(The Loop 21) — When Takia Mitchell heard that Barack Obama had signed the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, she called her brother. “I was just so happy, I couldn’t believe it,” she said. Mitchell is one of the 14,000 servicemembers who have been discharged because of their sexuality over the 17 years Don’t Ask […]
Over the weekend, Congress passed a historic resolution to finally repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, an A$$-backwards provision, which prohibited gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. The infamous policy was first introduced as a compromise measure in 1993 by former president Bill Clinton, who campaigned to allow gays in the military against […]
(Washington Post) — The Columbia Heights couple planned to spend the holidays mulling over seating assignments and experimenting with apple pie recipes for the 80 guests invited to their spring wedding. Instead, William Neville and Daniel Rehbehn will head to the courthouse in the next few days to file their marriage papers, concerned that the […]
(Gay City News) — In an historic first for the country considered the most Catholic in Europe, Krystian Legierski became Poland’s first openly gay elected official when he was elected to Warsaw’s City Council in country-wide municipal elections on November 21. Not only is Legierski, a 32-year old lawyer, entrepreneur, gay activist, and Green Party […]
(Chicago Sun Times) — Mayoral candidate James Meeks tried some outreach to Chicago’s gay community Wednesday, bringing his “50 wards in 50 days” tour to Ann Sather’s restaurant in Lake View. “I’m reaching out today,” Meeks said outside the restaurant, which is owned by Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), the City Council’s first openly gay alderman. […]
(Chicago Sun Times) — Will Sen. James Meeks’ vote against civil unions for gays hurt his chances of becoming mayor? Gay rights activists say yes. Conservatives say it will help the minister and state senator. Meeks says he doesn’t care. This was not a political decision,” Meeks said in in interview at his campaign headquarters. […]
(The Grio) — Gay rights advocates celebrated Wednesday as the state Legislature voted to legalize civil unions, although some wondered whether the measure that the governor is expected to sign will make it easier or harder to someday win approval of same-sex marriage. The state Senate approved the legislation 32-24, sending it to Gov. Pat […]
(New York Times) — Gov. David A. Paterson, still unhappy about the defeat last year of a bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage, reached out to lawmakers recently to see if they would approve it during the lame-duck session this year. But even the most ardent supporters of the bill, which was resoundingly rejected by the […]
(St. Louis Beacon) — Some celebratory, some cynical, some opposed and others barely noticing, St. Louisans are of several minds regarding the Illinois civil unions bill now awaiting Gov. Pat Quinn’s promised signature. On Wednesday the Illinois Senate voted to approve civil unions by a 32-to-24 vote; the Senate’s vote came on the heels of […]
(Chicago Sun Times) — The top Illinois House Democrat laid favorable odds Tuesday that a push to give gay and lesbian couples the right to unite through civil unions would be approved by his legislative chamber. “I think there’s a good chance it’ll pass,” House Speaker Michael Madigan said, giving the initiative a significant boost. […]
(Amsterdam News) — Recent anti-gay attacks and suicides among gay youth have ignited a conversation about a problem that those in the LGBTQ community say is nothing new. As the case of what many are calling one of the most brutal anti-gay crimes unfolds, three of the 11 suspects accused of participating in an attack […]