Category Archives: News Briefs
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.
Inaugural pastors now more moderate
The Presidential Inaugural Committee has invited a moderate Methodist minister to deliver the sermon and the inaugural’s National Prayer Service Tuesday, January 22. The Committee announced Friday (January 18) that it has invited Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of the United
Inaugural names gay “citizen co-chair”
The Presidential Inauguration Committee announced Thursday (January 17) that an openly gay veteran of the Air Force will be among the eight “Citizen Co-Chairs” for President Obama’s second inaugural ceremony.
Pastor withdraws from inaugural stage
It was almost déjà vu all over again. To deliver the benediction at his second inauguration January 21, President Obama chose a pastor who had called homosexuality “probably the greatest addiction” and said marriage between same-sex partners is “absolutely undermining the
Supreme Court sets dates: March 26-27
The U.S. Supreme Court today (January 7) scheduled the dates for oral arguments in the two high-profile marriage equality cases before it this session. The Proposition 8 case will be heard on March 26; the Defense of Marriage Act case
House GOP writes DOMA support into rules
The Republican leaders in the U.S. House started off the 2013-14 session giving unusual prominence to their legal defense of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). As part of
Funding cuts still loom for LGBT centers
LGBT service groups and others who depend on federal funding for a portion of their work can breathe a sigh of relief –for about two months. Congress sent President Obama a bill January 1 to satisfy part of its mandate
