Author Archives: Lisa Keen
Speed Read: Nightmare in Nigeria
Authorities in Nigeria are using aggressive tactics to identify and punish gays, and the Human Rights Campaign has urged the State Department to use every tool it can to intervene. President Obama named an African American lesbian to a federal
Speed Read: ‘One stroke of his pen’
When President Obama promised to start using his authority to sign executive orders to get things done in Washington, NGLTF Executive Director Rea Carey reminded him that the LGBT community has been pleading for an executive order to ban discrimination
Speed Read: Another one bites the dust
Another ban bites the dust: a federal judge in Oklahoma says the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. But he delays implementation of his decision until the Tenth Circuit can address appeals. A Virginia senate committee tables an attempt
Oklahoma ban ‘insulting’ to same-sex couples, says federal judge
In yet another stunning victory for marriage equality, a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled Tuesday that the state’s ban on same-sex couples obtaining marriage licenses is unconstitutional.
Speed Read: Sochi worries escalate
Worries escalate for LGBT people heading to Sochi. Obama administration will recognize same-sex marriages from Utah. Virginia's new governor keeps his promise on Day One. And more....
DOJ says U.S. will recognize Utah marriages
LGBT legal activists applauded an announcement by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Friday that the federal government will recognize marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples in Utah despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court put a stay on enforcement
Sochi: Tensions and warnings escalate
The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory Saturday for citizens traveling to Russia for the Winter Olympics next month, including a specific warning that “vague guidance” from Russia about its new laws making “it a crime to promote LGBT
Speed Read: Gay court nominee dropped
President Obama decided not to re-nominate an openly gay black man to a federal district court seat in Miami, indicating that Senator Marco Rubio had effectively blocked the nomination. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia lobbied President Obama to push the
Speed Read: Utah reiterates ban in force
The Utah attorney general and governor made clear today that the state has resumed enforcing its ban on same-sex marriage and called into question whether the 1,300 same-sex couples who have already married there since December 20 can be recognized
Utah AG says state may not recognize 1,300 marriages of same-sex couples
The Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying that he was “unable to reach a legal conclusion as to the ultimate validity of marriage between persons of the same sex who completed their marriage ceremony in
