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U.S. Military’s top brass ready to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
The nation’s top military officer said Tuesday that he supported allowing gays to openly serve in the U.S. armed forces, invoking the words of President Obama in calling it “the right thing to do”. Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff added a powerful and […]
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Obama calls for repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in State of the Union address
President Obama in his State of the Union address tonight asked the United States Congress to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that prohibits openly gay service men and women in the military. Obama, who made repeal of the ban a campaign pledge, has long said that in a time of war the military […]
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Pentagon lawyers advise delay on repeal of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’
The Pentagon’s top guy is getting conflicting advice on whether to lift the ban on gays in the military. The Associated Press reports it has obtained a legal counsel’s memo advising Admiral Mike Mullen, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that now is not the time to lift the ban. It says the military […]
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Obama appoints transgendered person to Commerce post
President Obama recently named Amanda Simpson, believed to be the first transgender woman appointed to a senior government role, to be a Senior Technical Advisor to the Commerce Department, according to ABC News. Simpson, a member of the National Center for Transgender Equality’s board of directors, said in a statement, that “as one of the […]
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Obama reauthorizes ‘Ryan White Act,’ announces end of HIV travel ban (Video)
President Obama on Friday called an end to the 22-year ban on travel to the United States by people tested positive for HIV, fulfilling a promise he made to gay advocates and acting to eliminate a restriction he said was “rooted in fear rather than fact.” Obama made the announcement as he signed the fourth […]
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After decade long battle, federal hate crimes law expanded to include gays (Video)
It’s been more than 10 years since the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was kidnapped, brutally beaten and left to die tied to a fence on a freezing night in the Wyoming wilderness.
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First openly gay U.S. attorney begins job in Seattle
The new top federal prosecutor in Seattle knows the significance her role carries for many people: she’s the nation’s first openly gay U.S. attorney. Gay rights activists say her appointment reflects a growing acceptance in the U.S. as well as the attitude of President Barack Obama’s administration. Earlier this month, Obama nominated an openly gay […]
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Obama to sign hate crime bill on Wednesday
Washington Blade. President Obama intends to sign into law Wednesday a long-sought hate crimes protection measure as part of a major defense bill, according to an administration source. The president plans to pen his name to the fiscal year 2010 defense authorization bill, which includes a provision known as the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd […]
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Obama renews campaign pledges to repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ ‘DOMA’ at HRC dinner
WASHINGTON, DC — President Barack Obama, struggling to keep promises made during his presidential campaign, renewed his pledge to end the military’s ban on openly gay service members and once again called for repeal the Defense Of Marriage Act, as he appeared at a fundraising dinner for the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy group on Saturday […]
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Obama to appoint gay attorney to Ambassador post
President Obama is preparing to nominate his first openly gay ambassador, according to a knowledgeable source. David Huebner, who serves as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s general counsel, will be nominated to become the administration’s ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. A formal announcement is expected Wednesday evening, reports the Washington Blade. Huebner, […]