2009-April, May, June

2009-APR-04: USA: Hate crimes legislation introduced in federal House: According to the Task Force Action Fund, a pro-gay advocacy group, hate crimes legislation that has been before Congress many times, has been reintroduced. It has consistently failed in the past. However, this time, with the Democrats in control, it might succeed. More information about past hate-crimes legislation.
 

2009-APR-06: USA: Pastor Rick Warren apologized for his support of Prop 8: Warren is one of best know evangelical leaders in the U.S.  Prop 8 passed with such a small margin that it might well have been rejected if Warren had actively campaigned against it. On CNN's Larry King Live program, he said the he had written "... to all my gay friends -- the leaders that I knew -- and actually apologized to them." More details.
 

2009-APR-07: MD: Inheritance rights for same-sex couples: As the laws now stand, when one spouse of a married couple dies, the surviving spouse automatically inherits the house without paying an inheritance tax. When one domestic partner of a same-sex couple dies, the surviving partner is considered a roommate for the purpose of taxation; she or he must pay inheritance tax. The Maryland Senate voted 28 to 19 today to pass SB 785, a bill which would eliminate the inheritance tax on jointly owned primary homes of same-sex domestic partners. Only one senator, Alex Mooney (R- Frederick County) spoke in opposition to the legislation. The corresponding House bill is HP 1215. ₂
 

2009-APR-07: VT: Vermont becomes the fourth state to legalize SSM: The Vermont House and Senate comfortably passed a bill expanding the definition of marriage in the state to include all loving committed couples, whether opposite sex or same-sex. But Governor Jim Douglas, a Republican, vetoed the bill on APR-06. The Senate and House then voted to override the veto. There was no problem with a Senate override. However, the House vote on APR-07 was a squeaker: 100 to 49 in favor of a legislative override -- the absolute minimum required.

Vermont thus became the fifth state in the U.S. to make same-sex marriage available -- the others being California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa. (SSM in California has since been at least temporarily eliminated by Proposition 8). Vermont is the first state to do so by a legislative vote without pressure from a state court. More details.
 

"In our schools and communities there is an epidemic of hate?and the victims are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, those who are perceived to be LGBT, and youth with LGBT parents. That?s why EQCA works to counter this hate through legislation and organizing events like this past weekend's GSA Advocacy & Youth Leadership Academy (GAYLA) and Queer Youth Advocacy Day (QYAD)."

Both sides expect the issue to be addressed again in the near future. With the gradual increase in the acceptance of homosexuality and bisexuality nationwide, it appears inevitable that the constitutional requirement will eventually be dropped. ₄

This decision leaves the marriages of all minority groups vulnerable. Any hate group who dislikes a particular racial, religious, or other minority can now raise a proposition in California to eliminate the right of that minority to marry. If the Proposition is passed by at least 50% of the voters plus one, the minority would no longer be allowed to marry. Atheists' marriages are at particular risk, because of the public's high level of dislike and intolerance of Atheists. More info.

"Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration -- in both the White House and the Federal agencies -- openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism."

"The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect."

He listed some of the initiatives that the government is involved in:

	Decriminalization of same-sex behavior around the world.
	Hate crimes laws
	Supporting civil unions
	Supporting federalrights for LGBT couples
	Outlawing discrimination in employment
	Ensuring adoption rights
	Ending the "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy in the Armed forces.

He concluded:

"These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity." ₁

2009-JUN-03: NH: Governor signs SSM bill into law: The House and Senate were able to establish compromise wording on their SSM bill that both could accept. Governor Lynch signed it into law. New Hampshire is thus the sixth state to legalize marriage for all loving committed couples, both opposite-sex and same-sex. ₂ More info.
 

