National News - Washington Blade

Obama cheered at Pride event

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EST

Obama cheered at Pride event
President pledges to end 'Don't Ask,' overturn anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act
By Chris Johnson
Friday, July 03, 2009
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender leaders enthusiastically cheered President Obama and shouted “I love you!” during a White House celebration this week commemorating Pride and the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

Obama and the first lady returned the love to his audience at Monday's event and recommitted himself to fighting for LGBT rights during his administration.

“Even as we face extraordinary challenges as a nation, we cannot — and will not — put aside issues of basic equality,” he said. “We seek an America in which no one feels the pain of discrimination based on who you are or who you love.”

T ...

White House protesters rally against 'Don't Ask'

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EST

White House protesters rally against 'Don't Ask'
Group calls for legislation in Congress
By Staff & Wire Reports
Friday, July 03, 2009
WASHINGTON — Nearly 300 people waved placards and chanted slogans calling on President Obama and Congress to repeal the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” law that bars gays from serving openly in the military in a protest march in front of the White House on June 27.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which organized the protest, pointed to government figures showing that almost 13,000 gay, lesbian or bisexual service members have been discharged from the all four branches of the military since the law took effect in 1994.

“Our message today is the president needs to act with a sense of urgency,” said SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis.
...

Gay exorcism spurs government action

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EST

Gay exorcism spurs government action
16-year-old boy shown laying on floor while adults try to cast "demons" from his body
By Staff & Wire Reports
Friday, July 03, 2009
MANCHESTER — State officials in Connecticut are taking action after a video showing a 16-year-old boy undergoing an apparent gay exorcism surfaced online.

A spokesperson for True Colors, a sexual minority youth and family services group in Connecticut, said the state's Department of Children & Families has become involved.

In the video, the boy is shown lying on the floor, convulsing, while adults try to cast a “homosexual demon” from his body. The church behind the exorcism, Manifested Glory Ministries, is a non-denominational black church in Bridgeport.

Kamora Herrington, the mentoring program director at True Colors, said the ...

Baldwin's gay health bill draws key Hill support

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EST

Baldwin's gay health bill draws key Hill support
Measure could join Obama's health care reform package
By Lou Chibbaro Jr.
Friday, July 03, 2009
A bill introduced last week by gay U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) aimed at curtailing discrimination and disparities faced by LGBT people in the nation's health care system has so far drawn only 12 co-sponsors.

But Capitol Hill observers note that one of the 12 — Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) — is a key player in the drafting of legislation to carry out President Obama's health care reform proposals.

Officials with LGBT and AIDS advocacy groups say they are hopeful that Waxman will push hard to incorporate some or all of the provisions of Baldwin's bill into the final version of the sweeping health care reform measure expected to introduced soon in the Hous ...

Seven arrested in Texas gay bar

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EST

Seven arrested in Texas gay bar
Public intoxication charges made on Stonewall's 40th anniversary
By Lou Chibbaro Jr.
Friday, July 03, 2009
The police chief in Fort Worth, Texas, has promised an investigation into allegations of misconduct by officers that witnesses say raided a gay bar shortly after midnight June 28 and arrested seven men on charges of “public intoxication.”

One of the arrested men was being treated in a hospital for bleeding in his brain after one or more of the officers knocked him to the floor, where he hit his head, witnesses said.

Police released a statement saying they entered the Rainbow Lounge, a gay club that opened less than a month earlier, to conduct a routine “alcohol beverage code inspection,” not a raid.

The statement says officers arrested ...

Hate crimes measure to ride on defense bill

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EST

Hate crimes measure to ride on defense bill
Strategy resembles 2007 plan to pass federal proposal
By Chris Johnson
Friday, July 03, 2009
U.S. Senate leaders intend to pass a hate crimes measure next month as an amendment to the defense authorization bill even as President Obama has threatened to veto the bill based on language in the House version, according to sources.

David Smith, HRC's vice president of programs, said in a June 26 statement to the Blade that the Senate would probably pass the bill in this way.

“The [Department of Defense] authorization bill as well as other vehicles have been under consideration since House passage earlier this year,” he said. “Between now and the August recess, DOD appears to be the most likely candidate for hate crimes.”

A senior S ...

Attorney general grilled on proposal

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EST

Attorney general grilled on proposal
Eric Holder challenged for supporting federal hate crimes measure
By Chris Johnson
Friday, July 03, 2009
GOP senators challenged the U.S. attorney general for supporting hate crimes legislation during a congressional hearing last week on the bill.

Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee hammered Attorney General Eric Holder with questions June 25 after he said the Obama administration “strongly supports” the federal bill and wants “swift passage” of the legislation.

Holder said the measure will “help protect all Americans from the scourge of the most heinous bias-motivated violence.”

“The time is now to provide our federal, state, local and other law enforcement officers with the tools they need to effective ...

Another shot for ENDA

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

Another shot for ENDA
Frank says trans-inclusive bill 'on track' to pass this year
By Lou Chibbaro Jr.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Gay U.S. Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) teamed up with eight other House members Wednesday to reintroduce an employment non-discrimination bill that includes protections for gay and transgender people.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, known as ENDA, was dropped into the legislative hopper with at least 118 co-sponsors as of Wednesday afternoon, with more expected to sign on shortly, Frank said at a news conference on Capitol Hill.

“We can now take for granted that there will be a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives, almost certainly this calendar year, on a fully inclusive ENDA,” Frank said ...

Gays boycott DNC fundraiser

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

Gays boycott DNC fundraiser
Dems lose donations over anger at Obama administration
By Chris Johnson
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tension continued to build this week over a LGBT fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee with several gay invitees boycotting the event, while others who planned to attend said they would voice their frustrations to party leaders.

Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, withdrew from the event on Tuesday.

The event, scheduled for Thursday after the Blade's print deadline, was sponsored by the DNC's LGBT Leadership Council and set to take place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in D.C. (Visit washingtonblade.com for news updates on the event.) The featured speaker was Vice President Joe Biden. Other scheduled speakers included DNC Chair and V ...

Obama wants to count gay unions in U.S. Census

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

Obama wants to count gay unions in U.S. Census
Current policy lists married gays as 'unmarried partners'
By Lou Chibbaro Jr.
Friday, June 26, 2009
The Obama administration is taking steps to direct the U.S. Census Bureau to include same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships in the 2010 Census, according to White House officials.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, which was confirmed Friday by a White House spokesperson, the administration is seeking ways for next year's Census to collect specific data on same-sex relationships and to report the data in early 2011.

Although the administration hasn't finalized the details, White House officials told the Wall Street Journal that a decision has been made to reject a determination by the Bush administration that the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act ...

Va. woman in lesbian custody case loses again

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

Va. woman in lesbian custody case loses again
Latest ruling in a string of orders following case
By Staff & Wire Reports
Friday, June 26, 2009
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia woman has again lost her bid to deny child-visitation rights to her former partner.

Lisa Miller has been trying for years to block a Vermont court order awarding Janet Jenkins visitation rights for 7-year-old Isabella, but courts in both states have ruled against her several times.

Most recently, she asked a Winchester judge to block enforcement of the Vermont order in Virginia. The judge threw out Miller's complaint, and the Virginia Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the decision Tuesday.

Miller and Jenkins entered into a civil union in Vermont in 2000, but Miller later renounced homosexuality and moved to the W ...

New map finds HIV rates highest in South

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

New map finds HIV rates highest in South
Georgia and Virginia post staggering figures
By Staff & Wire Reports
Friday, June 26, 2009
ATLANTA (AP) — A new Internet data map offers a first-of-its-kind, county-level look at HIV cases in the U.S. and finds infection rates tend to be highest in the South.

The highest numbers of HIV cases are in population centers like New York and California. However, many of the areas with the highest rates of HIV — that is, the highest proportion of people with the virus — are in the South, according to the data map, which has information for about 99 percent of the nation's counties.

HIV infection rates are higher in African-American communities, and high minority populations in the South help explain the finding. While that's not surprising, ...

Dodd backs same-sex marriage

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

Dodd backs same-sex marriage
Senator explains change of position in op-ed article
By Staff & Wire Reports
Friday, June 26, 2009
WASHINGTON — A former Democratic presidential contender once opposed to same-sex marriage now supports such unions.

U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut wrote in a June 21 op-ed for The Meridan Record-Journal that he now counts himself “among the many elected officials, advocates, and ordinary citizens who support full marriage equality for same-sex couples.”

“I understand that even those who oppose discrimination might continue to find it hard to re-think the definition of marriage they grew up with,” Dodd wrote. “I know it was for me.

“But many of the things we must do to make our union more perfect — whe ...

Maine activists sound alarm over referendum

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

Maine activists sound alarm over referendum
Defending same-sex marriage could cost $10 million
By Chris Johnson
Friday, June 26, 2009
Maine activists are seeking help from around the country in defending the state's new marriage law from a possible referendum.

Last month, Maine became the fifth state in the country to legalize same-sex marriage, but the possibility of a “people's veto” threatens the new law.

