A federal judge ruled that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the military’s ban on openly gay and lesbian servicemembers, is unconstitutional. The decision is likely to be appealed, which is why we must continue fighting the policy from a legislative angle as well, as I explain in a piece at Change.org. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter appointed […]
Ken Mehlman, President Bush’s 2004 campaign manager and a former chair of the Republican National Committee, has come out as gay. He led the party when it was increasing its anti-gay campaign rhetoric and trying to rally voters around anti-gay initiatives. After harshly criticizing the Pentagon survey of military spouses regarding Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,
President Obama included an openly gay man, Richard Sorian, in his list of recess appointments. Sorian would become Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services. Lanae Erickson and Jon Cowan have a thought-provoking piece in Politico on how to sway the “persuadable middle” on marriage equality. Lt. Col. Victor
Same-sex couples are destroying marriage? No, I think opposite-sex couples are doing very well on their own, as this series of actual wedding cake toppers indicates. Apparently, marriage is something into which straight men need to be dragged or chained. (At least one company, Wilton, has a topper featuring a “Runaway Bride“—but for the most
For your viewing pleasure today, here’s Dr. Abbie Goldberg, assistant professor of psychology at Clark University, and one of the foremost researchers on LGBT families today, debating Tom McClusky, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Family Research Council. Dr. Goldberg’s work was cited in the Prop 8 trial, among other places, and her book, Lesbian
Air Force Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach has filed a suit to try and stop his discharge under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT). And high-ranking West Point Cadet Katherine Miller resigned because she is a lesbian and unwilling to compromise her integrity over the policy. Rachel Maddow also has a few pointed words about DADT. A
Updated: Judge Vaughn Walker has just denied a stay in his marriage equality ruling of August 4, but kept a temporary stay in place until 5 p.m. August 18. More to come, I’m sure. . . .
Add another court victory to the recent Prop 8 and DOMA wins. The Eighth District Court of Appeals in Ohio last week rejected an attempt to use the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage to prevent a lesbian mother from sharing custody of her children with her former partner. Lambda Legal, which represents Rita Goodman
At the risk of overloading you on Prop 8 references, go read “Gay Marriage Revealed the Worth of My Own,” by Jeremy Adam Smith, founder of the blog Daddy Dialectic (itself a great read for anyone interested in gender and parenting). The piece appeared last Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle, and begins with the
