All Entries in the "national agenda" Category
Adoption bill aims to protect LGBT parents, kids
A tearful moment interrupted a congressional panel discussion on LGBT adoption Thursday when a gay foster parent described how state officials in Florida were threatening to take away his two children.
Martin Gill of Miami and his partner are seeking to adopt two young brothers — referred to John and James Doe in court papers — [...]
New bill would bar housing bias against gay, trans people
Task Force hopes Fair & Inclusive Housing Rights Act ‘gains momentum’
New study finds high HIV, syphilis rates in gay, bi men
A new analysis released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention shows that the rate of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men, also referred to as MSM, is more than 44 times greater than that of other men and 40 times greater than that of women.
The study also [...]
Massa denies sexually groping male staffers
A New York lawmaker who resigned from Congress has been under investigation for allegedly groping male staffers, according to a media report, raising questions about his sexual orientation.
Allegations that former Democratic Rep. Eric Massa, who resigned Tuesday, had sexually harassed a male staffer emerged last week, and the Washington Post reported this [...]
First openly gay U.S. House reading clerk relishes role
Joe Novotny ‘tremendously proud’ to take prominent position
HRC affirms ‘Don’t Ask’ repeal for 2010
The Human Rights Campaign is affirming its commitment to repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year as part of its legislative agenda in Congress.
HRC President Joe Solmonese outlined during a Feb. 27 fundraising dinner speech in Raleigh, N.C., expectations for the passage of pro-LGBT federal legislation in Congress, including the repeal of the 1993 barring [...]
Lobby day draws an estimated 300 to advocate for pro-LGBT bills
An estimated 300 citizen lobbyists from across the country came to Capitol Hill on Thursday to urge lawmakers to push pro-LGBT legislation through Congress.
During the lobby day, which was led by the Human Rights Campaign, participants informed members of the Congress of the views on legislation such as repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the [...]
Adoption anti-discrimination bill gets reboot
An adoption anti-discrimination bill previously introduced in the U.S. House is set to get a new start this week when the bill’s sponsor reintroduces it with modified language.
Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), the sponsor of the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, is planning to reintroduce the bill — which would prohibit discrimination [...]
Service chiefs’ opposition could impair ‘Don’t Ask’ repeal
As the defense budget hearings on Capitol Hill come to a close, the service chiefs’ opposition to repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” before the Pentagon study is complete — as well as the effect their views could have on lawmakers — has become clear.
Discussion of the service chiefs’ positions peaked Thursday during a Senate [...]
Pentagon officials outline scope for ‘Don’t Ask’ study
Officials leading the Pentagon study examining “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” outlined for lawmakers the general scope of their work Wednesday, but offered limited details and were tight-lipped on their personal views of the law.
Both co-chairs of the Pentagon working group testified before the House Armed Services personnel subcommittee. Jeh Johnson, general counsel for the Defense [...]
Lieberman unveils Senate ‘Don’t Ask’ repeal legislation
U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) introduced a bill Wednesday to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” all the while acknowledging Congress may have to settle with a moratorium as legislative action this year as opposed to outright repeal.
Lieberman touted the legislation — the first Senate bill introduced to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” — during a [...]
New report undermines officers’ letter supporting ‘Don’t Ask’
Some signers involved in career-ending scandals
Murphy confident Congress will overturn ‘Don’t Ask’ this year
The sponsor of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal legislation in the U.S. House is confident Congress will overturn the law this year — even as other lawmakers have indicated repeal may not happen until later.
In an interview with DC Agenda Tuesday, Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) said he believed lawmakers would overturn this [...]
Pentagon officials to speak at House ‘Don’t Ask’ hearing
This week’s U.S. House hearing on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will feature testimony from Defense Department officials — including the two people who are heading the study of the law that’s underway at the Pentagon.
Jeh Johnson, general counsel for the Defense Department, and Gen. Carter Ham, commanding general for U.S. Army Europe, are slated to [...]
Gibbs: ‘Don’t Ask’ repeal off to ‘strong start’
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs today, responding to a question from a DC Agenda reporter, said he believes the process for repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is off to a “strong start.”
Without elaborating, he confirmed the White House has talked to members of Congress about the need for repealing the military’s ban on service by [...]
English