Dr. Deborah Birx sworn-in as new U.S. global AIDS coordinator

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Dr. Deborah Birx was sworn in today as the new Ambassador at Large and U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator to lead all U.S. Government international HIV/AIDS efforts. Ambassador Birx now oversees implementation of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history,…

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HHS announces important Medicare information for people in same-sex marriages

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is now able to process requests for Medicare Part A and Part B Special Enrollment Periods, and reductions in Part B and premium Part A late enrollment penalties for certain eligible people in same-sex marriages. This is another step…

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U.S. government will recognize marriages of same-sex couples who wed in Michigan

WASHINGTON— The federal government will  recognize same-sex marriages performed in the state of Michigan. Attorney General Eric Holder issued the following statement today on the status of those marriages: “I have determined that the same-sex marriages performed last Saturday in Michigan will be recognized by the federal government.  These families will be eligible for all…

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Vice President Biden: LGBT rights integral part of U.S. foreign policy (VIDEO)

Speaking to more than 1,000 LGBT rights supporters at the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles gala, SaturdayVice President Joe Biden said the United States will be a world leader in the fight for LGBT equality.  His keynote address, which lasted 28 minutes, outlined the administration’s commitment to stand up for the human rights of LGBT…

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Juror discrimination case will not be appealed

In January, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in a pharmaceutical contract dispute, Abbott Laboratories v. SmithKline Beecham, that it violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection to exclude someone from jury service because of his or her sexual orientation.  In doing so, the court also concluded that discrimination based on…

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Media Matters Launches ‘Mythopedia’ (VIDEO)

http://youtu.be/L1y4_D0e7uQ WASHINGTON — Today, Media Matters for America launched Mythopedia – a new tool for fighting back against right-wing misinformation. Mythopedia is a simple fact checker that concisely debunks persistent conservative lies. The site launched with 400 entries of common conservative myths with new fact-checks added in real time. Media Matters made this announcement ahead of the Conservative…

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