Log Cabin Republicans Question Hillary Clinton's Support For The LGBT Community

Moments after Hillary Clinton issued yesterday's announcement video, the Log Cabin Republicans fired out the below list of questions.

“With her candidacy formally declared, Mrs. Clinton now has the duty of providing answers to numerous questions that should give LGBT voters and allies pause, regardless of party affiliation,” Log Cabin Republicans National Executive Director Gregory T. Angelo stated. There are questions Mrs. Clinton needs to answer: Does Mrs. Clinton still hold the belief that “marriage had always been a matter left to the states,” as she stated to Terry Gross on NPR, less than a year ago?  If Mrs. Clinton’s position has changed, when did it change? And what is the reason for that flip-flop?  Did Mrs. Clinton support the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, signed into law by her husband President Bill Clinton while she was First Lady? 

Did Mrs. Clinton support the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, signed by her husband while she was First Lady? Does Mrs. Clinton support open service for all LGBT Americans seeking to defend our freedoms?  Given the surge of broad discriminatory so-called “religious freedom” bills emerging across the country, did Mrs. Clinton support the original Religious Freedom Restoration Act signed into law by her husband while she was First Lady upon which this new crop of RFRA legislation is based? Although she was a leader on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act while she was a United States Senator, does Mrs. Clinton support more comprehensive civil rights legislation for LGBT Americans?

Does Mrs. Clinton support full repeal of the Death Tax, the discriminatory tax that prompted the Supreme Court’s historic 2013 Windsor ruling overturning Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act that was signed into law by her husband? Will Mrs. Clinton be as willing to engage with foreign nations guilty of gross human rights abuses against the gay community as she has been with her foundation? "Now that her candidacy is official, we hope Mrs. Clinton answers these questions expeditiously,” Angelo concluded. “The gay left may be willing to make assumptions about Mrs. Clinton’s support for the LGBT community, but Log Cabin Republicans will not.”

Remember that Log Cabin endorsed Mitt Romney, who signed NOM's anti-gay marriage pledge and who opposed the repeal of DADT.

Kaplan & Windsor For "The People's Brief"

Clip description:

The Human Rights Campaign has launched an unprecedented “People’s Brief” to the U.S. Supreme Court. Roberta Kaplan, the leading civil rights litigator who won a landmark Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Windsor striking down Section 3 of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, is the author and lead counsel on the brief. The historic effort, joined by Edie Windsor as first signer, gives every American a chance to share their view on marriage equality with the Supreme Court. Sign today.

The HRC says they are not harvesting the contact details of those who sign the brief.

HRC & DOMA Attorney Roberta Kaplan Launch "People's Brief" To SCOTUS

Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed:

Two of the biggest figures in the battle for marriage equality are joining forces to give the Supreme Court their take on the marriage cases before the justices. The Human Rights Campaign, headed since 2012 by Chad Griffin, is joining with Robbie Kaplan, who represented Edie Windsor in her challenge to DOMA, to submit an amicus curiae — or, friend of the court — brief to the justices in the marriage and marriage recognition ban cases out of Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Kaplan and HRC are already joined by Windsor, the first of whom HRC hopes will be thousands of people across the country signing onto what the group is calling the “People’s Brief.” HRC is launching a campaign at its site to collect signatures for the brief over the next four weeks — a viral effort aimed at a court that still lacks online filing.

“When it comes to marriage equality, the Supreme Court has heard from business leaders and elected officials, faith leaders and even the President of the United States,” HRC President Chad Griffin said in a statement. “But, until now, they’ve never heard from the fair-minded American majority who simply wants to see their LGBT friends and neighbors treated fairly and equally under the law.”

Read and sign The People's Brief here.

UPDATE: In response to an inquiry from JMG reader Str8 Grandmother, Roberta Kaplan clarified that the HRC is not harvesting or saving the contact details of those who sign the brief.

A supporting video was posted last night.

The Human Rights Campaign has launched an unprecedented “People’s Brief” to the U.S. Supreme Court. Roberta Kaplan, the leading civil rights litigator who won a landmark Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Windsor striking down Section 3 of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, is the author and lead counsel on the brief. The historic effort, joined by Edie Windsor as first signer, gives every American a chance to share their view on marriage equality with the Supreme Court. Sign today at www.thepeoplesbrief.com.

