Category Archives: National Politics

Former RNC chair comes out

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman acknowledged publicly this week that he is gay. Mehlman was a close colleague of President George W. Bush’s political architect Karl Rove.

ENDA prospects apparently gone

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is not on the agenda for Senate floor action for the next few weeks, prior to the August 9 recess. The Senate will take up work on as many as nine matters during the next

Appointment of Byrd replacement bodes well for DADT repeal

The immediate replacement for U.S. Senator Robert Byrd will most likely be chosen by the governor, not by a special election—and that is good news for the chances of repealing "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell."

Federal Departments Mixed in Promotion of LGBT Rights

A panel of six LGBT activist leaders in April were asked to grade the Obama administration thus far on LGBT issues. Three panelists gave the administration a "D," two gave it a "B," and one a "C." Keen News Service

Test your LGBT IQ

It’s LGBT Pride Month and time to check your LGBT-IQ. Only one question this year: Besides the measures on the House and Senate Defense authorization bills to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, name the other 25 LGBT-specific bills pending in Congress

Fed partner benefits: The ‘pay-for’ hurdle

When President Obama issued a memorandum extending certain benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, he noted there are still certain benefits he cannot extend under current law. But the legislation the president and many LGBT organizations are touting

DADT repeal clears two major Congressional hurdles

The U.S. House voted 234 to 194 Thursday night to approve a compromise amendment that many believe will—with some conditions—eventually lead to the end of the military’s policy of discharging gay servicemembers.

Hospital visitation memo will take months to implement

When President Obama signed a memorandum this month, calling for an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians in hospital visitation policies, many unmarried LGBT people assumed that meant hospitals would no longer be able to bar them from being

A Department of Silence: Bullying of LGBT youth not a priority

From the beginning of the Obama administration, the general attitude of the LGBT people was that things would be better for the community than they were under the administration of President George W. Bush. But even from the beginning, there