HRC Back Story

This week the Hawaii Senate passed Senate Resolution 36 expressing support for the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law of the U.S. Armed Services.  The Hawaii Senate cited the beliefs of President Obama, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Muller that the law should be ended as key to their support of repealing the law. But, the Hawaii Senate was willing to go further hammering home the fundamental problem with the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law: “Homophobia has no place in a modern, enlightened society, and the military is no ...

You should be receiving your U.S. Census form in the mail soon (if you haven’t already) and many LGBT people have questions about filling it out.  HRC is a member of the Our Families Count coalition, which seeks to increase LGBT involvement in the census and make sure everyone is counted. First — everyone should fill out their census form and be counted.  The data gives us an essential portrait of our nation and helps determine where and how critical federal resources are directed.  And it’s completely safe — the data collected cannot by law be used for anything other than getting an ...

Today, the Vet Voice Foundation released the results of a new poll that demonstrates that post-9/11 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are completely comfortable serving with lesbian and gay service members.  The results reinforce the fact that veterans believe that a service member’s sexual orientation is not relevant to his or her ability to serve and that a it does not negatively impact unit cohesion or troop morale. The poll, conducted by the Vet Voice Foundation, is the only known scientific poll that has been conducted solely among members of the military.  The scientific methods used ...

HRC New Orleans volunteers meeting on Capitol Hill with Rep. Cao's staff (and showing some Saints pride) Today, Louisiana Republican Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao joined as a cosponsor to the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (MREA, H.R. 1283), a bill that would repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. Several HRC volunteers who are his constituents met with Rep. Cao’s staff on several LGBT issues and also asked him to cosponsor the MREA during the HRC’s recent lobby day.  HRC has worked with a coalition of groups to win Rep. Cao’s support for MREA including Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, ...

The forecast promises great weather on Thursday afternoon so come out and enjoy the sunshine while hearing from nationally known entertainer Kathy Griffin and veterans about how we can repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year. Across the country, members of the military, political leaders on both sides of the aisle, and everyday Americans are speaking out in support of repeal. This week, Kathy Griffin is traveling to Washington to add her voice, by lobbying Members of Congress, meeting with veterans and mobilizing support. An outspoken voice for equality and supporter of our troops, ...

NY State Senator-Elect Jose Peralta The votes are in. Queens’ voters overwhelmingly voted for marriage equality supporter Jose Peralta over incumbent state Senator Hiram Monserrate in a special election today.  The Senate had previously voted to expel Sen. Monserrate, after he was convicted for assaulting his girlfriend. Last December, the New York state Senate defeated the marriage equality bill (24-38), with the former Senator voting against the bill.  Senator-elect Peralta voted for marriage equality in the state assembly. I will be heading to New York later this week to meet with ...

An update from HRC Regional Field Director Sultan Shakir: Today, the Pennsylvania State Senate Judiciary Committee voted to table SB 707, the proposed constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality which would have denied loving same-sex couples the right to marry. An update from our partner at the Value All Families Coalition: We won!  It was a bipartisan, 8-6 vote.  This happened because of all of the effort you put into our opposition, not only this year but in past years, as well.  So go celebrate! Thank you, thank you, thank you.  We did it! HRC congratulates Equality Advocates ...

Today the Senate Armed Services Committee held yet another hearing on the Fiscal Year 2011 Department of Defense Authorization bill, this time with testimony from Adm. Eric T. Olson, Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command and Gen. David H. Petraeus, Commander, U.S. Central Command.  Gen. Petraeus was questioned by Senator McCain regarding “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).  Although he was given little time to respond, Gen. Petraeus said that he “believe[s] the time has come to consider a change to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” and expressed his support for Secretary Gates and Adm. Mullen’s ...

Tomorrow, the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee will be holding its second hearing on the Alaska Hate Crimes Bill (SB 202). Since the passage of the federal Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act, some confusion has arisen over the role of state hate crimes legislation. The federal act [pdf], in short, permits the federal government to investigate bias motivated violent crimes, prosecute those hate crimes that have a federal nexus, provide resources to local law enforcement and collect data on hate crimes.  In order to have a federal nexus, the crime must relate to a ...

Ten days ago, hundreds of HRC volunteers were in Washington, DC to lobby their members of Congress on an inclusive ENDA, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal and a number of other issues.  Many of them sent in photos and anecdotes about the power of meeting with their elected officials first hand and putting a face and a voice to our fight for equality. Also of note, tomorrow the National Center for Transgender Equality is holding their annual lobby day to demonstrate grassroots support for an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Add your voice to the chorus by contacting your Members of ...