EQuality Giving, an LGBTQ equality campaign fund, has included two Pennsylvania candidates among their lists. This project is a viable complement to the ongoing call for LGBTQ persons to stop donating to the party, from the DNC to the ACDC, and focus on the candidates who support equality, rather than a party which is wishy-washy at best.

These candidates are the top priority for funding:

• They are pro-equality (support all the Equality Goals)
• They are running for federal or statewide office
• They are in a competitive race (usually polling within 10 points of the opponent). See the criteria for endorsements.
• All of the candidates to fund were personally interviewed by eQualityGiving.

GIVE TO RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN PATRICK MURPHY (D-PA) FOR US HOUSE 

Donate to MurphyMurphy campaign website

The outspoken Pennsylvania Congressman (and the first veteran of the Iraq War to serve in Congress) has made the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" a hallmark of his career. His passion on the issue has helped to provide cover for the Commander in Chief, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense, all of whom now call for repeal of the blatantly discriminatory policy.

 "As the lead sponsor of the House's bill to repeal the deeply flawed Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, I am fully committed to ensuring equal rights to those in the LGBT community. We must redouble our efforts to repeal discriminatory laws and improve the health and welfare of all, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity."

GIVE TO CONGRESSMAN JOE SESTAK (D-PA) FOR US SENATE 

Letter from Donor | Donate to Sestak |  Sestak campaign website

This 3 star retired Navy admiral supports all equality goals and has been an outspoken advocate for repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." As a Senator, he would co-sponsor equality legislation, just as he has done in the House.

"My position on the civil rights issues of the LGBT community is born out of my 31 years of service in the US Navy. I went to war with brave servicemen and women, where it was known - because of public surveys -that a certain percentage were gay. How can you come home and say 'you went to war for my country with me, but you don't deserve equal rights?' "

I try to support candidates, but I keep getting invited to $250 events and that's just not doable for this little social worker/blogger.  So I make my small contributions and do my best. 

Kudos to Sestak and Murphy for being at the top of the list.  Note that these are competitve races hence the absense of some of our long time advocates. 

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Interesting news from Boston.

In an enormous victory for same-sex marriage, a federal judge in Boston today (Thursday, July 8) ruled, in two separate cases, that a critical part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional.

In one challenge brought by the state of Massachusetts, Judge Joseph Tauro ruled that Congress violated the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution when it passed DOMA and took from the states decisions concerning which couples can be considered married. In the other, Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, he ruled DOMA violates the equal protection principles embodied in the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.

In Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Health and Human Services, Tauro considered whether the federal law's definition of marriage -- one man and one woman -- violates state sovereignty by treating some couples with Massachusetts' marriage licenses differently than others. In Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), a gay legal group, asked Tauro to consider whether DOMA violates the right of eight same-sex couples to equal protection of the law. Both cases were argued, separately, in May, and the decision released today is a relatively quick turnaround, given that some judges take almost a year to decide cases.

Fascinating turn of events. First, a victory for State's rights which will please the rightwingers, but the topic isn't very palatable to them.  Second, a victory for LGBT families who will now be able to access federal benefits previously denied to legally wed same sex couples. From the NYT.

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