Tag Archives: Obama administration

“The church insists it’s an argument about religious freedom, not birth control. But, really, it’s about birth control, and women’s lower caste in the church. It’s about conservative bishops targeting Democratic candidates who support contraception and abortion rights as a matter of public policy. And it’s about a church that is obsessed with sex in ways it shouldn’t be, and …

The University of Notre Dame, the Archdiocese of New York, and over 40 other dioceses and Catholic groups have filed a freedom of religion lawsuit against the Obama administration. Catholic News Service reports: “This lawsuit is about an unprecedented attack by the federal government on one of America’s most cherished freedoms: the freedom to practice one’s religion without government interference,” …

Reactions below the Think Progress clip. Human Rights Campaign “Arne Duncan joins Joe Biden now in embracing civil marriage for committed gay and lesbian couples. Duncan speaking out is particularly important given his role as the nation’s top education official. In supporting marriage equality, he communicates to all students that they deserve an equal shot at the American dream of …

This morning on Meet The Press Vice President Joe Biden appeared to come out in support of same-sex marriage. Think Progress has the quote: Look, I am Vice President of the United States of America. The president sets the policy. I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women and heterosexual men marrying women are …

Today the White House thoughtfully picked the Day Of Silence to endorse the federal Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) and the Safe Schools Improvement Act. Chris Geidner reports at Metro Weekly: White House spokesman Shin Inouye tells Metro Weekly, “The President and his Administration have taken many steps to address the issue of bullying. He is proud to support the Student …

And now we return to the Christian message we’re more accustomed to: Dirty queers belong in jail or hanging from the gallows.

Michelangelo Signorile reports at HuffPo: Two prominent LGBT activists slammed President Obama for refusing to sign an Executive Order “at this time” barring federal contractors from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work, was among the LGBT activists in a White House meeting with senior advisor Valerie Jarrett earlier in the week …

Late last year Hillary Clinton revealed that she would likely not be staying on for Obama’s second term, leading to fevered speculation as to her possible successor. New York’s tabloids are floating Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the job. Hizzoner said Thursday he would consider a role in the President’s cabinet if one is offered — regardless of which candidate wins …

Homeland Security today announced a proposed rule change that will allow gay families to go through U.S. Customs together. Zack Ford notes at Think Progress: “Before, married same-sex couples had to go through customs separately because the policy referred to married couples, and thus fell under the purview of the Defense of Marriage Act.” Yet another advance from the Obama …

“What will happen if the HHS regulations are not rescinded? A Catholic institution, so far as I can see right now, will have one of four choices: 1) secularize itself, breaking its connection to the church, her moral and social teachings and the oversight of its ministry by the local bishop. This is a form of theft. It means the …

Talking Points Memo has a major scoop from the DOJ. The Obama Justice Department has concluded that legislation banning same-sex couples from receiving military and veterans benefits violates the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment and will no longer defend the statute in court, Attorney General Eric Holder wrote in a letter to Congressional leaders on Friday. “The legislative …

The ACLU is suing the Obama administration to force the release of information regarding drone attacks that some argue have resulted in the defacto executions of American citizens without trial. The Justice Department contends that any American who joins a foreign terrorist organization has become an enemy combatant and therefore has surrendered rights as a U.S. citizen. Wednesday’s ACLU complaint …

Via Chris Johnson at Washington Blade: The White House announced on Friday it plans to host a series of LGBT conferences throughout the country in early 2012 so the public can “hear directly” from the administration on efforts “to ensure health, well-being, security, justice, and equality for LGBT Americans.” In a statement, the White House identified the White House LGBT …

Hillary Clinton today said that she won’t be staying on very long into Barack Obama’s second term. But she isn’t ruling out future political options after that. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says she wants to step off the “high wire of American politics” after two decades and is again tamping down speculation that she might stay in government …

Ah, the old “to spend more time with my family” dodge. We’ll get the real story soon enough, I expect. Budget Director Jack Lew will step in.