Feature Story: Friday, January 16 Celebrate Change Prepare for Tomorrow -- A cocktail reception in honor of the president and vice president, and a fundraiser in support of the Stonewall Democrats' efforts to ''elect pro-equality Democrats in 2009 state and local races and in the 2010 mid-term elections.'' From 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Halo Lounge, 1435 P St. NW, 202-797-9730. Tickets are $50. Visit www.stonewalldemocrats.org/inaugurationevents.
The People's Inaugural Premier -- ''Celebrating a New Generation of Grassroots Activists,'' from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., at the Historical Society of Washington, 801 K St. NW. Tickets are $75, $250 for Host Committee VIP Pass. Visit www.thepeoplesinaugural.com/tickets/premier.
Saturday, January 17 The People's Inaugural Ball -- ''Celebrating Grassroots on the Ground Electing a President,'' from 8 p.m. to midnight, at the Historical Society of Washington, 801 K St. NW. Tickets are $125, $250 for Host Committee VIP Pass. Visit www.thepeoplesinaugural.com/tickets/ball. ...more
The People's Inaugural Premier -- ''Celebrating a New Generation of Grassroots Activists,'' from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., at the Historical Society of Washington, 801 K St. NW. Tickets are $75, $250 for Host Committee VIP Pass. Visit www.thepeoplesinaugural.com/tickets/premier.
Saturday, January 17 The People's Inaugural Ball -- ''Celebrating Grassroots on the Ground Electing a President,'' from 8 p.m. to midnight, at the Historical Society of Washington, 801 K St. NW. Tickets are $125, $250 for Host Committee VIP Pass. Visit www.thepeoplesinaugural.com/tickets/ball. ...more
Feature Story: While it's not every year Washington sees an Inauguration Day -- let alone one with the anticipated attendance for President-elect Barack Obama's -- the Martin Luther King Day of Service is an annual occurrence that sees folks volunteering to honor the memory of the late civil-rights leader. Thanks to the local gay group, Burgundy Crescent Volunteers, and the Presidential Inauguration Committee, GLBT locals shouldn't have any trouble pitching in this year, too, no matter what sort of mayhem accompanies the Inauguration festivities. ''I think everyone is afraid to jump on the expressway or on the Beltway because of all the traffic that is expected,'' says BCV President Jonathan Blumenthal of the Jan. 19 event. ''There are many dozens of opportunities in this region that people can find in their neighborhoods.''
He points to the Presidential Inauguration Committee's Web site of local volunteer opportunities as a good source of options.
Jamie Citron, the LGBT community liaison at the committee, tapped Burgundy Crescent Volunteers for their assistance after hearing about the group from several local volunteers, with the goal of making this the largest MLK Day of Service since initiated by Congress in 1994. ...more
He points to the Presidential Inauguration Committee's Web site of local volunteer opportunities as a good source of options.
Jamie Citron, the LGBT community liaison at the committee, tapped Burgundy Crescent Volunteers for their assistance after hearing about the group from several local volunteers, with the goal of making this the largest MLK Day of Service since initiated by Congress in 1994. ...more
Feature Story: If Election Day 2008 was the wedding between the GLBT community and President-elect Barack Obama, his subsequent choice of the Rev. Rick Warren to deliver the Inauguration Day invocation marked the end of the honeymoon. Granted, the highly GLBT-affirming Rev. Joseph Lowery will be delivering the inaugural benediction, and -- announced Jan. 12 -- openly gay Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson will deliver a prayer at the Jan. 18 opening ceremonies, to be broadcast on HBO. But the point of contention in the GLBT community has been Warren.
As Human Rights Campaign Executive Director Joe Solmonese wrote, in part, in his Dec. 12, 2008, letter to Obama urging him to reconsider the choice, ''(W)e feel a deep level of disrespect when one of the architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination.''
It was not an uncommon response to Obama choosing Warren, a pastor who has likened homosexuality to bestiality and who championed Proposition 8, repealing marriage equality for gay Californians. ...more
As Human Rights Campaign Executive Director Joe Solmonese wrote, in part, in his Dec. 12, 2008, letter to Obama urging him to reconsider the choice, ''(W)e feel a deep level of disrespect when one of the architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination.''
