Thanks for the kind words all!
So, an update on news from the LGBT world:
Congress just decided to push back ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) to next year, with no explanation given for the delay. If passed, companies with over 10 employees could not fire someone just b/c they were LGBT. Yes, it's still quite legal to do so in 29 states in this country.
Gay marriage was passed by the Maine legislature and signed by the gov. earlier this year, but a Prop 8 style ballot measure went to the voters in Nov. and they voted to outlaw it.
Gay marriage was just voted on two weeks ago in the NY State Senate (had passed in the House). Senate voted against it by a 6 vote margin.
Gay marriage passed out of a key New Jersey committee on Monday, was supposed to have been voted on yesterday but vote canceled due to likely failure.
The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act was signed by Pres. Obama last month - legislation that we've been pushing for for over 10 years. (Stronger penalties and Justice Department data collection)
Pres. Obama announced that he will sign a bill lifting the HIV positive travel ban into the United States. (Yup, HIV+ people could not travel here for over 15 years now)
Just today, announced that the ban on gay men donating blood will be lifted. (Uh, they don't all have AIDS you know, all blood is tested anyways)
Obama appointed an openly gay ambassador and spoke at the Human Rights Campaign national dinner in October (a seated President has never spoken at any gay rights group function)
On October 11th, 150,000 LGBT and allied folks marched on Washington, D.C. to show their displeasure about Congress and Obama administration's inaction on our issues and promised legislation. The event was called the National Equality March and I was one of the main organizers. Yup. (This is why he finally did all of the above)
We're still getting kicked out of the military due to Don't Ask, Don't Tell. (DADT)
Our bi-national couples are still not able to sponsor their partners into the U.S. for citizenship.
Even if we're legally married in the states that allow it (Mass, CT., Iowa, NH, VT), the federal government doesn't recognize that marriages (tax purposes!) due to the still existing Defense of Marriage Act. (DOMA)
SO - to recap, Obama told us that if he was elected, he would end DADT, DOMA, and would pass ENDA and Hate Crimes. So, he's 1 for 4 and the community is pissed! We know if these things aren't done in a very small window, he'll be going into full re-election mode and we won't see them until his (possible) second term.