Tag Archives: LGBT rights

Gay Groups React To DADT Deal

Earlier today White House officials met with LGBT groups to hammer out a compromise agreement on attaching a repeal of DADT as an amendment to a pending Defense authorization bill. Following the meeting, the White House for the first time endorsed the amendment attempt. While some see lots of holes in the compromise, most LGBT and progressive groups are responding …

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DADT Vote Too Close To Call

According to the Washington Post, the coming vote to attach the repeal of DADT to a defense authorization bill is too close to call. The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to vote by the end of the week on an amendment to the annual defense spending bill that would end “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which Congress passed in 1993. …

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Pelosi: DADT Will Be A Memory By Xmas

Speaking at a Harvey Milk Day celebration in San Francisco, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed that DADT will be nothing but a memory by Christmas.

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TODAY: Call Swarm Congress On DADT

Servicemembers United is asking everybody to call their members of Congress today in a “last chance” effort on DADT. Another chance for you to be a part of history is coming on Monday, May 24, 2010 with Servicemembers United’s “GIVE ‘EM HELL – Congressional Call Swarm” campaign. Next week, the Senate Armed Services Committee and the full House of Representatives …

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Barney Frank: This Time I’m Not Stripping Trans Protections Out Of ENDA

Rep. Barney Frank is vowing that unlike in 2007, this time he will not allow transgender and gender identity protections to be stripped from ENDA. On the last go-round, Frank endured blistering criticism from many quarters (including this blog) when he reluctantly removed transgender protections from the bill to ensure its passage. And that did work last time, although the …

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White House (And Madonna) Denounce Prison Sentence Of Gay Malawi Couple

Today the White House strongly denounced the sentencing of a gay Malawi couple to 14 years of hard labor merely for holding an engagement ceremony. “The United States strongly condemns the conviction and harsh sentencing of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga in Malawi. The criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity is unconscionable, and this case mars the human rights …

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CHICAGO: Thirteen Arrested At ENDA Sit-In At Office Of Sen. Richard Durbin

This just in via press release: As part of a broad strategy to gain a vote on ENDA this year, a group of thirteen Chicago activists have been arrested after a sit-in in Senator Richard J. Durbin’s office. The sit-in was initiated due to the Senator’s lack of response regarding a pledge (seen here) that a coalition of activist groups …

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MALAWI: Maximum 14 Year Hard Labor Sentence Imposed On Gay Couple

The Malawi gay couple arrest for “gross and indecent acts” has been sentenced to the maximum of 14 years in prison at hard labor. The judge said he wanted to protect the public from “people like you”. Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, have been in jail since they were arrested in December after holding an engagement ceremony. The …

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U.S. State Department Condemns Conviction Of Malawi Gay Couple

The U.S. State Department has denounced the Malawi government’s conviction of two gay men for “unnatural acts and gross indecency.” “The United States is deeply disappointed in today’s conviction of same-sex couple Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza in Malawi,” said assistant secretary Phillip J. Crowley at a press briefing Wednesday. “We view the criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity …

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Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE): I’ll Vote Against Attaching DADT Repeal To Defense Bill

Saying the overturn of DADT “is not a question of whether, it’s a question of how,” Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) says he will vote against attaching the repeal attempt to a defense authorization bill. Nelson has been targeted by activists as one of six key Senators needed for the attempt. Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade: Repeal efforts were complicated …

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Nancy Pelosi: I Have No Intention Of Losing On DADT And ENDA

According to an unnamed person on a conference call with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, she vowed that she has “no intention” of losing the (hopefully) upcoming votes on DADT and ENDA. Kerry Eleveld reports for the Advocate: A second participant said the Speaker discussed the timing of taking a vote on ENDA relative to a DADT repeal vote, which is …

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NOM On Attack In Minnesota

Good As You tips us that NOM has launched a television campaign against marriage equality in Minnesota. From their press release: “Many Minnesotans don’t realize the extent to which homosexual marriage activists are working to redefine marriage between a man and a woman out of existence,” said Tom Prichard, president of the Minnesota Family Council. “We welcome NOM to Minnesota …

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MALAWI: Gay Couple Found Guilty Of “Unnatural Acts”

The two gay men on trial in Malawi for holding an engagement ceremony have been found guilty of committing “unnatural acts.” A judge has found a gay couple guilty of unnatural acts and gross indecency after a trial that has sparked worldwide condemnation of Malawi’s laws on homosexuality. Blantyre chief resident magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa issued the ruling yesterday. The couple …

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Realtors Association Approves Sexual Orientation Protections For Clients

The board of directors of the 1.2 million member National Association of Realtors (NAR) has approved a rule that bans its members from discriminating against clients based on their sexual orientation. The board amended Article 10 of the Code of Ethics, which addresses “duties to the public.” That part of the Code already prohibits realtors from discriminating against customers on …

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Singapore’s Pink Dot 2010

Singapore’s nascent LGBT rights movement staged its second annual Pink Dot event this weekend, where over 4000 folks in pink clothing jammed a city park for a day of music and celebration. And for the first time, the media took positive notice. The 30-second clip on Singapore-based Channel NewsAsia showed participants in a carnival-like atmosphere and cultural performances at Hong …

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JAMAICA: Activists Stage Violence-Free LGBT Rights Demonstration

As part of the today’s International Day Against Homophobia observations, activists in Jamaica marched with signs at a busy intersection in Kingston. And for once, nobody got beaten up. From the anti-gay Jamaica Observer: Held between 8:00 to 8:30 am the protest was intentionally short to avoid a disturbance, said one human rights activist to whom the Observer spoke. He …

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HAWAII: Gov. Linda Lingle (R) Indicates She May Veto Civil Unions Bill

Saying that it appears to be a defacto legalization of same-sex marriage, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle has indicated she may veto the state’s pending civil unions bill. Her description is identical to complaints from religious conservatives who oppose civil unions and to a resolution approved yesterday by state Republicans who want her to veto the bill. “It does appear to …

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Six Years Of Marriage For Massachusetts

Today is the sixth anniversary of the day that Massachusetts because the first American state to legalize same-sex marriage. And somehow, the world kept revolving. Congrats, Bay Staters!

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International Day Against Homophobia

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia. Around the world, unions, employers, activist groups, and others are campaigning to end discrimination against LGBT people. Have you taken part in any of today’s observations? Tell us about it. And watch this wonderful clip of this weekend’s Great Global Kiss-In.

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MALAWI: Gay Couple Faces 14 Years In Prison For Engagement Ceremony

The Malawi gay couple whose engagement ceremony became international news now faces 14 years of hard labor in prison. Steven Monjenza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, conducted a traditional engagement ceremony in late December in Chirimba, near Blantyre. After news reports surfaced of the same-sex engagement, they were rounded up by Malawi’s police and charged under colonial-era sodomy laws. Their …

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