According to the Associated Press, a large crowd recently rallied at the state Capitol in support of an anti-gay Oklahoma state lawmaker. Over 1,000 people cheered on Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, who has been under fire in recent weeks after anti-gay comments she made during a speech were posted on YouTube. In the video, Kern compared homosexuality to terrorism. The lawmaker refuses to apologize. At the recent rally, Kern told the crowd, 'What has happened to me has served to advance the gospel.' She called her supporters those 'who want to stand up for the truth of God's word.'
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., is leading the ENDA fight in the Senate. Kennedy, a long-time supporter of LGBT rights, is pushing for a federal ban on job discrimination based on sexual orientation. However, the ban does not include protections for the transgender community. Last year, the House approved a bill by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., which also excludes the trans community. National organizations such as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force are opposed to any legislation that excludes protections for trans people. Kennedy told the Associated Press that 'The best opportunity for progress is ... to follow along on the action of the House of Representatives, and then look down the road to a new day after we have a good Democratic Congress and a Democratic President.'
Politico revealed that the nation's only openly lesbian U.S. representative, Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. ( pictured ) , was allowed to take her partner on a congressional delegation trip via military plane only after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stepped up and intervened. Politico reported that the Defense Department at first denied Baldwin's request that her partner be put on a military flight to Europe. Pelosi was able to successfully convince Defense Secretary Robert Gates to approve the request, adding that even former Republican Speaker Rep. Dennis Hastert allowed Baldwin to take her partner on trips.
New York City's openly lesbian City Council Speaker is under federal investigation, reported 365gay.com . Christine Quinn, one of the city's top politicians, is reportedly under federal investigation for allegedly hiding millions of dollars in city money in a secret slush fund. The New York Post reports that Quinn allegedly hid $4.7 million by 'giving' the money to fake groups and organizations such as 'Coalition for a Strong Special Education' and others. The money reportedly went to pay off political allies in return for favors.
The Justice Department's inspector general, charged with looking into the firings of several U.S. attorneys under former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, is looking into whether or not an attorney was let go after rumors that she is a lesbian surfaced, reported NPR. In interviews with Justice Department staff, NPR found that many individuals thought attorney Leslie Hagen did not have her contract renewed due to the rumors. Hagen worked as a liaison between the Justice Department and the U.S. attorneys' committee on Native American Issues. Hagen, even months after being told her was being let go, received a superb job evaluation.
The LGBT Catholic organization Dignity USA will hold a series of public events in New York City and Washington, D.C., during Pope Benedict XVI's pastoral visit to the United States April 15-20, according to an organizational press release. Planned events include a forum entitled 'A Few Moments with the Pope: Lesbian/Gay Catholics Speak about their Church' and a papal motorcade demonstration. See www.DignityUSA.org .
Late night talk show host Jay Leno apologized for an anti-gay comment he made during a recent interview with actor Ryan Phillippe. Leno said he was sorry for asking Phillippe, who played a gay teen on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, to give him his 'gayest look.' During the interview, Phillippe refused to play along, saying, 'Wow, that is so something I don't want to do.' Leno, in a statement to People magazine, said, 'In talking with Ryan's first role, I realize that what I said came out wrong. I certainly didn't mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say, and I apologize.'
