded coalition backing the marriage bill and a new transgender advocacy group leading the effort on behalf of the Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Act say t...

Washington Blade • Jan 5, 2012


D.C. divorce bill for same-sex couples set for vote in 'early' 2012

In a little noticed development, D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) introduced a bill in October that would allow same-sex couples who marry in D.C. but live in states that don't recognize their marriage to return to the District to get a divorce. ...

Washington Blade • Dec 22, 2011


Freedom to Marry's change of heart in Maryland

As Maryland prepares for another shot at marriage equality when the legislature reconvenes next month, one national marriage advocacy group has bowed out of the fight. Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry told the Blade last week that because of concerns about a marriage bill being sent to a voter referendum in 2012, that his organization declined to join a high-profile and diverse coalition of group...

Washington Blade • Dec 16, 2011


Gay Iowa lawmaker fears undoing of marriage rights

The only openly gay member of the Iowa State Senate believes marriage equality in the state could "absolutely" be in danger, despite a recent win solidifying a Democratic majority in the chamber for the remainder of the year. State Sen. Matt McCoy, who's served in the legislature since 1993 -- first as a House member and then as a senator -- said marriage rights for gay couples could be in jeopar...

Washington Blade • Dec 9, 2011


DNC hiring of minister disappoints activists

The DNC's announcement in October that it had named Rev. Derrick Harkins, senior pastor of D.C.'s Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, to head its faith outreach program created an immediate stir when news surfaced that Harkins doesn't support same-sex marriage and that he was incorrectly identified in 2009 as a supporter of D.C.'s same-sex marriage law. ...

Washington Blade • Dec 6, 2011


Freedom to Marry spurns Md. marriage campaign

The head of the national advocacy group Freedom to Marry startled leaders of Maryland's campaign to pass a same-sex marriage bill in 2012 when he implied this week that organizers weren't doing the work needed to defeat an expected voter referendum to overturn such a bill. Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, told the Washington Blade on Monday that his group chose not to join a c...

Washington Blade • Dec 6, 2011


DOMA repeal unlikely to find a single GOP vote in committee

Although the committee action on the legislation is set begin on Thursday, the panel will likely hold off on consideration of the bill for another week. Committee rules allow for any member of the panel to hold bills over when they first appear on the executive committee agenda. ...

Washington Blade • Nov 3, 2011


Levin Agrees To Co-Sponsor DOMA Repeal

A U.S. senator seen as a leader in the fight for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal has agreed to sign on as a co-sponsor to legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. On Thursday, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) officially signed on as a support of the bill, known as the Respect for Marriage Act, bringing the total of co-sponsors to 31....

Washington Blade • Oct 21, 2011


High Hopes For Obama's Speech To HRC

Obama is scheduled to keynote HRC's 15th annual National Dinner in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. About 3,000 attendees are expected for the event, which will take place at the Washington Convention Center. Obama has suggested since last year that his views could "evolve" to support same-sex marriage, but he hasn't yet endorsed marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples....

Washington Blade • Sep 28, 2011


House Dems Renew Request For DOMA Briefing

Democratic U.S. House members pushing for an end to the Defense of Marriage Act have renewed their request with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) for a briefing on his defense of the anti-gay law in court. In a letter dated Sept. 26, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the sponsor of DOMA repeal legislation, and Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) as well as gay Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D...

Washington Blade • Sep 27, 2011


White House Responds To N.C. Marriage Amendment

The White House today responded to efforts in the North Carolina Legislature to ban same-sex marriage via constitutional amendment, saying that President Obama opposes laws "designed to take rights away." Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, issued the following statement in response to the Washington Blade's inquiry as to whether President Obama opposes the North Carolina amendment banning s...

Washington Blade • Sep 14, 2011


Mikulski To Co-Sponsor DOMA Repeal

The senior U.S. senator from Maryland has agreed to co-sponsor legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act after LGBT rights supporters sent a petition of nearly 3,000 names to her office urging her to support the bill. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) announced via her Facebook page on Thursday that she would become a co-sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which is sponsored by S...

Washington Blade • Sep 9, 2011


Prop 8 Opponents: Calif. Civilians Can't Defend Case Against State

Today the California Supreme Court heard oral arguments over whether or not under state law civilian supporters can take the place of the state, specifically in the Federal case challenging anti-marriage equality Proposition 8. The hour long hearing was followed by press conferences in which both sides expressed pleasure in the outcome. The court, however, still has 90 days to come to a decision,...

