A light news week before the U.S. holiday weekend:
- The Senate Judiciary Committee questioned Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan over Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, among other issues.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued new guidance for LGBT people facing housing discrimination.
- New York attorney general and gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo (D) said that if elected, he would make marriage equality a “priority.”
- New York State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. (D) forced the abandonment of a spending-bill provision that would have allowed married gay and lesbian couples to file joint state tax returns. He threatened to vote with Republicans against the bill if the measure was not dropped.
- Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri (R) vetoed a bill that would have expanded the state’s definition of a hate crime to include crimes based on gender identity or expression. Carcieri said current law, which covers “racial, religious, sexual orientation, gender or disability prejudice,” is sufficient.
- The Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously upheld the state’s ban on marriage or civil unions for same-sex couples.
Around the world:
- The lower house of the Irish parliament passed a bill granting civil partnerships to same-sex couples.