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PFAW Memo: Election Results, the Far Right, and Fighting Back

Tuesday's electoral returns offered a mixed bag of results. A few bright spots managed to appear among some disappointing defeats, and politicians from both parties should consider them carefully before making rash, and perhaps costly, conclusions.

Letter to Maine Ethics Commission on the National Organization of Marriage from Michael B. Keegan

Cosponsors of H.R.3567

List of cosponsors for H.R.3567, the Respect for Marriage Act of 2009

Obama Signs Hate Crimes Legislation into Law

Today, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The legislation will extend important protections to victims of violent hate crimes committed based on a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and/or disability. It also strengthens existing hate crimes protections for a variety of other categories, including race, color, religion, national origin and ethnicity.

Peter Montgomery's Testimony on Behalf of Marriage Equality in DC

Peter Montgomery, Senior Fellow at People For the American Way, testifies on behalf of marriage equality in the District of Columbia.

Rev. Samuel Statement on Marriage Hearing

Today, the DC City Council will hear public testimony on legislation that would allow same sex couples to be legally married in the District. Reverend Kenneth Samuel, Senior Fellow at People For the American Way and a member of PFAW's African American Ministers In Action program, said, "I'm proud that our nation's capitol is poised to give equal marriage rights to all the citizens of the District, and I want to thank the council members who are standing up for the rights of all people."

GOP Obstruction of Executive Branch Nominees

After reviewing the records, it’s clear that Republican senators are blocking the confirmation of Obama’s executive branch nominees at unprecedented rates.

Hate Crimes Prevention Act Passes the Senate

More than a decade after it was first introduced, a bipartisan group of Senators today passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act by a 68-29 vote. The measure was included in the Department of Defense Authorization Conference Report passed earlier this month by the House.

DOJ Files Motion in Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Case

The Department of Justice filed a motion last week in a case challenging Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT). People For the American Way President Michael B. Keegan said, "This latest motion reiterates the President's stated support of a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and I'm grateful that he's been clear in his desire for the policy to end."

Right Wing Attacks Against Kevin Jennings Put Politics Above Student Safety

People For the American Way President Michael B. Keegan today spoke out in support of Kevin Jennings, President Obama's choice to head the Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools (OSDFS.)

Final Hate Crimes Legislation Passes House

Last night, the House of Representatives passed the Department of Defense Authorization by a vote of 281-146. The bill contains language that will extend important protections to victims of violent hate crimes targeted because of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability, and expands protection based on race and religion and ethnicity.

The Pressure Is Building - Confirm Dawn Johnsen Now

For months now, Senate Republicans have been blocking the confirmation of President Obama's nominees to key positions in the federal government. Dawn Johnsen, the President's eminently qualified nominee to head the Office of Legal Counsel in the Justice Department, has been waiting longer than almost anyone else-nearly eight months!

Senate Confirms Thomas Perez

The United States Senate today confirmed the nomination of Thomas Perez to be Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.

Kevin Jennings Will Keep Schools Safe for All

n response to Right Wing criticism of Kevin Jennings, who was appointed by President Obama to head the Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools (OSDFS), People For the American Way President Michael B. Keegan said, "It's a bad sign for our civic conversation that an educator who has spent so long working for the best interests of all students faces such vehement political attacks."

An Open Letter to Progressive Allies from People for the American Way on the Importance of Defeating Question 1 in Maine

An open letter from People for the American Way President Michael B. Keegan on the importance of Defeating question 1 in Maine

Why Are GOP Officials Embracing Extremists at Upcoming ‘How to Take Back America’ Conference?

If the Values Voter Summit last weekend in Washington, D.C. confirmed the tight mutual embrace between the Religious Right and the national Republican Party, the How to Take Back America conference taking place in St. Louis, MO this coming weekend demonstrates national GOP figures’ willingness to embrace even the most extreme elements of the right-wing political movement.

Department of Justice Brief Defends DOMA in Marriage Case

The Department of Justice today filed a brief defending the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) in the case Gill v. Office of Personnel Management. People For the American Way president Michael B. Keegan said, “I’m disappointed that the Department of Justice once again chose to defend a law which, by the Department’s own admission, discriminates against gay and lesbian Americans. In Massachusetts and other states, there are now two groups of legally married couples: one group which gets all the federal benefits that come with marriage, and another group which receives nothing. That situation is intolerable. The administration missed an important opportunity to make clear that discrimination against LGBT people is unacceptable.

Outside Religious Right Groups Targeting Marriage Equality in Maine With a Prop 8-Style Campaign Based on Lies and Big Money

Religious Right Targets Maine & Marriage Equality with Money, Anti-Gay Swat Teams and Reprise of Prop-8’s False Fearmongering Strategies

National Religious Right organizations that bankrolled the effort to put Proposition 1 on the ballot in Maine descended on the state this past weekend with a SWAT team of anti-gay leaders and veterans of last year’s Prop 8 battle in California.

Indiana Court Declares State's Voter ID Law Unconstitutional

Following the Indiana Court of Appeals unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel that the state’s voter ID law is unconstitutional, People For the American Way Director of Public Policy Tanya Clay House said, "It’s been a long time coming, but this is exciting news for Indiana voters and all of us concerned with protecting the right to vote of all Americans. Indiana's voter identification law was the most stringent in the country, and the Indiana Court of Appeals' decision to strike it down is correct. The court rightfully recognized the need to ensure voter security for all Indiana voters by reexamining the voter identification law, which would disproportionately harm minorities, the poor and the elderly."

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