In the News

9/13/2010

"For 17 years, Maj. Margaret Witt rose steadily through the Air Force and Air Force Reserves, winning plaudits from colleagues, strong performance reviews from superiors and service medals from the department. A flight nurse, she treated wounded troops during Desert Storm and was featured in Air Force promotional materials for years.

"Major Witt is also a lesbian.

California health officials violated state privacy laws by giving personal information about thousands of HIV-positive welfare recipients to a nonprofit group that serves people infected with the virus, three legal groups alleged Thursday.

President Barack Obama has a problem with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community: He keeps making steady progress on some very important matters, and we keep complaining that he has let us down. Our glass is half empty and his, it seems, is half full.

9/1/2010

"Parties announced a settlement today in a lawsuit filed last year against a North Little Rock assisted-living center that allegedly evicted a 75-year-old man from the facility because he had the virus that causes AIDS.

"...Lambda Legal, a national group that advocates civil rights for gays and those with HIV, filed the federal lawsuit in 2009 on behalf of Franke, a retired biology professor and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

8/31/2010

"Equality in hospital visitation policies is not a controversial issue. That’s what seems apparent from the 427 comments received during the just ended public comment period on the proposed regulation to implement President Obama’s hospital visitation memorandum.

8/30/2010

"The Hawaii lawsuit focuses not on gay marriage but on legalizing civil unions, which give same-sex partners the same rights and responsibilities as marriage. The Hawaiian Constitution bans same-sex marriage.

"Still, the Hawaii, lawsuit makes many of the same arguments outlined in the California suit that challenged Prop. 8.

8/22/2010

"I've been a little surprised at the burst of attention over the 'news' that Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman and attorney general candidate Steve Cooley would defend Prop 8 in the federal trial, if elected and given the opportunity...

"Here's [Lambda Legal's Legal Director Jon] Davidson's analysis:

"'At the time of the oral argument that has been scheduled for the week of December 6th, even were Whitman or Cooley to have won the election, they will not have taken office—the new officeholders don't take office until Jan. 3, 2011.

8/13/2010

"When you don't win an argument on the merits, change the subject. That seems to be the favorite tactic of groups opposed to marriage equality for same-sex couples.

8/6/2010

"Vandy Beth Glenn has her job back—with salary, benefits and seniority—but she won't be returning to work.

"An agreement reached Friday mandates the reinstatement of the transgender legislative editor for the Georgia General Assembly, fired nearly three years ago after disclosing she was transitioning from a man. But Glenn's employer preferred she earn her paycheck from home, arguing that her presence in the office would be disruptive. Though she won't be working, Glenn will be fully compensated.

8/5/2010

"As lawyers last year prepared for the federal case that would challenge California's ban on gay marriage, U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker told both sides that he saw his role as a finder of facts who could produce a record that would inform higher courts grappling with constitutional matters. The ruling he released Wednesday declaring the ban unconstitutional reflected that inclination...