Lawmakers urge end to gay immigration discrimination
A group of 60 senators and representatives, led by U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., signed a letter urging President Barack Obama and members of Congress to end discrimination against LGBT immigrant families.
The letter states, “tens of thousands of binational families are either already living separately, face imminent separation, or have …
Baldwin bill seeks to end LGBT health disparities
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin introduced the Ending Health Disparities for LGBT Americans Act (ELHDA) on Tuesday, the first comprehensive approach to improving all areas of the health care system where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans face inequality and discrimination.
“Our current health care system fails LGBT Americans on many levels,” said …
Closeted politicians stir filmmaker’s ‘Outrage’
Of the many insinuations in “Outrage,” Kirby Dick’s sad, devastating new documentary about closeted gay politicians – OK, alleged closeted gay politicians – the one that’s most disturbing is the case made against a former Southern congressman.
As a young liberal, the politician used his fraternity house “as his gay bar,” a former alleged hookup tells the filmmakers. Yet in pursuit of elected office, the politician got married, went to church, and voted Republican, never quite shaking his same-sex attraction but never doing much legislatively to acknowledge or advance the civil rights of gay people. On numerous occasions, in fact, he voted to suppress those rights.
Such alleged hypocrisy is the crux of “Outrage.” Dick speculates on the homosexuality of several current and former public officials which hasn’t been corroborated by the men themselves.
His charges aren’t new; they’ve certainly surfaced in the alternative press and online. But in accordance with Globe ethics poilcy, I can’t repeat those names here.
While dwelling on political contradiction, the movie unfolds at a unique juncture of psychological and moral character: the perverse place where a politician’s relentless personal drive and a closeted gay man’s shameful desire may meet.
In tying the purported secret gay sex lives of these putatively straight elected officials – the movie focuses almost exclusively on men – to their voting records, a caustic portrait emerges of self-deluded souls. Dick goes into scandals involving the married Idaho senator Larry Craig and the now openly gay former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey, who sits down and unburdens himself for the camera (he talks about “living your truth” with an abandon that suggests either lots of therapy or lots of disco). Former Arizona congressman Jim Kolbe talks about how much happier he was after he revealed he was gay (we never hear from his ex-wife, although Mrs. McGreevey does speak).
“Outrage” is armed with commentary and insights from openly gay members of Congress like Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin, activists like Larry Kramer (of course) and Rodger McFarlane, who died last month, and such Washington insiders as Hilary Rosen. The movie never allows you to forget its aim. It wants to hold these men accountable – if the speculation is true – not for their conservatism but for their double standard. “Outrage” tries to put the officials on a couch and determine why so many are Republicans. Someone likens their alleged behavior to playground politics, where potential outcasts help bullies persecute kids to keep the bullies off their trail. How could I be gay?, the thinking goes, I’ve voted with my party to block the passage of so many gay-friendly bills. See Closeted politicians stir filmmaker’s ‘Outrage’
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Bill would give benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers
(Washington) Legislation has been introduced in the the House and Senate to provide benefits for same-sex domestic partners of federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits.
The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act is sponsored by Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) in the House and …
US Lawmakers Say Census Should Count Married Gay Couples
Gay U.S. representatives Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Barney Frank of Massachusetts, and Jared Polis of Colorado along with 48 other congressional members sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag asking that the 2010 Census count same-sex married couples rather than altering their status.
Last year, the Bush administration — citing the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex unions — announced that lawfully married same-sex couples who marked “married” on their census forms would have their status changed to “unmarried partners” in the final count. Now, congressional members are calling on Orszag to reverse course.
“We are deeply concerned about the implications of this policy for same-sex couples and for the integrity of the Census as a whole and firmly believe the [Census] Bureau’s primary objective should be to collect data and report it, not collect data and alter it,” the members said in their letter. See US Lawmakers Say Census Should Count Married Gay Couples
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House bill offers DP benefits for federal workers
Out U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., this month is expected to introduce the Domestic Partner Benefits & Obligations Act, which would offer domestic-partner benefits to the same-sex partners of federal workers. The measure will be co-sponsored in the House by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and in the Senate by Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, both of whom backed a similar bill in the previous session, said Baldwin spokeswoman Jerilyn Goodman. Washington Blade* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Baldwin Calls On Clinton For Gay Rights
Openly lesbian Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is calling on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s promise to promote gay and lesbian rights.
Clinton has long advocated for equal rights for gays, but as First Lady and New York Senator she was not in a position to dictate change. Now, as she assumes the mantle of Secretary of State, Clinton is being asked to follow through on her pledge.
In a stirring speech – longer than most – at the DNC convention, Clinton once again included a call for equality. “I ran for president to renew the promise of America. … To rebuild the middle class … To promote a clean energy economy … To create a health care system that is universal, high quality, and affordable … To create a world class education system … To fight for an America defined by deep and meaningful equality – from civil rights to labor rights, from women’s rights to gay rights … Most of all, I ran to stand up for all those who have been invisible to their government for eight long years.”
The six-time Congresswoman from Wisconsin asked Clinton to fix inequities for gay and lesbian employees at the State Department. In a letter dated Feb. 2, Baldwin, joined by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Florida Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, asked for policy changes that would not require Congressional approval.
See Baldwin Calls On Clinton For Gay Rights
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Rep. Barney Frank Bullish on Gay Rights
In the January 12 edition of The New Yorker, Massachusetts representative Barney Frank tells reporter Jeffrey Toobin that he is bullish about the future of gay rights under Barack Obama‘s administration.
We’re going to do three things in Congress…First, a hate-crimes bill–that shouldn’t be too hard. Next, employment discrimination. We almost got that through before, but now we can win even if we add transgender protections, which we are going to do. And, finally, after the troops get home from Iraq, gays in the military. The time has come.”
Frank was the first congressman to come out of the closet willingly and, for a long time, was the only openly gay national representative–Sen. Larry Craig (R-Id.) doesn’t count. Frank has since been joined by Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.).
See Rep. Barney Frank Bullish on Gay Rights
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New gay Congressman sworn in
(Washington) The number of openly gay members of Congress grew by one on Tuesday with the swearing in of Jared Polis (D-Colo.). Polis joins the returning Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) in the House.
Polis has been given a plum committee position. He has been named to the House …
Economy may delay major gay bills
(Washington) The new Congress convenes today but four pieces of legislation pushed by LGBT advocates may be placed on the back burner as lawmakers grapple with the rapidly deteriorating economy and two wars.
Joining the two returning gay members of the last Congress, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) and Tammy Baldwin (Wisc.) …