Washington Blade • Sep 8, 2011


HHS Expands Hospital Visitation Rights For Gay Couples

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid sent a letter on Wednesday to states building off the memorandum President Obama issued last year mandating that hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds allow patients to designate their own visitors during a hospital stay, including a same-sex partner. In November, HHS issued the final rule implementing Obama's proposed change. The letter sent to state...

Washington Blade • Sep 8, 2011


Immigration Change Could Help Gay Foreign Nationals Facing Deportation

The Obama administration unveiled on Thursday new immigration policy that could enable many undocumented immigrants facing deportation to stay within the United States -- a move that could enable bi-national same-sex couples at the risk of separation to stay together within the country. Under the new guidance, immigration authorities within the Obama administration will conduct a case-by-case rev...

Washington Blade • Aug 19, 2011


Senate DOMA repeal hearing set for July 20

One additional senator that Jacobs is eyeing as a potential new co-sponsor for the bill is Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), who voted for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal and who's facing re-election in a heavily Democratic state in 2012....

Washington Blade • Jul 13, 2011


Senate to hear testimony on DOMA 'in the next few weeks'

According to a Senate Democratic aide, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, intends to hold a hearing on DOMA repeal "in the next few weeks." A more definitive date for when the hearing would take place or the individuals who would be invited as witnesses weren't immediate known....

Washington Blade • Jul 8, 2011


DOJ to file appeal of Bankruptcy court's DOMA ruling

In a surprising move, the United States Trustee for California -- an agent representing the United States and the Department of Justice in Bankruptcy court -- has appealed a ruling in the United States Bankruptcy Court of the Central District of California which found Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. The June 15 ruling by U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge, Thomas Donovan, in t...

Washington Blade • Jun 29, 2011


Carney: Obama to 'mention' N.Y. marriage bill, but won't endorse it

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said on Thursday that President Obama plans to "mention" during an LGBT fundraiser later in the evening a pending marriage equality bill in the New York Legislature, but won't come out either for or against the legislation....

Washington Blade • Jun 23, 2011


Immigration bill includes pro-gay language

A new path has also been opened to address the hardships faced by bi-national same-sex couples through legislative means. On Wednesday, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) introduced comprehensive immigration reform legislation that includes a family reunification provision for gay couples....

Washington Blade • Jun 23, 2011


Senate panel leaves out anti-gay provisions in defense bill

A Senate defense panel late Thursday approved major Pentagon budget legislation lacking anti-gay provisions found in the House version of the bill, although questions remain on whether amendments related to same-sex marriage or "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" could come up on the Senate floor....

Washington Blade • Jun 20, 2011


NETROOTS: Pfeiffer suggests 1996 Obama statement supporting marriage equality a fake

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer on Friday suggested President Obama's stated support for same-sex marriage in a 1996 questionnaire response was fake, despite the signature from Obama attached to the statement. "If you actually go back and look, that questionnaire was actually filled out by someone else, not the president," Pfeiffer said....

Washington Blade • Jun 17, 2011


Boehner denies DOMA contract violates law

During a news conference, Boehner denied the agreement was in violation of any House rules when asked by the Washington Blade if he's confident the contract doesn't violate a law mandating that government-allocated funds be approved through the congressional appropriations process before they're obligated for any purpose. "This hiring was approved by the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group," Boehner ...

Washington Blade • Jun 4, 2011


Equality Md. leader's status uncertain

Lynne Bowman, interim executive director of Equality Maryland, told the Blade today that she has left the state and is headed to Ohio for a previous commitment and is unsure when she will return. She said she has not resigned her post, and that she is in "conversation with the board about what next month could look like."...

Washington Blade • May 28, 2011


White House issues statement on Minn. marriage amendment

The White House on Monday issued a statement in response to a proposed measure in Minnesota that would make a ban on same-sex marriage part of the state constitution. The complete statement follows: "The President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples or to take such rights away. While he believes this is an issue best addressed by t...

Washington Blade • May 27, 2011


Prop 8 lawyers honored at D.C. events

The two lead attorneys in the widely followed lawsuit seeking to overturn the California ballot measure that bans same-sex marriage in the state and the attorney who successfully argued the Supreme Court case that overturned anti-gay sodomy laws were honored this week in Washington. The Cato Institute, an LGBT supportive libertarian think tank, held a forum on Wednesday that featured presentation...