New Life For Full DOMA Repeal

Via press release from Freedom To Marry:

Today Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) reintroduced the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and ensure that the federal government respects all valid marriages across all agencies. The bill has 42 original cosponsors in the Senate, including every returning Senator to the 114th Congress who supported the bill in the past; and 78 cosponsors in the House.

“The U.S. Supreme Court took a crucial step in dismantling the so-called Defense of Marriage Act last year, and the administration has implemented the ruling forcefully, but the job is not yet complete,” said Jo Deutsch, federal director of Freedom to Marry. “The Respect for Marriage Act seeks to fix major gaps in federal protections for married couples, especially in social security and veterans’ benefits. We must keep working to end every vestige of federal marriage discrimination and send this mean-spirited law to the dustbin of history.”

The reintroduction in the Senate includes two new cosponsors: incoming Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI). The House bill has bipartisan support, while all of the cosponsors in the Senate are Democrats.

Legally married same-sex couples continue to suffer discrimination in the areas of Social Security and veterans’ benefits, which are determined by federal law based on whether the state in which they reside respects the marriage. If a same-sex couple is legally married but lives in or moves to a state that doesn’t respect the marriage, they cannot share in these programs. The Respect for Marriage Act fixes this inequity with a provision that requires the federal government to respect all legal marriages for the purposes of all federal programs.

This is the fourth attempt for the bill, which was first introduced by Nadler in 2009.

STUDY: Gays Less Likely To Divorce

Via Pink News:

Same-sex couples are more likely to have stable, long-lasting relationships than straight couples, according to a new study. Statistical research conducted by the Williams Institute at the University of California looked at data on the break-up of same-sex marriages and partnerships in New Hampshire, Vermont, California, DC, New Jersey, Washington and Wisconsin. The data showed that in New Hampshire and Vermont, 5.4% and 3.6% of marriages were terminated across the first four years of marriage equality. While these numbers seems high, it corresponds to an annual relationship termination rate of 1.1% – which is just over half the comparable mixed-sex divorce rate of 2%.

The study notes that in states that had already legalized same-sex marriage, the rate of gay nuptials increased after the demise of DOMA.

UPDATE: JMG reader Chris notes that the Washington Post has an issue with the study's methodology.

Edith Windsor On Mississippi

MISSISSIPPI: County Clerks Prepare For The Legalization Of Same-Sex Marriage

Via the Clarion-Ledger:

County circuit clerks across the state of Mississippi are preparing for the possibility of potentially thousands of same-sex couples arriving at courthouses to apply for marriage licenses. If U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves strikes down Mississippi's gay marriage ban and does not put a temporary hold on same-sex marriages, county clerks will likely be flooded with long lines and marriage license applications from same-sex couples. "This is all just very interesting," said Barbara Dunn, circuit clerk of Hinds County. "We will just have to take it all in stride and see what the judge rules, but I know that we could work with any rush on the courthouse for licenses." According to 2010 census statistics, 3,484 same-sex couples live in Mississippi, and 417 live in Hinds County. To accommodate a potential rush on the Hinds County Courthouse if Reeves does not grant a stay, Dunn said the only foreseeable major change would be wording on marriage license paperwork, which her office has the authority to change in "under two minutes."

Other clerks interviewed in the above-linked article claim that they will need up to two weeks to change their paperwork.

Mississippi Paper: Federal Judge Very Likely To Overturn Gay Marriage Ban

From the Clarion-Ledger:

If U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves doesn't grant the preliminary injunction sought against Mississippi's gay marriage ban, it will surprise most of the people in his courtroom on Wednesday. Reeves grilled the state's defense of its gay marriage ban on almost every issue raised during the roughly five hours of arguments presented in a hearing for Campaign for Southern Equality v. Phil Bryant. At the same time, he appeared sympathetic to the plaintiffs who want the ban overturned. The hearing ended around 3:30 p.m. with Reeves saying he will take the matter under advisement and rule as soon as possible. He has two main decisions before him: Whether or not to grant the preliminary injunction and, if so, whether or not to issue a stay of that injunction.

