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Today the Senate passed the standalone bill to repeal the ban on gays in the military. Who knew we had to be alert on a Saturday? Congress has been working overtime. In a bill that seemed close to dead this repeal of the 17-year-old “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy” now heads to President Barack Obama‘s desk where he will most certainly sign it into law.
From Politico:
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Wow, another move to actually improve the lives of queer people by a President that has spewed mostly rhetoric so far. My faith is being restored! Today President Obama signed extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS bill.
The legislation provides care, treatment and support services to nearly half a million people, most of whom are low-income.
Obama also announced that the Department of Health and Human services has finally crafted a new regulation spelling the end to the HIV Travel and Immigration Ban. The regulation goes into effect in January.
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President Obama signs the Hate Crimes Prevention Act
Finally more than just lip service from our overly-nice President Obama today as he signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law.
The new law gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
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Today our newly elected President made an overt statement in support of queer Americans by declaring June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. And actually he is not the first. President Clinton made a similar declaration in June of 2000 (conveniently positioned towards the end of his second term, well after enacting “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”)
I have included the text of the full press release. I leave it to you good people to discuss its merits, sincerity and effectiveness below.
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