Washington Blade • May 21, 2011


UAFA-inclusive family immigration bill introduced

A U.S. House member from California on Thursday introduced family immigration legislation that includes language allowing gay Americans to sponsor their foreign partners for residency in the United States. Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) introduced the Reuniting Families Act, which has a provision that would protect bi-national same-sex couples as one of its six prongs to keep families together in the...

Washington Blade • May 10, 2011


Top Gill officials depart to form new firm

Gay philanthropist Tim Gill announced today that the two top officials of Gill Action Fund will depart the organization this summer to launch their own public affairs firm. Patrick Guerriero and Bill Smith serve as executive director and deputy executive director, respectively, of Gill Action Fund, which funds organizations and individuals "working to advance equality."...

Washington Blade • May 8, 2011


Conference set Monday for ACLU lawsuit against DOMA

A schedule could be established on Monday for federal litigation challenging the Defense of Marriage Act during a status conference before a New York federal district court. The status conference concerns the case of Windsor v. United States, which was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, and will take place before Magistrate Judge James Francis at the Southern District of New York Courth...

Washington Blade • May 7, 2011


Votes lined up in Senate committee for DOMA repeal

...

Washington Blade • Apr 28, 2011


Carney: No list of LGBT promises for 2012 election

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Monday he doesn't expect President Obama to issue a list of promises to the LGBT community as part of his re-election campaign as he did during the 2008 election season. During a news conference, Carney made the remarks in response to a question from the Washington Blade on whether Obama would publish a list of objectives he wanted to achieve for the LG...

Washington Blade • Apr 26, 2011


Tough questioning for Gallagher at marriage hearing

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, asked Gallagher if the children of Jen and Dawn BarbouRouske, a married same-sex couple from Iowa who were present during the hearing, should have parents who can receive the full protections of marriage or if she considers these children "expendable." "I think no children are expendable," Gallagher replied. "Gay people have fami...

Washington Blade • Apr 18, 2011


Another shot for UAFA in House, Senate

Lawmakers initiated on Thursday a two-pronged approach to stop the separation of bi-national same-sex couples in the United States by introducing legislation and sending a letter to the Obama administration urging executive action. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) reintroduced in the House the Uniting American Families Act, which would enable gay Americans to sponsor their foreign partners for reside...

Washington Blade • Apr 18, 2011


Delaware approves civil unions

The House voted 26-15 in favor of the measure. The Delaware Senate voted 13-6 to approve the bill on April 7, and the state's governor, Democrat Jack A. Markell, has said he plans to sign it "Today, we celebrate a victory for all Delaware families who will have the tools to protect themselves in good times and in bad," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "We look forward to Governor Markell signing...

Washington Blade • Apr 15, 2011


Senators: Stop separating married bi-national couples

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is leading a group of 12 Democratic U.S. senators who are calling on the Obama administration to allow legally married bi-national same-sex couples to remain together in the United States. In a letter dated April 6, the senators urge the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security to take action to protect these couples until the courts determine the const...

Washington Blade • Apr 9, 2011


Delaware Senate to vote on civil unions

SB 30 would give gay and lesbian couples access to the responsibilities and rights of marriage; partners in a civil union would be included wherever terms like "dependent," "next of kin" and "family" are used in Delaware regulations, codes and court decisions. If passed, Delaware would also recognize civil unions performed in other states. The measure passed out of committee and is expected to be...

Washington Blade • Apr 8, 2011


Boehner has no estimate on DOMA defense costs

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Thursday he doesn't have an estimate for the cost of the House defense of the Defense of Marriage Act in court as he maintained congressional action was necessary to uphold the anti-gay statute. During a news conference on Capitol Hill, Boehner said he doesn't have information on the expenses for defending DOMA -- including the cost of any private att...

Washington Blade • Apr 7, 2011


DOMA repeal supporters seek Senate hearings

A Senate Democratic aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also emphasized the importance of hearings as legislative repeal remains unlikely during the 112th Congress. "One of the key steps that senators can take to build momentum is to have a hearing, or hearings, on the topic," the aide said. "I think a thorough and perhaps even a dramatic hearing could galvanize opinion in the Senate and h...