Reeves is an Obama nominee and used to work for the ACLU of Mississippi. Oh my yes, the screaming will be loud. Hit the link for some great back-and-forth between Reeves and the attorney for the state.

MISSISSIPPI: Marriage Case Rests After State "Stumbles" In Anti-Gay Arguments

Via the Clarion-Ledger:

New York-based attorney Roberta Kaplan presented a rapid-fire case for her clients, which include two Mississippi same-sex couples with children: Carla Webb and Joce Pritchett; and Rebecca Bickett and Andrea Sanders. At times excusing herself for speaking too quickly, Kaplan rattled off her reasons why she believes the state's gay-marriage ban violates the constitution and her clients' rights and padded her arguments with documented case law. Kaplan's style was sharply contrasted by that of lead counsel for the state, Justin Matheny, who at times seemed to stumble through his arguments and admitted an unfamiliarity with many of the issues at hand. "When I found out I would be the one to come to court and argue this case, I had to do some research," Matheny said near the opening of his remarks, eliciting a chuckle or two from the packed courtroom.

Judge: "What is the state's rational basis that same-sex couples can't marry and its prohibition of same sex couples from adopting children when all a child wants is to be loved, and they don't care by whom?" Matheny: "Responsible procreation." Judge: "You allow people in prison to be married, and there are no more conjugal visits. Old people can marry and they can't bear children." Yeah, we've got this one.

Meanwhile In Mississippi...

DOMA attorney Roberta Kaplan and her team are making oral argument today in Mississippi's marriage equality case. Kaplan has demanded a summary judgment while the case proceeds.

MISSISSIPPI: Marriage Case Is This Week

Via the Campaign for Southern Equality:

A federal challenge to Mississippi’s law banning same-sex marriage (Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant) was filed on October 20 in the Southern District of Mississippi on behalf of two same-sex couples, – Andrea Sanders and Rebecca Bickett, and Jocelyn Pritchett and Carla Webb – and the Campaign for Southern Equality. A hearing on the motion for preliminary injunction has been set in the case. At 9 a.m. on November 12, both sides in the case will gather in federal court in Jackson, Mississippi before U.S. District Court Judge Carlton W. Reeves. “By setting the schedule that it did, the Court clearly appreciated the need for expedition on issues of such great constitutional and practical import,” says lead counsel Roberta Kaplan.

Read more about the case.

FLORIDA: Edith Windsor Tells Gov. Rick Scott To Stop Fighting Same-Sex Marriage

Orlando's Watermark has the transcript:

“I am Edith S. Windsor, the plaintiff in Windsor v. United States, the case that won federal recognition of marriages for same-sex couples. The two extremely positive decisions in favor of marriage equality were Justice Jacobs’ decision in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals and Justice Kennedy’s decision in the Supreme Court, both self-described conservatives. Five judges in Florida have also ruled that it’s wrong to exclude same-sex couples from marriage. And the majority of Floridians agree. My dear Governor Scott, I employ you to use the power of your office to allow loving couples to marry now in your state. Very respectfully yours, Edie Windsor.”

MISSISSIPPI: Edith Windsor's Legal Team Files New Marriage Equality Lawsuit

From the Campaign For Southern Equality:

“As the lawyers who represented Edie Windsor, we are so honored to be able to file this case today on behalf of Rebecca Bickett, Andrea Sanders, Jocelyn Pritchett, Carla Webb, and the Campaign for Southern Equality. The Supreme Court took a gigantic step forward last year in Windsor, and since then, dozens of courts around the country have followed suit so that today, gay people in thirty-two states have the right to marry. It is now time to take the next big step by making sure that gay families in Mississippi are accorded these same protections. The Supreme Court has made it clear that no matter where a gay person lives —whether it is in Maine, Minnesota, or Mississippi—our Constitution requires that they be treated with the same dignity and respect under the law as everyone else,” says lead counsel Roberta Kaplan.

View the lawsuit. Last year a lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Mississippi woman seeking to have her out-of-state marriage recognized for the purpose of divorce. Today's suit is the first to seek an outright overturn of Mississippi's ban on same-sex marriage. Mississippi is part of the Fifth Circuit Court, which has yet to rule on the appeal out of Texas.

