Gay Politics Report

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March 16, 2012

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Top Story

Dems try to tamp down platform discussion
Democratic political operatives in Washington, D.C., have begun a push to lower the volume on discussions about adding support for marriage equality to the party platform, according to this article. Some top Democrats reportedly remain unconvinced that it's politically wise to add language to the party platform fully supporting marriage rights for same-sex couples. A campaign to add such language, which was launched by the group Freedom to Marry, is backed by several high-profile Democrats. The Huffington Post (3/15)

Group looks to help lawmakers evolve on marriage: Third Way, a centrist Democratic group, has distributed a memo advising members of Congress on how to embrace marriage rights for same-sex couples. "We hope this will be helpful as more and more politicians feel the urge to 'evolve' from supporting civil unions to allowing committed gay couples to marry," said Lanae Erickson, the group's deputy director of social policy and politics. The Huffington Post (3/15)

Politics and Policy

Gay man wins Senate confirmation to be federal judge
Michael Fitzgerald, a lawyer and former prosecutor, this week became the fourth openly LGBT American to receive a lifetime appointment as a federal judge, and the first to serve outside of New York. Fitzgerald will serve on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. “There’s a reason why he was nominated by the president and why he has sailed through this process with such ease -- because he has the skills and strengths to be a great judge,” said Michael Fleming, executive director of the David Bohnett Foundation. Washington Blade (3/15), Metro Weekly (Washington, D.C.)/Poliglot (3/15), San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers (3/15)

Advocates seek Senate hearing on employment non-discrimination bill
Advocates for a federal law that would ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity want the Senate to hold a hearing on the bill in order to draw attention to the issue. Even though most believe the legislation has no chance of being considered in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, those pushing the bill say Senate hearings would remind "everybody that there are some issues that we all know we have to cover eventually," said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. Washington Blade (3/14)

U.S. anti-gay crusader sued by Ugandan group
Scott Lively, an American anti-gay activist who traveled to Uganda and other countries urging political leaders to oppose homosexuality, is being sued by the LGBT rights group Sexual Minorities Uganda. The lawsuit, which was filed in a federal court in Massachusetts, claims Lively’s activities contributed to the arrest, torture and murder of gay men and lesbians in Uganda. The group’s leader, Frank Mugisha, said gays and lesbians were largely tolerated in Uganda before Lively and others began pressing public officials to crack down. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (3/14)

Playing defense, Pa. advocates win small victory
LGBT advocates in Pennsylvania don’t hold out much hope of passing pro-equality legislation given the current makeup of the state Legislature, and they often spend their time fighting anti- LGBT measures instead, according to this article. That’s why a committee chairman’s decision this week to put off a vote on a bill that would ban marriage for same-sex couples was considered such an important victory. “It's gone today, but it doesn't mean it's dead and buried,” said Equality Pennsylvania’s Ted Martin. Philly.com (Philadelphia)/InSights (3/15)

At tax time, refusing to lie is breaking the law
Married same-sex couples who file their federal income taxes jointly are technically breaking the law because the IRS is barred from recognizing their marriages, but some say they’d rather do that than lie about their married status. Tax professionals say it’s unlikely the IRS is checking the genders of married couples who file jointly. The Huffington Post (3/15)

Other News

Gay former White House official is running for Congress
Advocate.com (3/14)

Omaha passes LGBT non-discrimination ordinance
Reuters (3/13)

Group named Irish Queers to demonstrate at NYC St. Patrick's Day parade
The Huffington Post (3/14)

Opinion

Some believe adding support for marriage equality to the Democratic party platform this year could complicate efforts to elect Democrats to Congress and re-elect President Obama. Others say that platform language will not affect the party's candidates and therefore should be added. What's your view?

	If it hurts President Obama's re-election chances, they should hold off adding the language this year.
	I don't believe it will hurt the president or Democratic candidates, so it should be part of the platform.
	It should be part of the platform regardless of the political fallout.
	I'm not a Democrat or a supporter of President Obama, so I don't care.
	I'm not sure.

Are anti-LGBT slurs ever okay?
Some believe those in marginalized communities are somehow empowered by casually using the same words that are meant to hurt them. But using slurs even in a joking manner gives others permission to use them, and those words are connected to real hurt, writes Kimberly McLeod. Ebony online (3/14)

Baldwin’s Senate race is pivotal to Senate control
Rep. Tammy Baldwin could become the first openly LGBT U.S. senator if she wins her race in Wisconsin this year, and a victory could also keep control of the Senate in Democratic hands. The race could take on further importance because the outcome could influence President Barack Obama’s handling of health care reform, a topic that Baldwin has been speaking about, according to this analysis. National Journal (3/14)

Leadership Spotlight

New Gill Action head says group will focus on tougher states
Kirk Fordham, the newly named executive director of the Gill Action Fund, says the group's political strategy for helping to pass new pro-equality measures will likely focus on states where it has been harder to move such legislation. "Now that some of the lower hanging fruit has been picked, it’s time to start harvesting in less fertile territory," Fordham told the Washington Blade. Washington Blade (3/16)

Beyond Politics

Ex-Rutgers student found guilty of hate crimes in spying case
Former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi was convicted on Friday of hate crimes, witness tampering and other charges stemming from a a video he took of his roommate kissing another man in their dorm room. Ravi's roommate committed suicide shortly after the video was taken. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (3/16)

Media Mix

GLAAD launches project to expose extreme political commentary
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation this week launched the Commentator Accountability Project, an initiative aimed at exposing "the extreme views of the vast majority of prominent anti-LGBT talkers," according to Aaron McQuade, GLAAD's director of news and field media. The group hopes to educate journalists who go to anti-LGBT leaders for their perspectives and reactions on LGBT topics. Mediaite (3/14)

Other News

ABC show tests bystander reactions to transgender coming out
Towleroad (3/16)

Position Title	Company Name	Location
mHealth Technical Advisor, Technology Integration, Interoperability and Capacity	United Nations Foundation	Washington, DC
Leo Nevas Human Rights Fellow	United Nations Foundation	New York City, NY
Community Manager, mHealth Alliance	United Nations Foundation	Washington, DC
Associate, Online Communications, Nothing But Nets	United Nations Foundation	Washington, DC
mHealth Technical Advisor, Evidence Financing and Policy	United Nations Foundation	Washington, DC
Associate Director of Major Gifts	Gay and Lesbian Alliance Aganist Defamation (GLAAD)	Los Angeles, CA
Executive Director	One Iowa	Des Moines, IA
Public Opinion Senior Scholar	UCLA	Los Angeles, CA
Public Opinion Project Director	UCLA	Los Angeles, CA
Director of Events	Out & Equal Workplace Advocates	San Francisco, CA
Senior Director for Finance & Business Services	Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)	New York, NY
Senior Director of Development	GLSEN	New York, NY