In conjunction with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President Obama signed a historic document Friday certifying the U.S. military’s readiness to move forward with implementation of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal. “Today, we have taken the final major step toward ending the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’…
HRC President Joe Solmonese, a key witness during Wednesday’s historic hearing on the Respect for Marriage act, announced his strong support for the landmark legislation and explained that the hearing “proved that married same-sex couples share the same values and needs as other married couples.” Married LGBT couples “are constantly hamstrung in their ability to…
Senator Christopher Coons (D-Delaware) took the Senate floor today in what promises to be a historic hearing on DOMA repeal, urging his colleagues to support the Respect for Marriage Act and instate equal benefits for same-sex couples nationwide. Coons, an original co-sponsor of the landmark anti-discrimination act, delivered an opening statement to gathered legislators and…
The National Institute of Health is fielding controversy after conducting studies regarding the link between gay male sexual behavior and penis size. Originally published in 2009, the Institute’s findings connected gay male preference for “top,” or dominant sexual positions with “above average penises,” and linked “bottom,” or more passive sexual position preference with “below average”…
On behalf of President Obama, Press Secretary Jay Carney announced today that the White House stands behind efforts to instate the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill designed to repeal DOMA on grounds of unconstitutional discrimination. The seminal legislation will be the subject of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing tomorrow in Washington, D.C. With regard…
Mimi Brown and Carol Anastasio were the first couple to receive a same-sex marriage license from the New York City Marriage Bureau after the state’s landmark legalization decision earlier this summer. The distinction won them an all-expenses-paid celebration at the Old Homestead Steakhouse, where friends and family will gather this Sunday for the city’s first…
Former New York governor and prominent conservative Rudy Giuliani told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday that, while his personal views stand in opposition to New York’s recent legalization of gay marriage, he believes that the GOP should avoid becoming embroiled in the issue and focus instead on matters of fiscal policy. “I think the…
Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann signed a controversial pledge on Thursday that established her intent to implement rigid anti-gay policies if elected. The Candidates’ Pledge, also known as The Marriage Vow, was created by The Family Leader, a prominent Iowa group that promotes Christian conservative social values. Bob Vander Plaats, CEO of the conservative organization,…
The U.S. House of Representatives held a vote Thursday evening on an amendment reaffirming the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In response to the vote (which was carried with a heavy Republican majority and a final tally of 248 in favor, 175 against), HRC president Joe Solmonese issued a response in which he called the…
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy announced Thursday that the committee intends to hold the first-ever congressional hearing concerning DOMA repeal in the coming weeks. The announcement follows actions taken earlier this year by Senators including California Senator Dianne Feinstein and New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand on behalf of the Respect for Marriage Act, a…