Happy Birthday, Edith Windsor!

Interview With Edith Windsor, Part 3

Marriage Equality USA has posted the third and final installment of their interview with Edith Windsor. Via Gay Star News:

'When Stonewall happened, I was really this ignorant middle class lady who said "I don't see why I have to be identified with those queens,"' Windsor said in an interview posted Thursday (24 July) by Marriage Equality USA. But the woman whose lawsuit brought down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) soon realized how heroic the drag queens who took a stand against police raids were. 'I mean those queens changed my life,' she says. 'And I saw them and I loved what I saw. It was the beginning of my sense of community.' Windsor sued the US government when she was billed $363,053 in estate taxes after the death of wife Thea Spyer in 2009.

Since Windsor

From the Mormon Church-owned Deseret News.

Labor Secretary Tom Perez Cheers DOMA Anniversary, Promises Further Reforms

Via press release from Secretary of Labor Tom Perez:

It was a year ago today, June 26, that the Supreme Court issued its decision in U.S. vs. Windsor repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (known as DOMA). Since then, President Obama has instructed all Cabinet members to review relevant federal statutes and regulations to ensure full implementation of Windsor, and we have responded accordingly. Covered retirement and health employee benefit plans now have to extend otherwise eligible same-sex spouses the same protections as opposite-sex spouses. And we've updated our Family and Medical Leave Act guidance materials to remove all references to DOMA provisions that denied federal benefits to legally married, same-sex couples.

The FMLA, enacted in 1993, allows eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid leave for specified family and medical reasons — for example, caring for a spouse who has a serious health condition — without the fear of losing your job. But currently, the FMLA's regulatory definition of "spouse" only applies to same-sex spouses if they are living in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage. So last week we issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would change the definition so that FMLA protections would be based on the law of where the marriage took place. We welcome and encourage public comments on the proposed rule, which can be submitted through written comments.

Hit the link and weigh in. You know the haters will be doing it.

Edith Windsor On DOMA Anniversary

Former Marriage Equality USA president Cathy Marino-Thomas has interviewed Edith Windsor about today's anniversary of the overturn of DOMA.  Windsor: "There is no wrong time for justice. If you're going to go for it, go for it." Watch and learn about how Windsor came to be the plaintiff.

Open Thread Thursday

One year ago today the Supreme Court changed the LGBT landscape forever. Tell us where you were and how the DOMA and Prop 8 rulings may have affected you.

NEW YORK: NOM Launches Campaign For Teabagger US House Candidate

NOM today announced the launch of a last minute mailer campaign in support of Tea Party candidate and New York Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney, who is running in tomorrow's GOP US House primary against Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY). NOM is still furious with Hanna for signing onto a 2013 SCOTUS amicus brief in support of the overturn of DOMA.

"Richard Hanna has abandoned Republican principles and is a foe of New York families. He wants to redefine marriage and has refused to allow voters a say on this critical issue. He's also militantly pro-abortion," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "Hanna's positions are anti-family and in favor of big government. Claudia Tenney is a principled conservative who believes in marriage, supports the right of voters to have a say, and will vote to protect innocent human life in the US House." NOM sent a direct mailer to tens of thousands of voters in Hanna's district, New York's 22nd Congressional District noting that Hanna is the 3rd most liberal Republican in the US House, according to National Journal. The mailer said, "On core issues, Richard Hanna has abandoned us." It says that Hanna is "militantly pro-gay marriage" and "shockingly pro-abortion."

Breitbart reports that Tenney is hoping to "ride the David Brat wave" with the support of Tea Party media personalities.

Tenney explained, “I have to counter [the attack ads]. So now that I’ve got Hannity and Laura Ingraham and Michelle Malkin and some of the others have came out like RedState.com’s Erick Erickson—a whole bunch of them—so now [the voters are thinking], ‘What’s going on? Who's telling the truth here?’” “I have a TV ad that says I never raised taxes. I’m the number one conservative in New York. I’ve got the endorsement of the Conservative Party and he’s got liberal PACs. So I just had to counter it, because people kept calling me saying, ‘You’ve got to do something.’”

The most recent poll showed Hanna leading Tenney by more than 20 points.  Hanna was endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans in 2012.