The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Chuck Hagel as defense secretary after a bruising political fight. The former Nebraska senator, a Republican, was confirmed by a a vote of 58-41 and will succeed Leon Panetta at the Pentagon. Army Veteran and OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Allyson Robinson praised the Senate for confirming Hagel and called on…
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Many same-sex couples are losing out on thousands of dollars a year in Social Security benefits because the federal government doesn’t recognize gay marriage, a new report finds. When a partner dies, the surviving spouse in a same-sex couple isn’t eligible for the average $1,184 in monthly survivor’s benefits that widow’s…
(CNN) — As the Supreme Court gets ready to hear cases on same-sex marriage next month, dozens of high-profile Republicans have signed onto a brief in a show of support for gay couples to legally wed. The amicus or “friend of the court” legal brief, first reported by the New York Times, includes signatures by…
Whilst the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) remains on the books the Obama administration is unable to place on hold marriage-based green card applications for bi-national same-sex couples stated Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano at a White House briefing. The Washington Blade reported that Napolitano asserted DHS can’t take such action, which could slow…
By Suze Orman Editor’s note: Suze Orman is a personal finance expert and hosts The Suze Orman Show on CNBC. She is a bestselling author of ten books, including The Money Class. (CNN) — That nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriage is encouraging progress for those of us who believe that…
Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop has died, Dartmouth College said Monday. He was 96. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued the following statement: I am deeply saddened by the passing of former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. Dr. Koop was a fearless public servant and a pioneering pediatric surgeon. I was honored to have…
(CNN) — February 26, 2012. That was the day two strangers — Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager walking back with Skittles and an iced tea he’d picked up at 7-Eleven, and George Zimmerman, a white Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida — met for the first and only time. It’s been nearly a…
Phoenix, AZ (KPHO) (CBS5) (CNN) – Security at a Phoenix gay bar now carry stun guns after an angry man tried to beat down the door with an ax. Last Saturday night the staff at Oz Bar told CBS 5 News they had a run in with Lawrence Aguirre. “He wasn’t wearing a tin suit,…
(CNN) — Ben Affleck may not have earned recognition from the Academy in the directing category, but his movie “Argo” walked away on Sunday with the best picture Oscar. “Life of Pi” was another big winner during the 85th Oscars ceremony as it claimed four awards, including the best director statue for Ang Lee. Here’s…
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — While same-sex couples are excluded from many tax benefits, there is one tax break they qualify for that opposite-sex married couples don’t — if they adopt a partner’s child. A tax credit for what is known as a “second parent adoption” grants qualifying taxpayers up to $12,650 per child for certain…
