U.S. Congress

WASHINGTON — Religious leaders said Wednesday that adding a gay rights proposal to immigration legislation could risk their support for the bill, setting up a potential Senate showdown.

WASHINGTON — A bill that would prohibit discrimination against LGBT people seeking to adopt or become foster parents is due to be reintroduced Tuesday in the U.S. Congress.

WASHINGTON — The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was reintroduced in both chambers of Congress on Thursday. The measure would prohibit discrimination in hiring and employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity by civilian, nonreligious employers with at least 15 employees.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Seven U.S. Congress members from Illinois are urging state lawmakers in Springfield to support a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

A pair of bills introduced in the U.S. Congress this week would change the definition of “spouse” in four areas of U.S. Code related to recognition, support, and benefits for married service members and veterans, in an effort to provide key military benefits for same-sex spouses of gay service members.

Congressional Democrats have renewed their push to revive the key federal program that protects women against domestic violence. They sought to diminish Republican objections that blocked passage of the legislation last year by removing a provision that would increase visas for immigrant victims of domestic abuse.

A Colorado congressman who’s set to become the most senior openly gay member of the U.S. House is pledging to take the lead on perhaps the most high-profile piece of pro-LGBT legislation: the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

WASHINGTON — In a new, first-of-its-kind report, the Human Rights Campaign on Thursday released a comprehensive survey of the marriage equality positions of the members of the U.S. Congress.

WASHINGTON — Protesters disrupted an HIV/AIDS panel discussion on Wednesday involving members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, accusing the Republican senators of blocking efforts to thwart the disease at home and abroad.

With a few months remaining in the 112th Congress — and a few weeks until lawmakers adjourn for August recess — advocates say the chances for advancing any pro-LGBT legislation even in the Democratic-controlled Senate are slim — at least before Election Day.

FLORENCE, Ariz. — Paul Babeu, the embattled Arizona sheriff who came out as gay amid allegations of misconduct made by a man with whom he had a relationship, has dropped his bid for a seat in the U.S. Congress, and will instead seek another term as sheriff.

MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Congressional Candidate Dave Strohmaier, who is running as a progressive Democrat Montana’s single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, has released his first political commercial, a groundbreaking campaign ad that endorses marriage equality.

The recently outed gay sheriff of Pinal County, Ariz., says if he’s elected to Congress he’ll support pro-LGBT initiatives and help change perceptions lawmakers have about gay people, and that his election would be “very impactful and helpful” in changing “the views, perceptions, beliefs about who we are.”

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona congresswoman who survived an assassination attempt in a massacre that left six others dead one year ago, has announced that she will resign from Congress this week.

PHOENIX — Openly bisexual Arizona state Senator Kyrsten Sinema has announced she’s resigning her Senate seat to launch a campaign for U.S. House, representing Arizona’s newly drafted Ninth Congressional District.

Significant events are crowding the calendar for 2012, and each promises considerable drama and suspense for the LGBT community. Here is our special report on the ten most important stories to keep an eye on:

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on Capitol Hill unveiled on Monday an agreement on major defense budget legislation that omits anti-gay provisions found in the House version of the legislation — including language that would have prohibited military chaplains and facilities from being involved in same-sex marriage ceremonies.

Colorado State Sen. Kevin Lundberg is contemplating a run for Congress. Lundberg, perhaps the most conservative state senator and most definitely the most anti-gay lawmaker under the dome, tweeted he might want to advance his political career to Washington D.C.

WASHINGTON — The longest serving openly gay member of Congress won’t seek re-election to the U.S. House in 2012, according to a statement from his office.

Lawmaker in the U.S. House and Senate on Friday reintroduced the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, and said that approving the bill would put the federal government on par with Fortune 500 corporations that already extend full benefits to same-sex partners of gay and lesbian employees.