2009-JUN-12: India: Anti-gay law may be reconsidered: Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was created during the 19th century during colonial times to criminalize same-sex sexual behavior. Law minister Veerappa Moily has indicted that the government may revisit the law and liberalize it. Ashok Row Kavi, consultant for UNAIDS and UNDP, said: "It will be the best thing for the national AIDS control program since efforts to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS will no longer be impeded by the law." During 2001, Naz Foundation, a non-profit gay-positive group, had petitioned the Indian high court to "read down" section 377. The health ministry supported the petition the law ministries opposed it. The high court has recently finished hearing arguments on the petition. ₃
 

2009-JUN-13: USA: Proposed change to gay immigration: The Senate Judiciary Committee held a meeting to hear public input on the "Uniting American Families Act" (UAFA). Many countries, like Canada, France and Germany, recognize loving committed same-sex couples in their immigration legislation. The U.S. does not; they are treated only as friends. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who chairs the Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) have introduced bills in the Senate (S. 424) and House (H.R. 1024) that would allow citizens to sponsor their same-sex partners in a similar way as heterosexual spouses currently petition for foreign-born husbands and wives. Leahy said in an interview: "I think it's a matter of fairness." _4,5,6
 

2009-JUN-16: Federal benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees: President Obama signed a presidential memorandum that grant a limited number of employee benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers. At the present time, a half dozen states have legalized same-sex marriage; a few more have created civil unions or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. Such couples have been given most or all of the state's benefits that had previously been special privileges given only to married opposite sex couples. But the same-sex couples have not been able to obtain any of the approximately 1,100 federal benefits.

President Obama said that this action:

"marks a historic step towards the changes we seek [for LGBT federal workers] Many of our government's hard-working, dedicated, and patriotic public servants have long been denied basic rights that their colleagues enjoy for one simple reason ? the people that they love are of the same sex. In consultation with Secretary of State Clinton, as well as [U.S. Office of Personnel Management] Director John Berry, my administration has completed a long and thorough review to identify a number of areas where we can extend federal benefits to the same-sex partners of Foreign Service and executive branch government employees. I'm requesting that Secretary Clinton and Director Berry do so where possible under existing law ? and that the heads of all executive departments and agencies conduct reviews to determine where they may do the same."

Included among the benefits are the use of medical facilities at overseas posts, medical evacuation privileges from such posts, and inclusion of same-sex families in overseas housing allocations. It does not include health insurance benefits, a benefit that would require changes to the civil service personnel statute and the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.

President Obama said:

"Among the steps we have not yet taken is to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. I believe it's discriminatory, I think it interferes with states' rights, and we will work with Congress to overturn it."

Being a presidential memorandum, it will automatically expire when he leaves office clear how equality of all federal employees can be attained in view of the DOMA law that specifically reserves all 1,100 benefits as a special privilege of opposite-sex married couples.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) was present at the signing, He is the lead Senate sponsor of a bill that would provide full federal employee benefits to partners of gay federal workers. ₇
 

2009-JUN-19: Federal Census Bureau will count same-sex marriages: During the Bush administration, the Census Bureau refused to count same-sex couples, citing the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as justification. In a major win for the GLBT community, the Bureau will now count same-sex marriages (SSMs), civil unions and domestic partnerships. The next major census is due in 2010. More details.
 

2009-JUN-23: TX: Fort Worth church kicked out of Southern Baptists: The Southern Baptist Convention has terminated its 127 year relationship with the Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX. The reason is that the congregation is too lenient with GLBT members. The messengers (delegates) to the convention were not allowed to be seated.

Kathy Madeja, chairperson of the congregation's board of deacons said:

"We do not believe Broadway has taken any action which would justify its being deemed not in friendly cooperation with the SBC. It is unfortunate that the Southern Baptist Convention decided otherwise and severed its affiliation with Broadway Baptist Church."

Earlier, the Rev. Jorene Taylor Swift, a Broadway minister, wrote a letter to the denomination's executive committee stating:

"We are not a church where homosexuality is a defining issue. While we extend hospitality to everyone ? including homosexuals ? we do not endorse, approve or affirm homosexual behavior." ₈

"We have a duty to uphold existing law, but I believe we must do so in a way that does not exacerbate old divides. And fulfilling this duty in upholding the law in no way lessens my commitment to reversing this law."

Regarding DADT, he said:

"I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security ? Ending the policy requires an act of Congress and will take time." ₉

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