Yearly Archives: 2011

Pro-LGBT bills outnumber hostile ones but little movement expected

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) re-introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to the Senate on Wednesday, and U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) each re-introduced a bill Thursday to help bi-national LGBT couples. These latest measures

The T-shirt Wars: Courts struggle to find balance between free speech and harassment

A recent federal court decision--in a case stemming from a conservative response to GLSEN's Day of Silence--has upheld the right of students to express certain anti-gay sentiments.

5th Circuit upholds Louisiana’s denial to gay dads

In a case that calls into question the responsibility of states to recognize adoptions granted in other states, a federal circuit court said Louisiana does not have to put the names of two gay fathers on the birth certificate of

Budget battle: LGBT and HIV programs escape the axe

There was a lot of talk during the final days of the federal budget negotiations that House Republican leaders were trying to insert policy amendments about "social issues" into the budget. And since the White House and Republicans struck a

New ad campaign promotes equal access to housing for LGBTs

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it is launching a national media campaign to promote equal access to housing regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, among other characteristics.

Senate committee advances one gay court nominee

The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, April 7, voted unanimously by voice vote to recommend to the full Senate the nomination of openly gay attorney Paul Oetken to a seat on the U.S. District Court for Southern New York.

LGBTs comprise 3.5 percent of U.S. adult population

Remember this number: 9 million. And this percentage: 3.5. The former is the current best estimate of the number of adults in the U.S. who identify as LGBT; the latter is the percentage that number represents within the total number

Arkansas Supreme Court strikes down adoption ban

The Arkansas Supreme Court unanimously upheld a lower court ruling that struck down the state’s ban on adoption and foster parenting by any person cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of marriage. The state high court said the law violates

Prop 8 trial judge acknowledges he’s gay

U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker, who last August declared California’s same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional, acknowledged to a small group of reporters Wednesday, April 6, that he is gay.

Olson-Boies: Yes on 8 trying to ‘usurp’ power of elected officials

Proponents of Proposition 8 are trying to subvert the California constitution for a second time, argues the legal team of Ted Olson and David Boies, in a brief filed Monday with the California Supreme Court. The brief is in preparation for