Gay rights

(As Prepared for Delivery)

November 8, 2007 -- "Last night the House passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act with a strong bipartisan vote. The House bill prohibits employers from discriminating against workers on the job because of their sexual orientation. It protects Americans from being fired, denied a job or promotion, or otherwise intentionally discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. Although the bill is narrower than many of us had hoped, the House action is still a main step in the long journey toward full civil rights for every American.    » read more »

November 7, 2007 -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement on the historic passage of H.R. 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act:    » read more »

11/07/2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC-- New Mexico Governor and Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Richardson today released the following statement urging Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA):

"This should be a no-brainer for Congress: ENDA is an essential piece of civil rights legislation that has taken too long-- thirteen years-- to get to this point. It is hard to believe that we even have to debate prohibiting discrimination of any kind.    » read more »

November 7, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement in response to the passage by the United States House of Representatives of the Employment Non- Discrimination Act.

“Although the House bill is narrower than we had hoped, the House’s approval of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is a major step in the journey toward equality toward full civil rights for the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.    » read more »

November 7, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the floor this afternoon supporting H.R. 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 (ENDA). Below are her remarks:

“This is truly an historic day. Today, the House of Representatives will consider and hopefully pass – for the first time – the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA. As someone who has looked forward to this day for the 20 years that I have served in Congress, it is a joyous occasion.    » read more »

October 11, 2007 -- Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and Rick Stafford, chair of the DNC's GLBT Caucus, today issued the following statement on National Coming Out Day:    » read more »

10/11/2007 -- “The simple act of declaring who you are has often been a moment of courage for many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) Americans. National Coming Out Day honors the brave journey many have taken out of the closet. But even now, after so much progress has been made in the fight for equality and acceptance, many in the LGBT community continue to face discrimination and harassment.    » read more »

Between October 7 and October 13, 2007, straight people across the nation will "come out" as supporters of equal rights for the gay and lesbian community in America.

From Seattle to Montgomery, Alabama; Phoenix to Augusta, Maine; Duluth to Houston, Texas, overnight vigils will light up American cities, providing support and visibility to heterosexual men and women who have the courage and conviction to stand up for their gay and lesbian friends and neighbors.    » read more »

Aug 30, 2007 -- Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on the court decision striking down Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act:

"The ruling in Iowa today is another example of an activist court and unelected judges trying to redefine marriage and disregard the will of the people as expressed through Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act. This once again highlights the need for a Federal Marriage Amendment to protect the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman."

Source: Mitt Romney campaign

Says we need to rebuild the family, not redefine marriage

August 31, 2007 -- DES MOINES – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, the nation's leading defender of traditional marriage, commented today on an Iowa judge's decision to redefine marriage to include same-sex unions:    » read more »

Aug 9, 2007 -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina - Senator John Edwards' campaign to transform America continues to gain momentum in the LGBT community. For the third time this year the campaign announced the endorsement of several prominent community leaders from across the country. Tonight at the Visible Vote '08 presidential forum, sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and LOGO Television, Edwards showed why so many LGBT leaders and activists support him for president. This group joins dozens of other national LGBT leaders who have previously endorsed Edwards.    » read more »

Senator and Presidential candidate Chris Dodd issued the following statement in response to the Bush Administration's threat to veto the the District of Columbia Appropriations Bill over a provision that allows residents to register as domestic partners.    » read more »

6/27/2007 -- On the eve of the 38th anniversary of Stonewall, Hillary for President announced the formation of "LGBT Americans for Hillary," a national steering committee of over 65 leaders in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Members of the steering committee include LGBT elected officials, activists from national LGBT and Democratic Party political groups as well as leaders from the worlds of business, entertainment and sports.    » read more »

SANTA FE, NM -- Democratic Presidential candidate New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson released the following statement on President Bush's threat to veto Washington, DC residents' civil rights:

"I was disappointed to hear about the President's threat to veto the Washington, DC appropriations bill because of the Domestic Partner Registry. Let's be clear: this threatened veto is a veto of human rights and basic civil protections.    » read more »

06/22/2007 -- SANTA FE, NM -- Today, Governor Bill Richardson released the following statement regarding Gay Lesbian Bisexual & Transgender Pride Month:

"I am very pleased to join my friends in the GLBT community and Americans across the country in celebrating Pride Month. This month is a deserved commemoration of the contributions of GLBT Americans to the United States and a welcome symbol of how far we have come as a nation.    » read more »