U.S. Senate

The Charlie Morgan Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act is named after a New Hampshire National Guard officer who died in 2013 after a battle with breast cancer.

Democratic lawmakers kicked off the 114th Congress on Tuesday by reintroducing the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would fully repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

Robert Pitman becomes the first openly gay judge to sit on the federal bench in Texas, and also assumes a seat that had been vacant for more than six years.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley announced plans to introduce a broad measure aimed at preventing discrimination against LGBT Americans.

CINCINNATI — Ohio Sen. Rob Portman says he will not run for president in 2016, choosing instead to seek a second term in the Senate over the Republican nomination for the White House.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has nominated U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman to fill a judicial vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio. Pitman, who is openly gay, made history in 2011 when he became the first openly gay U.S. attorney in Texas. His confirmation to the court would be another historic event…

PORTLAND, Maine — Republican Sen. Susan Collins has come out in support of same-sex marriage for the first time after getting an endorsement from the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy organization. The Maine Republican provided her personal view when asked by several news organizations. She said she agrees with the decision of …

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed two openly gay nominees to the federal bench, the White House announced. Darrin Gayles was confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and Staci Yandle was confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch says it’s obvious that gay marriage will become legal across the country sooner or later.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) on Thursday introduced a bill to provide married, same-sex couples with equal treatment under the Social Security Act when applying for Social Security benefits, regardless of where they reside.

Ben Sasse, the GOP US Senate candidate from Nebraska who has garnered endorsements from Tea Party-aligned groups including the Club for Growth, FreedomWorks and the Senate Conservatives Fund, appeared on Friday’s edition of The Janet Mefferd Show to reiterate his commitment to the social conservatives cause.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) on Thursday reintroduced legislation that would require colleges and universities receiving federal student aid funding to enact an anti-harassment policy. The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2014 would mandate policies that prohibit harassment of students by their peers, faculty and staff based […]

WASHINGTON — Nearly 200 Congressional lawmakers on Tuesday sent a letter to President Obama Tuesday calling for an Executive Order banning contractors from receiving federal government contracts unless they have a policy prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate this week voted to confirm Judith Levy as a U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. Levy, 55, becomes the first openly lesbian federal judge in Michigan.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said Saturday that Arizona governor Jan Brewer should veto legislation that would allow business owners to cite their religious beliefs in refusing to serve gay and lesbian customers and others.

WASHINGTON — A Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Kentucky said that same-sex marriage could lead to a parent claiming marriage to his or her child to gain tax benefits and other privileges.

WASHINGTON — Twenty-seven liberal groups are pressuring Senate Democrats to reject one of President Barack Obama’s judicial nominees.

WASHINGTON — Two GOP Senate lawmakers on Thursday introduced a bill that would require federal agencies to use a person’s state of residence to determine federal recognition of marital status.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Thursday introduced legislation to correct the records of service members discharged from the U.S. military solely due to their sexual orientation prior to the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, to reflect honorable service and reinstate benefits they would have earned.

WASHINGTON — Democrats used their newly initiated lower threshold for defeating filibusters Monday to win Senate confirmation of President Barack Obama’s nomination of former top Pentagon lawyer Jeh C. Johnson to be Secretary of Homeland Security.