This Week in Lesbian News…

With Representative Barney Frank introducing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Representative Tammy Baldwin introducing the Ending Health Disparities for LGBT Americans Act, and seventy-seven members of Congress urging Obama to suspend Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, it was  quite a busy and progressive week in Washington. Additionally, polls showed that support for marriage equality is up in both New York and Los Angeles – making it a pretty good week in lesbian news…

Poll Shows Support for Marriage Equality Up in NY. Support for same-sex marriage is growing in New York, according to a Quinnipiac poll released last week. The poll reports that 51 percent of New Yorkers support legalizing marriage for same-sex couples, while 41 percent are opposed. This is the first time the Quinnipiac poll saw majority support in favor of the legalization.

Employment Non-Discrimination Act Introduced in U.S. House. Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) announced the introduction of a bill last Thursday that would make workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity illegal. In addition to Frank, the lead sponsors of the measure were IIeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), Michael Castle (R-DE), George Miller (D-CA), Mark Kirk (R-IL), John Conyers (D-MI), Todd Platts (R-PA), Rob Andrews (D-NJ), and Leonard Lance (R-NJ).

LA Supports Same-Sex Marriage. Last week, a Los Angeles Times poll showed that 56 percent of LA residents support extending marriage rights to same-sex couples, while 37 percent are opposed. The poll also showed that, as predicted, younger voters were much more likely to support marriage equality than older respondents.

Baldwin Introduces LGBT Health Equality Bill. Openly lesbian Rep. Tammy Baldwin introduced the Ending Health Disparities for LGBT Americans Act last week. The legislation is aimed at resolving health care disparities that affect LGBT Americans.  The measure is comprehensive, aiming to improve “all areas of the health care system where LGBT Americans face inequality and discrimination,” according to a media release issued by Baldwin’s office Tuesday.

Seventy-Seven Members of Congress Urge Obama to Suspend Gay Ban. Seventy-seven members of Congress sent a letter to President Barack Obama last week asking him to prevent any more LGBT service members from being dismissed under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. The new strategy envisions immediate executive action, to be followed by legislative repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law at a subsequent time. The letter calls on the President “to exercise the maximum discretion legally possible in administering ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ until Congress repeals the law.”