- President Obama has appointed Alison J. Nathan, who is openly lesbian, as his associate counsel. Nathan was recently the Fritz Alexander Fellow at New York University School of Law and a visiting assistant professor at Fordham Law School. During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Nathan was the national voter protection senior advisor to the Obama campaign and a member of the campaign’s LGBT Advisory Committee.
- President Obama also named Fred Davie, the openly gay president of Public/Private Ventures, to serve on the Policy Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
- So far, so good, but some question Obama’s choice of Senator Judd Gregg for Commerce Secretary. Gregg opposed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation.
- The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judges ruled the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and found in favor of the same-sex spouse of a federal employee, saying he is entitled to the same spousal benefits as opposite-sex spouses. This follows a similar ruling last month that stopped short of ruling DOMA unconstitutional. The LA Times notes, however, “the rulings are legally meaningless for all but the two couples because they came in the court’s administrative dispute process, rather than in lawsuit judgments.”
- The California Supreme Court announced it will hear oral arguments on Thursday, March 5, 2009 in the Prop 8 legal challenge.
- Back in the midst of California’s Prop 8 battle, I speculated about what we could buy with the $30 million that was estimated would be spent for and against the measure. Fritz at Pam’s has done a similar calculation, using the final $83 million figure. Health insurance for 7,000 families, anyone?
- The Florida Bar Association said it supports the repeal of the state ban on adoption by gay men and lesbians.
- Attorneys for a woman denied access to her dying partner at a hospital in Florida are asking a federal judge to reject a motion by the hospital to dismiss the lawsuit.
- The Hawaii House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples. It now heads to the full House, and so far, things look promising.
- The Kansas Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee approved a bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s anti-discrimination law. It still needs hearings and a vote by the full legislature.
- Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has proposed medical benefits for the same-sex partners and dependents of state employees.
- The New Hampshire House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on bills both to legalize marriage for same-sex couples and to repeal civil unions and ban such marriages. Openly gay New Hampshire Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson gave testimony.
- A New Jersey judge granted a divorce to a lesbian couple who married in Canada and sought a divorce in New Jersey.
- A New York judge has ruled that a man who married his male partner in Canada is entitled to inherit the entire estate of the partner, now deceased.
- South Carolina state senator Sen. Robert Ford (D) introduced a bill that would allow civil unions for same-sex couples.
- Tennessee State Senator Paul Stanley (R-Memphis) filed a bill that would prohibit adoption by any individual “cohabiting outside of a marriage that is valid under the constitution and laws of this state.”
- Houston City Controller Annise Parker, who is openly lesbian, announced her candidacy for mayor.
- Members of the Vermont House have introduced a bill that would legalize marriage for same-sex couples.
Around the world:
- Emily Gray, co-convenor of Australia’s Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, surveys the current situation of out politicians and LGBT-rights laws in her country.
- Although the news broke last week, Johanna Sigurdardottir officially became the prime minister of Iceland, the first out lesbian (and lesbian mom) to be a head of state.
- The U.K. is set to deport a man back to Iraq who claims he will be in danger because he is gay. His original application for asylum in 2001 did not mention his sexual orientation.