|
 Treat Same-Sex Partner Of Congress Member Like
Spouse Pelosi Tells Gates
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: April 1, 2008 - 3:00 pm ET
(Washington) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D)
reportedly had to step in when the military refused to allow the same-sex
partner of Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc) (pictured) on a military flight taking members of
Congress and their spouses on a fact-finding trip to Europe.
The Politico reports that Pelosi called Defense Secretary Robert Gates
directly. Under House rules members may take their spouses with them on military
flights if there is room and when it is "necessary
for protocol purposes."
Baldwin has been in a domestic partnership with
Lauren Azar for years, and exchanged vows in 1998, although the relationship is
not recognized legally in the state of Wisconsin.
Baldwin is one of only two openly gay members of
Congress. The other is Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass).
The Politico reports that in her phone call to
Gates, Pelosi told Gates he should follow the precedent established by her
predecessor, Dennis Hastert (R) who did not prevent Baldwin from taking Azar on an
earlier trip.
Gates reportedly told Pelosi that he would OK
Azar for the trip once he received a letter from the Speaker authorizing it, but
warned that it was a one-time agreement.
Pelosi sent the letter and Azar was allowed to
travel.
Meanwhile Pelosi's office said it is awaiting a
letter from Gates outlining new criteria for the
congressional use of military airplanes.
Pentagon spokesperson Geoff Morrell said it is
not a case of the military attempting to impose "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell" on members of Congress. Rep. Barney Frank told the Politico he thinks
the issue is much deeper.
"I think the military was following orders,” Frank said. “I think the
administration disapproves of same-sex marriage."
It is not the first time the administration has
been accused of LGBT discrimination.
A bill currently is before Congress to repeal
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" the ban on gays serving openly in the
military. The White House has threatened to veto the inclusion of hate crime
legislation aimed at protecting gays and lesbians. And, it opposes any
form of ENDA. Baldwin has been an outspoken advocate for an all-inclusive form
of ENDA.
Last year the US ambassador to Romania, Michael
Guest, resigned after the State Department refused to recognize his same-sex
partner.
Baldwin sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
last month calling for basic protections for LGBT State
Department employees that would include allowing domestic partners of foreign
service officers to travel and stay with them.
Former Attorney General John Ashcroft ended a
policy that allowed a Justice Department LGBT group to post notices of its
meetings on DOJ bulletin boards and distribute such messages through the
department's e-mail system. The decision was reversed this year by new Attorney
General, Michael Mukasey.
In addition, Special Counsel Scott Bloch, the man
responsible for protecting whistleblowers and investigating complaints of
discrimination by federal workers, refused to take on complaints of
discrimination based on sexuality.
©365Gay.com 2008
|
Entertainment
