Religious groups appeal to President Obama for ENDA-like protections for any order affecting federal contracts

With any hope for legislative action on the Employer Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) all but quashed for the foreseeable future, President Obama has announced plans for an executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity for all federal contractors seeking bids from the U.S. Government. The action, which politically speaking is about all…

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Napolitano: DOMA prevents us placing on-hold marriage-based green card applications for bi-national same-sex couples

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…

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Obama administration offers new hope for bi-national same-sex couples

The Department of Homeland Security has issued new guidelines for immigration personnel for determining whether a same-sex relationship would “rise to the level of a ‘family relationship.’” Obtained exclusively Tuesday by the Washington Blade, the memorandum from U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) was welcomed by LGBT advocates and lawmakers seeking greater protection for bi-national…

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