By Julian Zelizer Editor’s note: Julian Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. He is the author of “Jimmy Carter” and of the new book “Governing America.” (CNN) — 2012 has been a tumultuous year in American politics. With the presidential election capping off the year, Americans have witnessed a…
A line from “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” (first sung by the iconic Judy Garland) says, “Make the yuletide gay.” That was long before “gay” took on a different meaning. Yet, with its lights, designer ornaments, displays, fresh-baked smells, festive songs and images of elves, reindeer and penguins, what other occasion lends itself more…
Politician of the Year: The first Democrat elected mayor in 20 years. The first Democrat elected to the County Board of Supervisors in almost as long. A challenger who knocks off an incumbent Congressman. In most years, any of the three could have walked away with this award. 2012 was not most years. It was…
I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that the Supreme Court has decided to hear cases on the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Proposition 8. Let’s assume DOMA is ruled unconstitutional and Prop. 8 is overturned. That would mean same-sex couples could legally marry in California and qualify for the 1,100 federal benefits currently…
The evening I’m writing this column is an evening after a day spent fishing at Lake Cuyamaca. I haven’t been fishing in more than three years. The last time I went fishing was March 2009, which was the month before I went to Greeley, Colo. to cover the Angie Zapata hate crime murder trial. Before…
A letter of Christmas thanks, to a diverse LGBT community Dear Editor, As we approach the looming day, the Supreme Court will be deciding the fate of decades of work for the gay community. In times like these, as I think about the meaning of this Christmas season, what unites us is more, what divides…
Let freedom ring … that is what we all hope will happen with the Supreme Court agreeing to review the Prop. 8 and Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) cases. Many leaders in our community are excited, yet concerned, about the potential of the Supreme Court ruling in these two cases. The Prop. 8 case will…
Politically Aware BY JOEL TRAMBLEY Court predictions hew closely to the axiom “Those who know don’t talk, those who talk don’t know.” Having nothing but an MD to back my legal analysis, I fall firmly in the latter camp. But here we go. Of the various cases about the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on…
For the first time, crimes directed against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation are the second most frequent hate crime committed after crimes based on race, according to the 2011 Hate Crimes statistics released yesterday by the FBI as part of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. Surpassing crimes committed on the basis on…
WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is calling on the Maryland Marriage Alliance (MMA) to return the $10,000 donation of Michael Peroutka, an active white supremacist and secessionist sympathizer who was one of the three largest individual donors to the campaign against marriage equality in Maryland. HRC also calls on the Maryland Catholic Conference,…