Washington Blade • Mar 24, 2011


Behind Maryland's marriage debacle

One key lesson from this failure: Do not underestimate the influence of black pastors. Equality Maryland failed to solidify support among black lawmakers from Baltimore City and Prince George's County. And when the preaching began on Sundays in February, several black delegates caved under the pressure. Equality Maryland must take a page from their counterparts in D.C., where the visibility of pro...

Washington Blade • Mar 17, 2011


Maryland: 'Strategic blunder of monstrous proportions'

The decision to cancel a March 11 vote on a same-sex marriage bill in the Maryland House of Delegates was a mistake that could hurt rather than help the chances for passing the bill within the next several years, according to Maryland-based advocates who lobbied for the bill. The advocates who expressed this view, some of whom spoke on condition that they not be identified, said at least four nat...

Washington Blade • Mar 17, 2011


DOMA repeal bills introduced in House, Senate

In the House, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) introduced the legislation, known as the Respect for Marriage Act, along with 108 co-sponsors. Among the supporters are the four openly gay members of Congress: Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and David Cicilline (D-R.I.). On the same day, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), among the 14 senators who voted again...

Washington Blade • Mar 17, 2011


Dozens testify at Md. House hearing on marriage bill

The Civil Marriage Protection Act, which would legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples, was approved one day earlier in the Maryland Senate by a vote of 25-21, prompting LGBT activists to celebrate what they called a historic victory. But officials with the statewide LGBT advocacy group Equality Maryland expressed concern that an expected vote on the bill in the House of Delegates within th...

Washington Blade • Feb 27, 2011


Del. lawmakers prep civil unions bill

Lawmakers plan to introduce the measure next month. It is anticipated that if the bill passes that civil unions in Delaware would be available only to gay and lesbian couples. Full marriage rights would remain limited to opposite-sex couples. Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, the House Majority Leader, whose district includes Rehoboth Beach, attended the meeting. Schwartzkopf is a longtime supporter of the...

Washington Blade • Feb 22, 2011


Former GOP Senate leader backs marriage in Md.

Maryland State Sen. Allan Kittleman has released a bombshell of a statement today, announcing that he will support a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. Kittleman had served as Senate minority leader until last month, when he stepped down from his leadership post over his plan to introduce a civil unions bill. In today's announcement, Kittleman says he is abandoning the civil unions ...

Washington Blade • Feb 2, 2011


Anti-gay group to fight marriage efforts in D.C.

In a little noticed development, a national organization credited with playing a lead role in persuading California voters to ban same-sex marriage through Proposition 8 moved its headquarters last month to Washington, D.C. The National Organization for Marriage plans to use its projected 2009 budget of $6 million to, among other things, help ban same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia and ...

Washington Blade • Aug 26, 2009


Feingold lobbied to push DOMA repeal

Equal rights activists in D.C. are lobbying a Wisconsin lawmaker to introduce in the Senate legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Allison Herwitt, HRC's legislative director, told the Blade on Friday that her organization has been communicating with Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) to introduce DOMA repeal legislation that would complement a...

Washington Blade • Aug 7, 2009


Navigating a sea of LGBT lawsuits

A raft of court cases pending throughout the country could advance marriage rights and other priorities for LGBT Americans....

Washington Blade • Jul 20, 2009


Success comes one state at a time

In every state we are at different stages in fighting for our rights....

Washington Blade • Jul 20, 2009


March on Washington seen as 'bare-bones' affair; Some activists skeptical about need for D.C. demonstration

A number of activists are skeptical about whether the LGBT community should pursue a march this fall. Stampp Corbin, a gay activist in San Diego, Calif., called Jones "one of our most beloved activists," but said "it would be unconscionable" to think that activists would be able to plan for and draw LGBT Americans to an October march. "He couldn't possibly be talking about a march on Washington ...

Washington Blade • Jun 9, 2009


Equal rights bills remain stalled in Congress

U.S. House and Senate lawmakers apparently hold conflicting views on the best way to pass hate crimes legislation....

Washington Blade • May 30, 2009


Illinois poised to approve civil unions

The Illinois General Assembly is expected to approve a measure next week that would legalize civil unions, according to an LGBT activist. Rick Garcia, political director for Equality Illinois, said Thursday he's "absolutely" expecting the full state House and the Senate to pass a civil union measure either Tuesday or Wednesday. The bill has support from Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D)....

Washington Blade • May 21, 2009


Same-sex marriage at a tipping point?

