Category Archives: Issues
HHS urges child welfare agencies to better serve LGBTQ youth
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a memo April 6 encouraging child welfare agencies to better serve the needs of “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth” in the foster care system.
House hired gun goes to work on DOMA; HRC attacks
The U.S. House has obligated itself to pay more than $500,000 for outside attorneys to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in federal courts. And the House has chosen a firm which clearly prides itself on including LGBT lawyers among
House hearing contentious on DOJ-DOMA decision
Democrats came out swinging Friday, April 15, during a House subcommittee hearing on the Department of Justice announcement that it would curtail its defense of the federal ban on recognition of same-sex marriages.
The T-shirt Wars: Courts struggle to find balance between free speech and harassment
A recent federal court decision--in a case stemming from a conservative response to GLSEN's Day of Silence--has upheld the right of students to express certain anti-gay sentiments.
5th Circuit upholds Louisiana’s denial to gay dads
In a case that calls into question the responsibility of states to recognize adoptions granted in other states, a federal circuit court said Louisiana does not have to put the names of two gay fathers on the birth certificate of
New ad campaign promotes equal access to housing for LGBTs
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it is launching a national media campaign to promote equal access to housing regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, among other characteristics.
LGBTs comprise 3.5 percent of U.S. adult population
Remember this number: 9 million. And this percentage: 3.5. The former is the current best estimate of the number of adults in the U.S. who identify as LGBT; the latter is the percentage that number represents within the total number
Arkansas Supreme Court strikes down adoption ban
The Arkansas Supreme Court unanimously upheld a lower court ruling that struck down the state’s ban on adoption and foster parenting by any person cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of marriage. The state high court said the law violates
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.
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.
