Author Archives: Lisa Keen

House Committee approves three DADT/DOMA amendments

The full U.S. House Armed Services Committee approved three amendments late Wednesday night that seek to delay implementation of repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and to reiterate Congress's support for the Defense of Marriage Act.

Witt wins settlement over “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” discharge

The ACLU of Washington State announced Tuesday that Air Force Reserve nurse Margaret Witt has reached a final settlement with the Department of Defense in her highly publicized litigation to avoid discharge under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” According to an ACLU

Prop 8 judge’s most personal intentions coming under scrutiny

Former U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker recently told a small group of reporters that it would be a “very slippery slope” to say that a judge's “sexuality” should prevent him or her from handling a case such as

Holder issues surprise order to stop deportation

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Thursday (May 5) vacated a deportation ruling against a gay man, suggesting that his relationship with a New Jersey man might qualify him to be considered as a “spouse” under immigration laws.

AIDS funding: caught in the crossfire of the FY 12 budget battle

Before it left on spring recess, the U.S. House passed a budget for Fiscal Year 2012 that the president called "wrong for America" and that AIDS activists have said would do "irreparable harm."

Drama in the court: Judge Walker is called to ‘answer’

The new Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco has asked former Chief Judge Vaughn Walker to come back to court. In an April 28 order, Judge James Ware instructed Walker to appear in court to answer

Yes on 8: Gay judge’s ruling shouldn’t count

Proponents of Proposition 8 filed a motion Monday, April 25, in federal district court, seeking to vacate the August 2010 ruling by Judge Vaughn Walker that the initiative is unconstitutional, citing Walker’s recent disclosure that he is gay.

Law firm drops contract to defend DOMA

Less than a week after a law firm signed a contract to represent the U.S. House in defending DOMA in federal court, the law firm began to withdraw from the agreement.

Alleged kidnap accomplice charged

A man accused of helping former lesbian Lisa Miller leave the United States in violation of a court order that she turn over custody of her daughter to the child’s other mother was arraigned in a federal court in Vermont

Arrest made in Miller-Jenkins custody battle

A man accused of helping a former lesbian sneak a child out of the country, violating a court order that the mother turn the child over to her former same-sex partner, was arrested April 18 and will be arraigned in