Several local politicians will endorse pro-marriage Assemblymember Jose Peralta from Queens for expelled Senator Hiram Monserrate's seat. The Pride Agenda endorsed Peralta in December.
A San Francisco paper interviews Phyllis Lyon, the 85-year-old same-sex marriage trailblazer.
A feature on countries that have successfully allowed lesbian and gay military personnel to serve openly shows that repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would likely have no affect on "cohesion."
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Morning Sweep
The State Senate has expelled Sen. Hiram Monserrate, one of the eight Democrats who voted against marriage equality, due to his domestic assault conviction.
The Washington Post concludes from interviews with enlisted military personnel that there is increased acceptance for lesbian and gay service members.
The San Francisco Chronicle editorializes against claims that Judge Vaughn Walker's sexual orientation will make him biased in the Prop 8 trial.
Iowa Republicans' attempt to force a vote that would put a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality in the state failed yesterday.
Anti-marriage legislators also failed in New Hampshire yesterday, where committees recommended against repealing the state's marriage equality law and also recommended killing a proposed constitutional amendment banning marriage equality.
The Washington Post concludes from interviews with enlisted military personnel that there is increased acceptance for lesbian and gay service members.
The San Francisco Chronicle editorializes against claims that Judge Vaughn Walker's sexual orientation will make him biased in the Prop 8 trial.
Iowa Republicans' attempt to force a vote that would put a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality in the state failed yesterday.
Anti-marriage legislators also failed in New Hampshire yesterday, where committees recommended against repealing the state's marriage equality law and also recommended killing a proposed constitutional amendment banning marriage equality.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Morning Sweep
New Jersey's Garden State Equality has said that in order to show that Democrats can't rely on LGBT support without producing results for the community, it will stop donating to political parties. The organization may still back individual candidates.
A New Hampshire House committee will vote today on whether the state's marriage equality law should be repealed. The Judiciary Committee will also vote on whether to support a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality.
The Virginia state Senate passed a bill Monday that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in the state workforce, but the bill will likely die in the Republican-controlled House.
The three candidates for Governor in Rhode Island have said they would sign a marriage bill if it passed.
A New Hampshire House committee will vote today on whether the state's marriage equality law should be repealed. The Judiciary Committee will also vote on whether to support a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality.
The Virginia state Senate passed a bill Monday that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in the state workforce, but the bill will likely die in the Republican-controlled House.
The three candidates for Governor in Rhode Island have said they would sign a marriage bill if it passed.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Morning Sweep
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced Saturday that she plans to introduce a budget amendment that would stop funding for the enforcement of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) advocates for the repeal of DADT and applauds Adm. Mike Mullen and Secretary Robert Gates on their testimony in favor of a repeal.
New York Times' Frank Rich writes that a general lack of anti-LGBT reaction to the proposed repeal of DADT reflects shifting attitudes.
Another op-ed in the Times argues for the acceptance of openly gay clergy.
This weekend's Creating Change conference in Dallas featured a rousing speech about the progress made thus far by the LGBT community and the work to be done in the year ahead.
Mexico City's new marriage equality law puts the city in the middle of the country's debate on the issue.
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) advocates for the repeal of DADT and applauds Adm. Mike Mullen and Secretary Robert Gates on their testimony in favor of a repeal.
New York Times' Frank Rich writes that a general lack of anti-LGBT reaction to the proposed repeal of DADT reflects shifting attitudes.
Another op-ed in the Times argues for the acceptance of openly gay clergy.
This weekend's Creating Change conference in Dallas featured a rousing speech about the progress made thus far by the LGBT community and the work to be done in the year ahead.
Mexico City's new marriage equality law puts the city in the middle of the country's debate on the issue.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Important breakthrough on recognition of transgender sex-change surgery as "medically necessary"
From the Pride Agenda's Program Director Desma Holcomb:
One of the big problems facing transgender people is that society, including the insurance industry, is divided over whether sex-change surgery is "medically necessary" or "cosmetic." One of the spheres where this debate is being played out is the IRS, which had been alleging in a court case that sex-change surgery expenses are not tax deductible because there are "cosmetic" rather than "medically necessary." For example, right now employees cannot use their pre-tax medical account benefit for sex-change surgery expenses, due to this position by the IRS.
This NY Times brief describes an important federal Tax Court decision that supports the transgender plaintiff's assertion that the surgery was medically necessary and overrides the IRS's assertion that it was not.
In addition to its impact on pre-tax medical accounts, this IRS assertion has, up until this Court decision, acted as a rationale for some insurance companies and some self-insuring large corporations to exclude (rather than include) this surgery as a legitimate, covered medical expense.
One of the big problems facing transgender people is that society, including the insurance industry, is divided over whether sex-change surgery is "medically necessary" or "cosmetic." One of the spheres where this debate is being played out is the IRS, which had been alleging in a court case that sex-change surgery expenses are not tax deductible because there are "cosmetic" rather than "medically necessary." For example, right now employees cannot use their pre-tax medical account benefit for sex-change surgery expenses, due to this position by the IRS.
This NY Times brief describes an important federal Tax Court decision that supports the transgender plaintiff's assertion that the surgery was medically necessary and overrides the IRS's assertion that it was not.
In addition to its impact on pre-tax medical accounts, this IRS assertion has, up until this Court decision, acted as a rationale for some insurance companies and some self-insuring large corporations to exclude (rather than include) this surgery as a legitimate, covered medical expense.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Morning Sweep
The White House fiscal year 2011 budget has a section focusing specifically on expanding opportunities for the LGBT community, including strengthening anti-discrimination efforts, supporting federal employee domestic partner benefits, and expanding AIDS awareness.
LGBT rights advocates are preparing a lawsuit alleging that the state of Hawaii is violating the equal protection rights of same-sex couples by not passing a civil unions law.
LGBT rights advocates are preparing a lawsuit alleging that the state of Hawaii is violating the equal protection rights of same-sex couples by not passing a civil unions law.
HBO is planning to film a biopic of Anita Bryant, the infamous anti-gay activist.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Morning Sweep
Tomorrow, the first Congressional hearing on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in 17 years will be held. Gay rights leaders say they expect an announcement to be made that in the interim before a formal repeal, the Defense Department will stop discharging service members whose sexual orientation is revealed by third parties.
The Washington Post editorializes in favor of repealing DADT and says "It's time for Congress to act."
Slate has an excellent analysis of the legal questions in play in the Prop. 8 trial.
The Washington Post editorializes in favor of repealing DADT and says "It's time for Congress to act."
Slate has an excellent analysis of the legal questions in play in the Prop. 8 trial.
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