Gay rights activist Cleve Jones and Joe Solmonese of HRC appeared on Hardball on the eve of the National Equality March to discuss Obama’s commitment to the LGBT community. Watch:
Freshman New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, may introduce legislation this week which would place an 18-month moratorium on the discharge of gays and lesbians from the military. Gillibrand is coordinating with fellow Senator Edward Kennedy to grow support for the measure which is being pushed by both Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the Service Members Legal Defense Network (SLDN). From the Daily Beast:
It would be the first time since the implementation of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 1993 that senators are forced to declare their position on the gay ban. A Senate staffer familiar with the matter says Gillibrand may introduce her amendment on Tuesday to the Defense reauthorization bill. If the amendment were to pass, gay-rights leaders expect it would stand a strong chance of being approved by the House and could be signed into law by President Obama, who has expressed his desire for the ban to be lifted. Rep. Patrick Murphy is trying to build support for a bill that has already been introduced in the House that would repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”.
Joe Solmonese, President of HRC, appeared on Countdown with Keith Obermann discussing the “small change” Obama made today, extending “some” benefits to gay and lesbian federal employees. Watch:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BojGTD8ow9Y[/youtube]
Add the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to the growing list of those refusing to attend a DNC $1000-a-plate LGBT fundraiser over the recent DOMA brief controversy. As reported by Americablog, HRC joins Andy Towle of TowleRoad, Alan Van Capelle, Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda and Foundation, former top Clinton aide Richard Socarides and David Mixner, long time friend of Bill Clinton.
Vice President Joe Biden will be speaking at the event, hosted by gay representatives Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, and Jared Polis. Polis released a statement on the DOMA brief today.
“I was shocked and disappointed to learn that President Obama chose to defend DOMA in federal court, especially given his campaign promise to call for a full repeal of DOMA. My sadness turned to outrage when I read the Justice Department’s brief that not only defended this hurtful law but seemed to embrace it. Comparing my loving relationship with my partner, Marlon, to incest was unconscionable coming from a president who has called for change.”
Tammy Baldwin is also disappointed with the brief as reported at GayPolitics.com:
“Last week the Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of DOMA. I was profoundly disappointed by this action, particularly coming from this administration.”
Barney? Where are you?
It appears the fundraiser has all the makings of a PR disaster. Ben Smith at Politico writes: “Organizers, I’m told, are scrambling to get visible White House action on gay issues in advance of the June 25 dinner to prevent it from becoming a protest stage.”
Pam’s House Blend has published a list of those who were invited to the fundraiser, and the Washington Blade plans to cover the event to see who shows up.