Gay activists are saying it's possible, even likely, that the issue is far enough along to have reached an unquantifiable inevitability now that same-sex marriage is legal in four states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Iowa). But last year's bitter loss in California (Proposition 8's approval on the November ballot outlawed same-sex marriage there, which had been legal since a state Supre...

Washington Blade • Apr 27, 2009


Same-sex marriage at a tipping point?

Gay activists are saying it's possible, even likely, that the issue is far enough along to have reached an unquantifiable inevitability now that same-sex marriage is legal in four states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Iowa). But last year's bitter loss in California (Proposition 8's approval on the November ballot outlawed same-sex marriage there, which had been legal since a state Supre...

Washington Blade • Apr 17, 2009


Could new moderate Senate group threaten LGBT bills?

The formation of a moderate Democratic working group in the U.S. Senate is raising questions about whether the group could obstruct the advancement of pro-LGBT legislation. Dan Pinello, who's gay and a government professor at the City University of New York, said he doesn't think the group's formation is "a good sign for LGBT rights." "Anything ... that splinters the Democratic majority, however...

Washington Blade • Apr 3, 2009


D.C. activists launch grassroots campaign for same-sex marriage

About 25 volunteers with D.C. for Marriage collected nearly 600 signatures Saturday from people who support enacting same-sex marriage in the nation's capital. Organizers called their ability to gather so many signatures in less than two hours on a rainy Saturday a positive start to a campaign that aims to build support for a same-sex marriage rights bill expected to be introduced soon in the D.C...

Washington Blade • Apr 1, 2009


Gay donors propose omnibus rights bill

The leaders of a nonprofit LGBT donors group in Florida are calling on members of Congress to introduce a far-reaching omnibus LGBT rights bill that combines all of the gay- and transgender-related bills that have been pending before Congress, some for as long as 30 years. Called the Equality & Religious Freedom Act, the combined measure also includes new provisions, including a clause that requi...

Washington Blade • Mar 31, 2009


Cast of characters downs civil unions

A complex mix of personalities, career ambitions and individual motivations led to the defeat of civil unions for gay couples in Hawaii. In the end, it was a political soap opera, full of emotion, strong characters and plot twists. Some of the reasons state senators voted to scrap the measure Wednesday had more to do with politics than principle. How else could 18 of 25 Democratic senators clai...

Washington Blade • Mar 31, 2009


McCain strategist endorses same-sex marriage

"If I [were] to offer free political advice to the gay community in California," Schmidt said, "it would be don't spend your time looking for people about why it was defeated, but instead focus on what you could do next time and get ready to run the next campaign, because they were very, very close to succeeding."...

Washington Blade • Mar 27, 2009


California court to hear Prop 8 case next week

Despite the hype surrounding the oral arguments, Kendell said by the time the court hears them, "much of its main deliberation and thinking has already occurred." "The conventional wisdom is that oral argument rarely wins you a case, but it can hurt you if you're not well-prepared and ready to answer the court's questions," she said. A number of activists are taking steps to encourage the Suprem...

Washington Blade • Feb 27, 2009


Hawaii lawmakers to consider gaming, gay marriage

Hawaii lawmakers convene a new session tomorrow. They expect to consider legalizing gambling, recognizing gay marriage and preserving Hawaiian lands. The session runs through May 7th....

Washington Blade • Jan 21, 2009


Tim Kaine on gay rights

The Washington Post reports that Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is going to be appointed the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, replacing Howard Dean. In 2005, when Kaine was running for governor, he was the only candidate to respond to questions from the Blade regarding gay rights. Though he has said he opposes gay marriage and civil unions, he doesn't believe the federal government shoul...

Washington Blade • Jan 12, 2009


Crowded marriage meeting yields no consensus

Three gay activists on a panel leading the discussion and nearly all of the 25 audience members who spoke at the forum expressed support for moving ahead sometime soon with the bill, but no consensus emerged on the timing of a marriage bill....

Washington Blade • Dec 16, 2008


Gay orgs cut staff to cope with recession

...a reduction in donations coupled with the nation's ongoing financial crisis meant that GLAAD had to make job cuts to stay within budget and prepare for 2009....

Washington Blade • Dec 6, 2008


Obama names 7 gays to transition team

...

Washington Blade • Nov 19, 2008


Thousands turn out for D.C. Prop 8 protest

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Washington Blade • Nov 15, 2008



 

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