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Republicans win control of U.S. House (updated)

GOP victory puts LGBT agenda in doubt

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The Republicans swept themselves back into power in Congress on Tuesday by winning a majority of seats in the U.S. House, according to CNN projections.

Early on Wednesday,Ā the news networkĀ projected the GOP will take control of U.S. House in the 112th Congress by winning at leastĀ 60 seats in the electionĀ — far more than the 39 seats the party needed to take control of the chamber.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) will likely replace U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in her role when Republicans come into power in the next Congress.

The Republican leaderĀ was given a score of “0” in the Human Rights Campaign’s most recent congressional scorecard for his lack of support for LGBT legislation.

Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, said the “shift in the balance of power” in Congress will likely “slow advancement of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights legislation.”

“Does this mean a blockade on LGBT rights?” Carey said.Ā “Not if we can help it. Fact is, our community has always had to fight — and fight hard — for equality. This is nothing new to us.”

Carey said the Task Force will continue to push the Obama administration through its New Beginnings InitiativeĀ to make a positive changeĀ for LGBTĀ peopleĀ without action from Congress.

“While political winds and players may shift, the fundamental needs of the people do not,” Carey said.Ā “No matter who is in office, people need jobs, protection from discrimination, a roof over their heads, a way to feed their families, a fair shake. No one should settle for less — we won’t.”Ā 

Despite the defeat in the House, Democrats appeared to be inĀ a position to hold onto the Senate as election results were announced.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pulled off a win against Republican Sharron Angle,Ā a Tea Party candidate and former Nevada Assembly member. The Democrat had been trailing Angle in several polls.

The victory of West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D) against Republican John Raese also contributed to challenge in the GOP taking control of the Senate.

Despite these wins, Democrats endured major losses in the Senate. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), one of 14 senators to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act in1996, lost his bid for re-election against Republican Ron Johnson, a wealthy plastics manufacturer.

Joe Sestak, a Democratic U.S. House member who has been outspoken about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, lost his bid to win a U.S. Senate seat against Republican Pat Toomey, a former U.S. House member.

In Illinois, Republican Mark Kirk, a U.S. House member, captured President Obama’s old Senate seat in a contest against Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulious.

Kirk had supported hate crimes legislation as a U.S. House member, but earned the scorn from many LGBT people for voting against a measure that would repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

In Colorado, a tight race between Republican Ken Buck, who has compared homosexuality to alcoholism,Ā and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett (D-Colo.) was too close to call by the time of this posting.

The Blade will have a more complete report Wednesday on the implications of the election results.

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The White House

VP Harris to oversee White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention

Goal is to implement and expand upon legislation, executive actions

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U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, September 2023. (Official White House photograph by Lawrence Jackson)

The White House announced Thursday evening that President Joe Biden on Friday will establish the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, to be overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris.

The office will focus on implementing and expanding upon executive and legislative actions, including the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, “to reduce gun violence, which has ravaged communities across the country.”

Serving under Harris will be Stefanie Feldman, “a longtime policy advisor to President Biden on gun violence prevention,” and “leading gun violence prevention advocates Greg Jackson and Rob Wilcox.”

ā€œEvery time I’ve met with families impacted by gun violence as they mourn their loved ones, and I’ve met with so many throughout the country, they all have the same message for their elected officials: ā€˜do something,'” Biden said in a statement.

The president noted his signing of last year’s bipartisan gun violence prevention law, a flagship legislative accomplishment for the administration, along with his issuance of more executive actions than any president in history to address this problem.

Calling these “just the first steps,” Biden said the establishment of the White House Office on Gun Violence Prevention will “build upon these measures and keep Americans safe.”

He also urged Congress to do more by passing legislation requiring universal background checks, and baning assault weapons and high capacity magazines.

In a statement, Harris said, “This epidemic of gun violence requires urgent leadership to end the fear and trauma that Americans experience every day.”

“The new Office of Gun Violence Prevention will play a critical role in implementing President Biden’s and my efforts to reduce violence to the fullest extent under the law,” she said, “while also engaging and encouraging Congressional leaders, state and local leaders, and advocates to come together to build upon the meaningful progress that we have made to save lives.”

“Our promise to the American people is this: we will not stop working to end the epidemic of gun violence in every community, because we do not have a moment, nor a life to spare,” the vice president said.

