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Gay Maine congressman: Coming out has been good
PORTLAND, Maine — When the intensely private U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud laid bare his private life and announced he’s gay, one openly gay congressman joked that the Maine Democrat had never registered on his “gaydar.”
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Advances in gay rights piling up, but battles still remain
NEW YORK — In Maine, a congressman running for governor came out as gay. In Hawaii, lawmakers prepared for a vote to legalize same-sex marriage. And in the U.S. Senate, seven Republicans joined the Democrats in a landmark vote to ban workplace discrimination against gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.
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Workplace discriminiation bill heads for first hurdle in U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON — The Senate prepared to push a major, anti-bias gay rights bill past a first, big hurdle Monday, a clear sign of Americans’ greater acceptance of homosexuality nearly two decades after lawmakers narrowly rejected discrimination legislation.
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U.S. Congressman, Maine candidate for governor announces he’s gay
PORTLAND, Maine — A six-term congressman and former paper mill worker hoping to unseat Maine Gov. Paul LePage next year announced that he’s gay – a response to what he called a “whisper campaign” by political opponents hoping to weaken his gubernatorial bid.
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Bipartisan support boosts prospects for workplace discrimination bill
WASHINGTON — Gay rights advocates – including both Republicans and Democrats – are newly upbeat about the prospects for Senate passage of a bill that would prohibit employers from discriminating against workers on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
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Domestic Partner bills would ensure all federal employees receive equal benefits
WASHINGTON — Legislation that would extend employee benefit programs to cover same-sex domestic partners of federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits was introduced Thursday in the U.S. House and Senate.
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Lawmakers press Kerry on Americans’ safety during Olympic games in Russia
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of 88 Congressional lawmakers, led by U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, is pressing Secretary of State John Kerry to ensure the saftey of American athletes and spectators at the 2014 Olympic games in Sochi, Russia.
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Lawmakers reintroduce DOMA repeal bill on heels of Supreme Court ruling
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday reintroduced the Respect for Marriage Act in the U.S. Congress, just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
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Lawmakers announce bill to repeal dishonorable discharges given to gay veterans
WASHINGTON — U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) on Friday proposed legislation that would ensure gay and lesbian service members who were discharged for no other reason than their sexual orientation would have their military records upgraded to reflect honorable service.
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Congressman proposes to repeal dishonorable discharges given to gay veterans
HUNTINGTON, N.Y. — An estimated 100,000 gay and lesbian service members were issued dishonorable or “undesirable” discharges between World War II and 1993 due to their sexual orientation, losing their military benefits as a result.