It was not an uncommon response to Obama choosing Warren, a pastor who has likened homosexuality to bestiality and who championed Proposition 8, repealing marriage equality for gay Californians. ...more
Happy inauguration, Mr. President
Gay rights leaders in their own words
From Washington Blade staff reports | Jan. 15 at 12:51 PM Jan. 15 at 12:51 PM
The Blade asked prominent figures in the gay rights movement to compose welcome messages to President-elect Barack Obama as he takes office. Some of the responses are shown below.
“I have seen no president better prepared to take office than you will be on Jan. 20th. There are great challenges and great opportunities. The challenges will come at you regardless. It is the opportunities you must not lose sight of, and that is where we will make our greatest gains together.”
— Hilary Rosen, Huffington Post
“We hold you in our hearts and minds on this most auspicious day as you assume the office of the president of the U ...
Gay rights leaders in their own words
From Washington Blade staff reports | Jan. 15 at 12:51 PM Jan. 15 at 12:51 PM
The Blade asked prominent figures in the gay rights movement to compose welcome messages to President-elect Barack Obama as he takes office. Some of the responses are shown below.
“I have seen no president better prepared to take office than you will be on Jan. 20th. There are great challenges and great opportunities. The challenges will come at you regardless. It is the opportunities you must not lose sight of, and that is where we will make our greatest gains together.”
— Hilary Rosen, Huffington Post
“We hold you in our hearts and minds on this most auspicious day as you assume the office of the president of the U ...
More gays to serve in Obama White House
Liaisons, deputy among new appointments
By CHRIS JOHNSON, Washington Blade | Jan. 13 at 4:55 PM Jan. 13 at 4:55 PM
President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team has selected three more openly gay people to serve in his administration, according to a prominent Democratic activist.
Liaisons, deputy among new appointments
By CHRIS JOHNSON, Washington Blade | Jan. 13 at 4:55 PM Jan. 13 at 4:55 PM
President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team has selected three more openly gay people to serve in his administration, according to a prominent Democratic activist.
The activist, who spoke to the Blade on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the selections, said David Medina, a gay man who is a former national political director for John Edwards’ presidential campaign, has been tapped as deputy chief of staff for Michelle Obama.
Medina is a member of the Human Rights Campaign’s board of directors and has a seat on the organization’s public policy committee.
Dave Noble, a gay man led efforts to mobilize gay voters ...
Details set for Atlanta protest of Rick Warren
Activists to counter pastor's MLK Day speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church
By RYAN LEE, Southern Voice | Jan. 13 at 2:22 PM Jan. 13 at 2:22 PM
Several dozen gay and lesbian activists gathered at the state Capitol Monday to discuss plans to protest the appearance of Rev. Rick Warren at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Jan. 19 as part of Martin Luther King Day festivities. The protest will take place at 9 a.m. at the corner of Jackson Street and Auburn Avenue, across from the church.
Activists to counter pastor's MLK Day speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church
By RYAN LEE, Southern Voice | Jan. 13 at 2:22 PM Jan. 13 at 2:22 PM
Several dozen gay and lesbian activists gathered at the state Capitol Monday to discuss plans to protest the appearance of Rev. Rick Warren at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Jan. 19 as part of Martin Luther King Day festivities. The protest will take place at 9 a.m. at the corner of Jackson Street and Auburn Avenue, across from the church.
“Warren not only compares women having an abortion to Nazis, and pro-choice supporters to holocaust deniers, but he also opposed the right of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and queer folk to marriage, as well as [admittance] to his church,” said Craig Washington, a founding member of the Atlanta Black LGBT Coalition, which is ...
Sen. Hillary Clinton said Tuesday during her confirmation hearing for secretary of State that she intended to review the department's policy of not extending benefits to partners of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender foreign service officers. But Clinton stopped short of making a specific commitment to make partner benefits available, saying she needed more information on the existing policies. Beyond being deprived of health care benefits, same-sex partners of foreign service personnel are currently unable to access other services available to heterosexual spouses, such as subsidized relocation, language training, employment opportunities, on-site medical treatment, and evacuation aid in emergency situations. 
The Obama transition website posted a video Wednesday of a meeting that took place January 10 between LGBT leaders and members of the transition team. 
A U.S. Airways plane leaving New York's LaGuardia airport for Charlotte, N.C. has crashed into the Hudson River. 
Group members created 2 PSAs with local filmakers. Abbey Alexander is sensitive to the circumstances of fellow students whose parents are not fluent in English. 'Nashville is better than this,' says the 18-year-old Oasis Center intern in a public service...
Protest set for Sat. Jan. 17. Members of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) are speaking out in support of two gay meny men fired from a Brentwood hotel last week and are encouraging others to join in a peacefull rally..