Then Vice President Biden hugs Brandon J. Wolf as he talks with family members of the victims and survivors in the June 12th mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, June 16, 2016.
Wolf, a Pulse survivor, was recently appointed National Press Secretary of the Human Rights Campaign.
(Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
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National

LGBTQ media ā€˜excited’ about Press Forward national media funds

Coalition of donors pledges $500 million for local news

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Members of News Is Out, a collaborative of six leading LGBTQ media organizations across the country, have expressed support and excitement about the newly announced national Press Forward effort to support local media in the United States. News Is Out members represent more than 200 years of LGBTQ news and culture coverage, with two member papers starting more than 50 years ago.

ā€œThis new effort from foundations, including MacArthur Foundation and Knight Foundation, truly will be a game-changer in the local media space,ā€ said Tracy Baim, co-founder of Windy City Times, which is part of a Chicago collaborative that is also advocating for local funding in that city. ā€œLocal media are critical to covering issues across the country, from LGBTQ+ and environmental issues to education and criminal justice reform. Philanthropy can provide an important complement to other needed revenues to help local media survive and thrive.ā€

In the U.S., 7.1 percent of adults, or 18 million people, identify as LGBTQ, according to Gallup. About 21 percent of Gen Z identifies as LGBTQ. The media serving this community has been life-saving, resource sharing and an integral part of the movement for LGBTQ equality, News Is Out members said, adding that this media continues to fill a vital information need.

According to the Press Forward announcement, ā€œA coalition of 22 donors announced Press Forward, a national initiative to strengthen communities and democracy by supporting local news and information with an infusion of more than a half-billion dollars over the next five years.

ā€œPress Forward will enhance local journalism at an unprecedented level to re-center local news as a force for community cohesion; support new models and solutions that are ready to scale; and close longstanding inequities in journalism coverage and practice.ā€

The Knight Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation have been leading the Press Forward effort.

News Is Out is supported in part by a technology grant from the Knight Foundation. The program is called the Queer Media Sustainability Lab

News Is Out is a nearly two-year-old alliance created launched by the Local Media Association, with initial funding from Google News Initiative. The members are Bay Area Reporter, Dallas Voice, Philadelphia Gay News, Washington Blade, Windy City Times and TAGG, a national queer women’s magazine.

News Is Out members have collaborated on editorial, business and fundraising opportunities.

ā€œLGBTQ media have always played a critical role in covering and informing our communities,ā€ said Lynne Brown, publisher of the Washington Blade. ā€œWhile we have lost dozens of LGBTQ news media outlets in recent years, those of us who have survived are thriving in 2023. We have done so because we have innovated and sought new forms of revenue. The News Is Out Collaborative has assisted with support that propels us forward.ā€

ā€œLGBTQ+ media is needed now more than ever, as our communities face a backlash across this country,ā€ said Leo Cusimano, publisher of the Dallas Voice. ā€œBy working together in News Is Out, we have formed a strong alliance to help our members in technology training, editorial collaborations and much more. New funds into this ecosystem will be vital to strengthening the network of local LGBTQ+ media in this country.ā€

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Federal Government

Census Bureau asks White House to test questions on sexual orientation, gender identity

Data would be included in annual American Community Survey

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U.S. Census Bureau (Photo credit: GSA)

The U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday asked the Biden administration to sign off on plans to test questions on sexual orientation and gender identity for respondents aged 15 and older on the agency’s annual American Community Survey.

Data on these metrics will help inform civil rights and equal employment enforcement, the Census Bureau said in a notice published on the Federal Register.

Testing will help the agency determine wording, response categories and placementĀ of the questions on the survey — its most comprehensive, covering 3.5 million households each year.

A key unknown will be how answers will be provided by proxies such as parents, spouses or others in a household who isn’t the person about whom the question is asked.

“Younger LGBT people might not yet be out to their parents or others who are answering these questions as a proxy reporter, so the quality of the data might not be as good for younger people,ā€ M. V. Lee Badgett, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, told PBS News.

Currently, the Census Bureau and its annual American Community Survey only ask questions about same-sex couples who are married or cohabitating.

ā€œWe anticipate having much more info about the LGBT people than is currently available — including about the demographic and socioeconomic status of LGBT people who aren’t in same-sex couple households, including occupational status, industry and wages, and about LGBT people who were born outside the U.S. and LGBT people with disabilities, and their families,ā€ Kerith Conron, research director of the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, told the Associated Press.

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