(Parenting-related news gets its own roundup around here.)
- Steve Schmidt, John McCain’s campaign manager, said, “There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage.” (I leave it as a matter of discussion as to whether there is a sound argument for conservatism.) A new poll also shows Republican insiders are almost evenly divided on whether to oppose or support marriage equality.
- Mercedes Marquez, head of the Los Angeles Housing Department and an out lesbian, has been appointed Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Think of this as the lesbian obsession with Home Depot, on steroids.)
- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said any repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law would have to be undertaken slowly, and that it might not happen at all.
- U.S. Rep Jared Polis (D-CO) explains why we need an LGBT-inclusive federal hate crimes law.
- California’s First District Court of Appeals ruled that people who need to change the gender on their birth certificate can do so, regardless of where they live. Prior law said they could only do so if they lived in the county of their birth.
- Colorado enacted a new law that allows any two unmarried people to designate each other as “designated beneficiaries,” entitled to numerous legal consequences usually reserved to married couples, as Nancy Polikoff explains. With a simple, standard form, one doesn’t need a will or a health care power of attorney.
- The trial of the man accused of murdering transgender woman Angie Zapata began this week in Colorado. Autumn Sandeen at Pam’s is blogging the trial.
- The Maryland General Assembly approved a measure to exempt same-sex domestic partners who co-own a home from paying state inheritance tax when the property changes hands.
- The Kansas City Police Department will eliminate health insurance coverage for domestic partners of department members in an effort to save money. What’s next? Firing all the women so they don’t have to pay for maternity leaves?
- Meanwhile, in Columbia, Missouri, the City Council approved a domestic partner registry last week. St. Louis, Kansas City and Jackson County already have such registries.
- Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) said that if the domestic partner legislation currently before the state Senate reaches his desk, he will veto it.
- The New Hampshire Senate held hearings on a marriage equality bill. The House has approved it, but the governor, who opposes marriage equality, has not yet said if he will veto.
- New York Gov. David Paterson introduced a marriage equality bill into the state Legislature. A marriage bill passed in the State Assembly in 2007. The Empire State Pride Agenda notes, “every single Assemblymember who voted for marriage on that night—Democrat and Republican—won their reelection last November.” Let’s get with it, Senate.
- The Washington State Legislature approved a measure to give same-sex domestic partners all the rights of married people in the state—except, of course, the right to say they’re married. Gov. Chris Gregoire says she will sign the bill. Ultra-conservatives are already plotting against it.
Around the world:
- Andrés Duque gives us his thoughts on the “Global Arc of Justice: Sexual Orientation Law Around the World” conference held last month at UCLA’s School of Law.
- The Samoa Censor Board has banned the film Milk, about gay rights activist Harvey Milk. (It occurs to me that Esera Tuaolo, a gay dad and a former NFL defensive lineman, is of Samoan ancestry. Maybe he could drop a word?)
- A Spanish judge ruled that a man cannot be charged with domestic violence against his husband because a law covering spousal abuse does not cover male victims.