Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. Jerrold Nadler recently announced a resolution that urges recognition of the need for stable housing for those living with HIV/AIDS. The concurrent resolution, which is supported by other congressional leaders such as Reps Henry Waxman, Barbara Lee, Joseph Crowley and Christopher Shays, stresses that nationwide HIV/AIDS housing is necessary in order to keep those living with HIV/AIDS safe, healthy and off the streets.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have honored gay civil riots pioneer Harvey Milk. The bill would have marked the activist’s birthday, May 22, as Harvey Milk Day. Milk was assassinated, along with then San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, in 1977. Schwarzenegger said that he vetoed the bill because Milk’s contributions ‘should continue to be recognized at the local level.’
A Presbyterian pastor who was in danger of being defrocked for performing a marriage ceremony for two women in 2005 has been cleared of all charges. During her second church trial in two years, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) found Rev. Janet Edwards not guilty of violating its constitution. Under its constitution, pastors can’t perform same-sex marriages, but can bless other ‘holy unions.’
One of the world’s largest airlines, American Airlines, wrote Congress a letter of support for the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). ENDA is currently under consideration. American Airlines, which employs over 80,000 people, was the first major airline to implement domestic partner benefits and to include both sexual orientation and gender identity in its non-discrimination policy.