Category Archives: News

Fed grants awarded to begin addressing bullying and safe schools

The U.S. Department of Education announced the awarding of $38.8 million in grants to 11 states from a new Safe and Supportive School program, just days after a media blitz about the bullying-related suicides of five teenagers. But the grants

First Amendment fights to dominate high court

There are some important First Amendment cases coming before the U.S. Supreme Court in the session that begins today. The most important case for the LGBT community at the moment is Snyder v. Phelps, which the court will hear on

New chief of staff: an ‘internal advocate’

President Obama announced that White House senior adviser Peter Rouse will take over immediately as his Chief of Staff, replacing Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel is leaving his post to launch a campaign to run for mayor of Chicago.

Second big legal victory against DADT

For the second time this month, a federal judge has ruled Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell violates the federal constitution.

Florida: Won’t enforce adoption ban

Florida Governor Charlie Crist (I) and George Sheldon, head of the state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), said they would no longer enforce the state ban on adoption by gay men and lesbians.

GOP “Pledge” honors only “traditional marriage”

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives revealed their “Pledge to America,” and it includes a pledge to “to honor families, traditional marriage, life, and the private and faith-based organizations that form the core of our American values.” That reference

Florida Court Overturns Adoption Ban

A Florida appeals court ruled September 22 that a gay man, Frank Martin Gill, has the right to adopt the two boys he and his partner have raised for almost six years. The decision upholds a lower court ruling that

Vote against filibuster fails; no DADT repeal today

The Senate rejected a motion to break a Republican-led filibuster against an annual defense spending bill that includes language aimed at ending the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law banning gays. The vote was 56 to 43.

Biden: “I think we’ll get 55 votes to repeal”

Vice President Joe Biden said Democrats in the Senate have the votes not only to pass the measure to repeal "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" but also to thwart any attempt by Republicans to defeat the measure through some other tactic.

Census count on same-sex couples: How far off?

One in seven same-sex couples won’t be identified as such in 2010 U.S. Census results, according to a new study. And the options on the Census form to indicate relationship status are problematic for same-sex couples because they don’t reflect