- The U.S. House Judiciary Committee voted 15-12 to advance the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (H.R. 1913), aka the Matthew Shepard Act. The bill now goes up for a full House floor vote, which could happen next week.
- John Berry was officially sworn in as director of the Office of Personnel Management, making him the highest ranking openly gay official in the Obama Administration. First Lady Michelle Obama attended the ceremony.
- Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) says he believes Democrats will wait until 2010 to try to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
- In Colorado, Allen Andrade was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder and a bias-motivated crime for killing Angie Zapata, a transgender teen. Autumn Sandeen of Pam’s was at the trial and provided lots of coverage.
- Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed a bill to turn the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality into law. The bill passed only after an amendment that gives an exemption to groups who object to marriage equality on religious grounds. (As I understand it, this was already covered under laws that protect religious freedom and that say marriage is a civil institution, but if it makes them feel better. . . .) In October 2010, existing civil unions will be automatically converted to marriages.
- Maine lawmakers began the first public hearings on a marriage equality bill.
- The Nevada Senate approved a domestic partner bill that would give same-sex couples the same legal rights as married couples. The bill now goes to the Assembly. It is likely that the governor would veto it if it reaches him.
- The New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee recommended killing a bill for marriage equality and one extending anti-discrimination protections to transgender people.
- A new Quinnipiac poll shows that 49 percent of New Jersey voters support marriage equality, versus 43 percent against. Compare the to the December 2007 poll that showed 50% opposed.
- New York Governor David Paterson says he will respect the wishes of the Senate majority leader and wait until there is enough support for a marriage equality bill to bring it to the floor. Last week he said that he wanted the Senate to debate and vote on the bill even though there were not enough votes for it to pass.
- As expected, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signed a bill expanding the state’s definition of hate crimes to include those committed because of a person’s gender identity or expression.
Around the world:
- Johanna Sigurdardottir, who in February became the world’s first openly lesbian prime minister when the previous holder of the office in Iceland resigned, is set to become the first elected openly lesbian prime minister.
- NepalNews.net reports on the growing voice of the lesbian community in Nepal, and how the willingness of lesbians to work with gay men has given the country’s activists an advantage over those of other countries’.
- Senegal’s Court of Appeal overturned nine convictions for “homosexuality” and ordered the immediate release of the men who had been sentenced to eight years in prison.
- The new London-based campaign A Day in Hand will launch May 17 and encourage same-sex couples “to publicly hold hands across the globe.”
- The Health Commission Wales (HCW) will allow transgender patients in Wales to access funding for gender reassignment therapy, including include surgery, hormone therapy, counselling and speech therapy. This brings the country’s policy in line with the rest of the U.K.