Monique Hoeflinger, an executive committee member for Maine Freedom to Marry, said during a June 11 conference call that opponents of same-sex marriage are “flush with money” and people defending the law in Maine will need resources from the national LGBT community to succeed.

“As we launch this referendum campaign, we need the resources not only to continu ...

N.Y. marriage vote could come 'very soon'

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

N.Y. marriage vote could come 'very soon'
Amid chaos, HRC hopeful for measure
By Chris Johnson
Friday, June 26, 2009
Despite a feud that's engulfed the New York Senate, the Human Rights Campaign was hopeful this week the chamber would vote on same-sex marriage legislation “very soon.”

HRC had previously said a marriage vote was possible Wednesday, but Marty Rouse, the organization's national field director, told the Blade that day that “it's looking very likely that there isn't going to be any business in Albany today.”

“We don't know when this vote is coming, but we fully expect this vote is coming soon, very soon,” he said.

Approval in the Senate is the last major obstacle in passing same-sex marriage legislation in New York. Last month ...

Reid pledges vote on hate crimes bill by August

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

Reid pledges vote on hate crimes bill by August
Report shows surge in violence against gays
By Chris Johnson
Friday, June 19, 2009
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced this week that he's committed to passing hate crimes legislation before Congress recesses in August.

During a press conference Monday in Washington, Reid referred to bias-motivated violence as “terroristic acts” intended to intimidate a group of people.

“A violent act may physically hurt just a single victim and cause grief for loved ones,” he said. “But hate crimes do more. They distress entire communities, entire groups of people and our entire country.”

Reid said he's “committed to holding a vote on this bill” before lawmakers “leave here in August.&rdquo ...

HRC criticizes Obama over DOMA brief

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

HRC criticizes Obama over DOMA brief
Solmonese says he holds president to 'a higher standard'
By Chris Johnson
Friday, June 19, 2009
The Human Rights Campaign is taking President Obama to task following the release of a controversial Justice Department brief that defends the Defense of Marriage Act.

In letter sent to Obama on Monday, HRC President Joe Solmonese contests certain arguments made in the brief and urges the president to move to repeal DOMA, which prevents federal recognition of same-sex unions.

“As an American, a civil rights advocate, and a human being, I hold this administration to a higher standard than this brief,” Solmonese wrote.

Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, said in response that Obama “remains strongly committed to signing a legislative repe ...

Activists angry over DOJ defense of DOMA

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

Activists angry over DOJ defense of DOMA
But lawyers say administration required to fight lawsuit
By Chris Johnson
Friday, June 19, 2009
Arguments made in a Justice Department motion to dismiss a federal case against the Defense of Marriage Act have angered many LGBT Americans, but legal experts say the filing shouldn't come as a surprise because the department is required to defend federal statutes.

Federal lawyers defended DOMA in their motion last week to dismiss Smelt v. the United States of America. The case was filed in federal district court last year. The motion to dismiss doesn't necessarily mean that the court won't take up the case.

The plaintiffs in the case, Arthur Smelt and Christopher Hammer of California, argue that their constitutional rights are violated through DOMA, which prohibits th ...

Judge says ministry can leaflet at PrideFest

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

Judge says ministry can leaflet at PrideFest
Apple of His Eye organization claimed threat of arrest in 2006
By Staff & Wire Reports
Friday, June 19, 2009
ST. LOUIS (AP) — An alliance of Christian attorneys says a federal judge will allow a ministry to hand out religious literature at St. Louis' PrideFest.

The Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund says an order was issued last week that will allow the Apple of His Eye organization to share its religious views and pass out leaflets at the Pride event in St. Louis.

The lawyers say ministry members were threatened with arrest by St. Louis officials in 2006 for handing out religious literature. Apple of His Eye is a ministry of Messianic Jews, who believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah.

The lawyers say the order will let the ministry express its views this ...

Mich. lawmaker pushes for marriage recognition

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST

Mich. lawmaker pushes for marriage recognition
Proposal faces uphill climb after 2004 amendment
By Staff & Wire Reports
Friday, June 19, 2009
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan lawmaker said Saturday she wants to change state law to recognize same-sex marriages.

The proposal announced by state Rep. Pam Byrnes faces an uphill climb. Michigan voters in 2004 passed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman, effectively banning the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.

But Byrnes launched an effort to repeal that provision at the annual gay rights Michigan Pride event at the state Capitol.

The joint resolution by the Democrat from Washtenaw County's Lyndon Township would have to be approved by two-thirds of the Michigan Legislature before it would be pu ...