Happy inauguration, Mr. President
Gay rights leaders in their own words
From Washington Blade staff reports | Jan. 15 at 12:51 PM Jan. 15 at 12:51 PM
The Blade asked prominent figures in the gay rights movement to compose welcome messages to President-elect Barack Obama as he takes office. Some of the responses are shown below.
“I have seen no president better prepared to take office than you will be on Jan. 20th. There are great challenges and great opportunities. The challenges will come at you regardless. It is the opportunities you must not lose sight of, and that is where we will make our greatest gains together.”
— Hilary Rosen, Huffington Post
“We hold you in our hearts and minds on this most auspicious day as you assume the office of the president of the U ...
Gay rights leaders in their own words
From Washington Blade staff reports | Jan. 15 at 12:51 PM Jan. 15 at 12:51 PM
The Blade asked prominent figures in the gay rights movement to compose welcome messages to President-elect Barack Obama as he takes office. Some of the responses are shown below.
“I have seen no president better prepared to take office than you will be on Jan. 20th. There are great challenges and great opportunities. The challenges will come at you regardless. It is the opportunities you must not lose sight of, and that is where we will make our greatest gains together.”
— Hilary Rosen, Huffington Post
“We hold you in our hearts and minds on this most auspicious day as you assume the office of the president of the U ...
Maine lawmaker to introduce gay marriage bill
House Republican will propose dueling bill
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) | Jan. 14 at 9:28 AM Jan. 14 at 9:28 AM
State Sen. Dennis Damon is introducing a bill to end the prohibition on gay marriage in Maine. House Republican Josh Tardy, meanwhile, is proposing to bolster the state law restricting marriage to one man and one woman by making it a constitutional amendment.
House Republican will propose dueling bill
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) | Jan. 14 at 9:28 AM Jan. 14 at 9:28 AM
State Sen. Dennis Damon is introducing a bill to end the prohibition on gay marriage in Maine. House Republican Josh Tardy, meanwhile, is proposing to bolster the state law restricting marriage to one man and one woman by making it a constitutional amendment.
The dueling proposals ensure that gay marriage will be hotly debated this legislative session.
As it stands, Maine has a domestic partnership registry that's open to gay couples. But that's not enough for gay marriage supporters. Damon says it's time to "fully end discrimination in Maine. "
Gay marriage is being debated elsewhere in the region. In New Hampshire, a bill's been s ...
More gays to serve in Obama White House
Liaisons, deputy among new appointments
By CHRIS JOHNSON, Washington Blade | Jan. 13 at 4:55 PM Jan. 13 at 4:55 PM
President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team has selected three more openly gay people to serve in his adhis administration, according to a prominent Democratic activist.
Liaisons, deputy among new appointments
By CHRIS JOHNSON, Washington Blade | Jan. 13 at 4:55 PM Jan. 13 at 4:55 PM
President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team has selected three more openly gay people to serve in his adhis administration, according to a prominent Democratic activist.
The activist, who spoke to the Blade on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the selections, said David Medina, a gay man who is a former national political director for John Edwards’ presidential campaign, has been tapped as deputy chief of staff for Michelle Obama.
Medina is a member of the Human Rights Campaign’s board of directors and has a seat on the organization’s public policy committee.
Dave Noble, a gay man led efforts to mobilize gay voters ...
Groups call poll supporting a gay military ban flawed and biased
Roland Burris is scheduled to be sworn in today to replace Barack Obama in Senate
Thanking the nation, defending his record: Bush to say goodbye on his own terms
…it’s hard to keep the nasty, Schadenfreude-y smirks off our faces: Layoffs Begin At Oral Roberts University Dozens of employees at Oral Roberts University started receiving word today that they will be laid off. … Last November the school said it would lay off about 100 employees — or about 10 percent of its work force. … The layoffs [...]
January 13, 2009 — At a State House press conference today, EqualityMaine and several coalition partners unveiled a bill that would extend civil marriage rights to same-sex couples in Maine. The bill, titled “An Act to Prevent Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom,” is sponsored by Sen. Dennis Damon (D-Hancock). Damon recently sponsored an [...]
Disturbing: Puerto Rico: Changes in Civil Code language would drop recognition of same-sex couples as family, limit access to partnership rights Worrisome news from Puerto Rico: While it appears that a long-gestating Civil Code draft might finally become law during the current legislative session, a legislative committee has indicated that it won’t include language that would have [...]
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