There's a Whole Lot of Legislating Going On!

In Congress, the first hearings were held today in the Senate on the Uniting American Families Act, an immigration reform that would give same-sex couples the same rights as opposite-sex couples if one partner is not an American citizen.  This has long been a project of Rep. Jerrold Nadler, and it’s great to see some movement on the bill at long last. The New York Times covered the bill on Tuesday.

As Sen. Jeff Sessions made abundantly clear in the hearing, this bill raises major concerns for members of Congress who still support DOMA.  As it should.  This bill would be the first piece of federal legislation to grant any protections gay and lesbian couples.  (I mean, you have more problems than this if you still support DOMA’s ban on the federal government recognizing marriages legally entered into in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and Maine.  But, I do understand why this bill concerns Sessions.)

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Then, in New Hampshire, they’re attempting to become state number six on marriage equality.  The Senate, by a 14-10 vote, passed the compromise bill, with religious protections as requested by the governor, this morning.  The House is now in recess for lunch, but returns at 1:05 p.m. and should be voting this afternoon.

You can watch the New Hampshire House live from links available here.

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Finally, there is even equality movement in Ohio!  I will be attending the proponent testimony for H.B. 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act, this afternoon as it gets a hearing in the House’s State Government Committee.  The hearing is at 2:30 in Room 017 of the Statehouse.

I will have a report later, but will be live-tweeting @chrisgeidner.

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And all of these great pro-equality steps are happening in Congress and statehouses — not courthouses!

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