Author Archives: Lisa Keen

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

HHS makes push for more LGBT-related data and research

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday, April 1, that it was making new recommendations for future action to "improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."

Obama nominates lesbian to federal district court

President Obama on Thursday evening made his third nomination of an openly gay person for a federal court seat. Obama nominated attorney Alison J. Nathan, a former White House counsel and current special counsel to New York State’s Solicitor General. He

DADT certification likely mid-summer

Pentagon officials told a House subcommittee Friday that training for implementation of repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" has gone "extremely well so far" and that certification to Congress might come by mid-summer.

Grassley puts gay district court nominee’s vote on hold

The ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday morning asked that the nomination of openly gay attorney Paul Oetken and three other federal district court nominees be held over indefinitely.

DOJ to married green card applicants: DOMA still applies

Just days after putting the applications for green cards on hold for same-sex married couples, the U.S. Citizens and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced it is back to processing them again--with the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in play.

Frank and Merkley poised to reintroduce ENDA

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank on Wednesday, March 30, announced he would soon re-introduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), characterizing it as "winnable."

Green card applications for married gays on hold awaiting DOJ guidance

U.S. immigration officials confirmed that the green card applications of immigrants who are in marriages with same-sex partners who are American citizens will be "held in abeyance" until the Department of Justice provides "final guidance related to distinct legal issues"

9th Circuit refuses to lift stay on ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional

The U.S. Court of Appeals panel hearing the Proposition 8 case on Wednesday denied a request by plaintiffs to lift the stay on the lower court’s ruling in their favor. Had the three-judge panel granted the request, same-sex couples in California

AIDS activist legend Elizabeth Taylor dies

Acting legend Elizabeth Taylor, who put her own reputation on the line in order to help people with AIDS at a time, in the 1980s, when society was deeply afraid of the disease, died of congestive heart failure Wednesday, March