Jun 06, 2008   | COMMENTS     

Amendment banning gay marriage introduced in Congress

ATLANTA — U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) introduced an amendment to the U.S. Constitution on May 22 to ban same-sex marriage, according to staff reports. The introduction came as a result of the backlash by lawmakers upset with the California Supreme Court’s recent ruling legalizing gay marriage. Broun, a freshman from Augusta, announced his intent to introduce the legislation on May 20 and got 29 co-sponsors to join him in introducing the bill, named the Marriage Protection Amendment. One co-sponsor, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), said in a statement posted on his web site May 28 he was joining Broun as a co-sponsor because, “The recent decision by the California Supreme Court to overturn the state’s ban on homosexual marriage is an assault on the Judeo-Christian values of America.” Before it could become part of the Constitution, the amendment would need to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the U.S. House and Senate, and then ratified by 38, or three-fourths, of the state legislatures. The House of Representatives last voted on a proposed Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006. It failed by a significant margin.

Gay political blog left out of Democratic National Convention

WASHINGTON — Bilerico.com, a gay blog headed by Bil Browning and host to nearly 100 contributors, was not granted blogger credentials to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, according to Blade staff reports. Browning is angry. He wanted to bring a troop of six bloggers, including himself. The rejection letter said, “As you may know, we’ve had overwhelming interest in the credentialed blogger program this year. Several hundred great blogs submitted applications. But we have very limited space. Unfortunately, your blog will not be credentialed at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.” Browning figured Bilerico would be a shoo-in, with its wide variety of writers and the diversity among them. Gay sites including towleroad.com and Pam’s House Blend were granted access.

Kentucky governor praised for keeping pro-gay campaign promise

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Ken. Gov. Steve Beshear on Monday granted employment protections for gays and lesbians in state government, one of three executive orders he made reversing policies of his predecessor, the Courier-Journal, a Louisville, Ky., newspaper reported. The other two fulfill campaign promises he made to labor groups: giving the state’s labor agency cabinet-level status and re-establishing a council to advise him on the concerns of state workers, the paper reported. On gay rights, former Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican, had stripped from his administration’s equal employment opportunities policy a phrase to bar job discrimination in state government on the basis of “sexual orientation or gender identity.” Beshear, a Democrat, said in a statement Monday that the policy meant that, “a gay person could be fired simply for being gay. A person should be hired or dismissed on the basis of whether they can do the job. Experience, qualifications, talent and performance are what matter.” The order says that the protection includes matters relating to “hiring, promotion, termination, tenure, recruitment and compensation.” Reaction in the state was mixed. Gay group Kentucky Fairness Alliance praised the move but Family Foundation called it “troubling,” the Courier-Journal reported.

Colorado governor signs pro-gay protections into law

WASHINGTON — Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) this week signed legislation into law that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in housing, public accommodations, credit transactions, juror service and other areas. The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Jennifer Veiga and state Rep. Joel Judd, expands existing laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, sex, religion, disability and other characteristics. In 2007, Colorado enacted laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and providing for second parent adoption. The new law takes effect immediately.

Sociologist who helped craft ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ dies

CHICAGO (AP) — Sociologist Charles Moskos, an expert on the attitudes of servicemen and women who helped formulate “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has died. The retired Northwestern University professor died of cancer Saturday at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., his family said. He was 74 and best known for the advice to the Joint Chiefs of Staff that led to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Under the policy, passed by Congress in 1993 in the early months of the Clinton administration, gays are allowed to serve in the military, but they are prohibited from engaging in homosexual activity or talking about their sexual orientation (see related story on page 12).