Author Archives: Lisa Keen
House VAWA excludes LGBT victims
The U.S. House is expected to begin debate Wednesday (February 27) on a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act but one that, once again, eliminates language to ensure that victims of domestic violence can receive assistance from federally
Massive survey finds twists in the urban assumptions about LGBT people
There’s a kind of urban myth that most LGBT people live in large urban areas on the west coast and the northeast region of the country and that they’re mostly gay, male, young, and white. But a new study out
Unknowns loom as marriage arguments draw near at Supreme Court
One month away from the most historic and, perhaps, influential U.S. Supreme Court cases in LGBT history, a surprising number of facts are still unknown.
Illinois marriage bill takes the lead
The Illinois Senate on February 14 approved a marriage equality bill by a 34 to 21 vote. Meanwhile, hopes that a marriage equality bill would be moved through the Hawaii legislature were dashed this month when the House Judiciary Committee
Anti-violence measure clears Senate
Openly gay U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin was presiding over the Senate February 12 when the U.S. Senate voted 78 to 22 to approve a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, including provisions to include gay male victims of
PFLAG founder wins presidential medal
The White House announced Wednesday (February 13) that President Obama has selected PFLAG co-founder Jeanne Manford as one of 13 Presidential Citizens Medal recipients for 2012. Manford, who died at the age of 92 just last month, helped co-found Parents,
Mixed reviews from LGBT community on fourth State of the Union address
President Obama continued his trend of including references to LGBT people in his State of the Union address Tuesday night (February 12), but he got mixed reviews from the community itself.
Most benefits extended to gay military
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued a memorandum to the armed services branches Monday ordering the extension of 22 educational, survivor, travel, and transportation benefits to the “same-sex domestic partners” of service members.
Second gay appeals nominee named
President Obama has once again nominated an openly gay man to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The president nominated Department of Justice attorney
Interior nominee is staunch supporter
President Obama’s new nominee to serve as Secretary of Interior was a staunch supporter of marriage equality in Washington State last year.
