House approves PRIDE Act to give gay couples refunds on back taxes

By : Chris Johnson OF THE WASHINGTON BLADE, COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL LGBT MEDIA ASSOCIATION
July 25, 2019
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ABOVE: The PRIDE Act would make gay couples eligible for a tax refund if they married before DOMA was struck down. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The U.S. House approved — with zero opposition — legislation that would allow same-sex couples to obtain an estimated $67 million in tax refunds if they married before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013.

The legislation, known as the PRIDE Act, or the Promoting Respect for Individuals’ Dignity and Equality Act, was introduced by Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Andy Levin (D-Mich.).

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House to vote on amendment to defund Trump trans military ban

By : Chris Johnson OF THE WASHINGTON BLADE, COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL LGBT MEDIA ASSOCIATION
June 14, 2019
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ABOVE: Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), on left, and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), second from right, join transgender service members in the Capitol Rotunda before the State of the Union Address on Feb. 5, 2019. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The U.S. House is set to vote on a measure that would prohibit use of U.S. funds to implement President Trump’s transgender military ban.

The House Rules Committee this week approved for debate as part of defense appropriations legislation an amendment introduced by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) that would bar the use of funds to implement the anti-trans policy.

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SERVE Act seeks to aid trans troops discharged under Trump ban

By : Chris Johnson OF THE WASHINGTON BLADE, COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL LGBT MEDIA ASSOCIATION
May 23, 2019
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ABOVE: Rep. Chris Pappas (L), has introduced the SERVE Act to aid transgender troops. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

In the wake of the Trump administration implementing its ban on transgender military service, Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) has introduced legislation in the U.S. House that seeks to ensure service members discharged under the policy are eligible for care from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Securing the Rights our Veterans Earned Act, or SERVE Act, requires the VA to provide health benefits to these troops if they obtain an “Other Than Honorable” or “Entry-Level Separation” discharge because of their gender identity.

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Anti-LGBT adoption measure defeated in U.S. House

By : CHRIS JOHNSON OF THE WASHINGTON BLADE, COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL LGBT MEDIA ASSOCIATION
September 28, 2018
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The U.S. House skirted a proposed measure Sept. 26 that would have inhibited adoption rights for LGBT couples, approving major appropriations legislation that omitted the initiative.

The chamber voted 361-61 for a massive spending package to avert a government shutdown weeks before Election Day, spending the legislation to President Trump, who’s expected to sign it.

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Report: Trump joked Pence ‘wants to hang’ all gay people

By : Chris Johnson of the Washington Blade, courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association
October 16, 2017
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The anti-LGBT history of Vice President Mike Pence apparently isn’t lost on President Trump, who once joked his No. 2 in office “wants to hang” all the gay people, according to a recent article in the New Yorker.

The lengthy profile piece on Mike Pence contains significant details about his long career in politics starting as a U.S. House member, then Indiana governor and now vice president — highlighting Pence’s ties to the corporate right, including the Koch brothers, and the social conservative movement. (Recalling Pence’s time as a member of Congress, a former Republican staff member is quoted as saying Pence “was as far right as you could go without falling off the earth.”)

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House narrowly rejects Hartzler amendment against trans health care

By : Chris Johnson of the Washington Blade, courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association
July 17, 2017
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The U.S. House narrowly rejected on Thursday an amendment that would have barred transgender service members from being eligible for transition-related health care, including gender reassignment surgery.

The measure, which would have barred the Defense Department from expending funds on transition-related care, was introduced by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) as part of the fiscal year 2018 defense authorization bill, but rejected on a 214-209 vote.

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Jared Polis announces bid to become Colorado governor

By : Chris Johnson OF THE WASHINGTON BLADE, COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL GAY MEDIA ASSOCIATION
June 13, 2017
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The most senior out member of the U.S. House declared on Sunday his bid to become the next governor of Colorado, setting himself to become the first openly gay person elected governor in the United States.

Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who’s served in Congress since the start of the Obama administration in 2009, said in email blast to supporters on he’d formally declare his bid Monday to become governor and to succeed retiring Gov. John Hickenlooper.

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Rep. Pocan elected co-chair of Congressional Progressive Caucus

By : Chris Johnson of the Washington Blade, courtesy of the National Gay Media Association
May 24, 2017
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Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), one of six openly LGB members of the U.S. House, was elected Tuesday as a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Pocan said in a statement he wants to make the 75-member body “the voice of the resistance” against President Trump, accusing his administration of “attacking both the values we hold dear and the programs which provide vital services to people across the country”

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Transgender Task Force relaunched amid ongoing anti-trans attacks

By : Chris Johnson of the Washington Blade, courtesy of the National Gay Media Association
March 3, 2017
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Amid the Trump administration’s rollback of guidance protecting transgender students and increasing reports of anti-trans violence around the country, members of the U.S. House have relaunched the Transgender Task Force to draw attention to harms facing the transgender community.

The new leader of the transgender caucus in the 115th Congress is Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.), who spoke at an event Thursday outside the U.S. Capitol to support trans people.

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Congressman introduces resolution to protect LGBT people

By : Wire Report
April 27, 2015
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – A congressman from Rhode Island is banding with other lawmakers to introduce a resolution seeking to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination under the law as religious objection bills in other states have prompted protests.

Rep. David Cicilline, one of the few openly gay members of Congress, said the resolution is a call for comprehensive federal legislation that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Crafted by Cicilline and four other Democratic members of Congress, two of whom are also openly gay, the resolution is a declaration that Congress is committed to ending discrimination, Cicilline said.

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Gay Maine congressman: coming out was good, ready to get back to work

By : Wire Report
November 11, 2013
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Portland, Maine (AP) – When the intensely private Rep. Mike Michaud laid bare his private life and announced he’s gay, one openly gay congressman joked that the Maine Democrat had never registered on his “gaydar.”

As he prepares to return to Capitol Hill this week as the seventh openly gay member of the U.S. House, Michaud said the decision to come out last week was a positive experience that drew support from fellow congressmen and hundreds of constituents, even if it was political nastiness that prompted his announcement.

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