“Hatred has no place in the classroom,” Polis said in a news release posted on his Web site.  “Every student has the right to an education free from harassment and violence.  This bill will protect the individual freedoms of our students and enshrine the values of equality and opportunity in our classrooms.”

Polis, co-chairman of the House LGBT Equality Caucus, is a strong proponent of equality in education.

SNDA would provide protections for LGBT students and ensure that all students are free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation and violence in schools.

“Every day innocent students fall victim to relentless harassment and discrimination from teachers, staff, and fellow students based on their sexual orientation,” said Polis.

“These actions not only hurt our students and our schools but, left unchecked, can also lead to life-threatening violence.  Like Title VI for minorities in the 60s and Title IX for women in the 70s, my legislation puts LGBT students on an equal footing with their peers, so they can attend school and get a quality education, free from fear.”

Similar to Title IX, the legislation would endanger federal funding for those who violate it. There are currently 60 co-sponsors of the legislation.

Speaking to an international conference of gay politicians in San Francisco, U.S. Reps. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Jared Polis, D-Colo., said they expect a domestic partner benefits bill to come up for a vote by the end of the year and the employment bill to reach the floor early in 2010.

The lawmakers said they are also confident that the House will include in the annual military spending bill next year a provision to repeal the law that bans gays from serving in the U.S. military. All the measures face a harder time in the Senate following the death of longtime ally Sen. Edward Kennedy, but Baldwin and Polis said they remained optimistic.

“I’m hopeful we will see those three pieces of legislation make it all the way, or damn close,” said Baldwin, who is sponsoring the federal worker domestic partner bill.

Office of Personnel Management director John Berry, the Obama administration’s highest ranking gay appointee, told the conference that the president strongly supports the trio of gay rights measures.

Including transgender workers as part of the legislation to ban job discrimination and lifting the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on gay service members may especially meet opposition in Congress, Berry said. But he said that with a Democrat in the White House and Democratic majorities controlling the House and the Senate, victories were “within our grasp.”

“The tide of public opinion is in our favor. The forces of intolerance are on the run. We have a president who has been clear in his support for our community and in his commitment to our equality,” Berry said. “This is the best opportunity we will ever have as a community, and shame on us if we don’t succeed.”

Although gay activists have criticized President Barack Obama for not moving more quickly on their concerns, both Polis and Baldwin said the pressure should be directed at Congress because the president can not act alone.

“LGBT leaders need to be focusing in on the people we need to win over instead of just trying to talk to our friends and being angry they haven’t delivered,” Polis said.

(Washington, D.C.)  Next Tuesday, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) will introduce legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a law which discriminates against lawfully married same-sex couples.

The legislators will be joined by married same-sex couples harmed by DOMA and many of the country’s premier LGBT and civil rights advocates in a press conference to announce the new bill, at 11:00am on Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at the House Triangle, near the southern steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Through DOMA, which was signed into law 13 years ago, on September 21, 1996, the federal government singles out legally married same-sex couples for discriminatory treatment under federal law, selectively denying them more than 1,100 federal protections and responsibilities – including Social Security and immigration benefits – that otherwise apply to married couples.  This policy is discriminatory and harmful to families, preventing the government from honoring its legal commitments and the needs of families, even though these couples have assumed the obligations of civil marriage under state law and contribute as citizens and taxpayers.

President Obama has said recently: “I stand by my long-standing commitment to work with Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.  It’s discriminatory, it interferes with States’ rights, and it’s time we overturned it.”  Married gay and lesbian couples pay taxes, serve their communities, and raise children like other couples.  Their contributions and needs are no different from those of their neighbors.  The new legislation will ensure that couples who assume the serious legal duties of marriage are treated fairly under federal law.  The specifics of this legislation will be announced on Tuesday.

Rep. Jared Polis was appointed earlier this month to the Academy’s Board of Visitors, which meets Friday and Saturday in Colorado Springs. He is thought to be the first openly gay member serving on an oversight board at any service academy.

The boards report to Congress and the Pentagon on how the academies are doing, including recommendations for change.

Polis opposes the military’s ban on gay and lesbian servicemembers and has twice proposed, then withdrawn, amendments to undo “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policies. Polis’ appointment, made by Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has veterans on both sides of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” debate wondering if it’s a signal change is coming.

“We’re all reading the tea leaves here,” said Tricia Heller, a Class of ‘87 Air Force Academy graduate who flew C-9 jets for the Air Force before the leaving the service four years ago and coming out.

“I’m not saying ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is going away. We can’t say that. But this is a good sign,” said Heller, now an attorney in Windsor, Colo. She’s one of about 70 members of the Blue Alliance, an alumni group of gay and lesbian Air Force Academy graduates, plus some straight alums who want to end the ban on gays in the military.

Polis says he doesn’t plan to push for change through the Board of Visitors but did repeat his opposition to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on gay, lesbian and transgendered servicemembers.

Asked about the policy, Polis said he expects Congress will start debating as soon as this fall a repeal of the 1993 ban on gay servicemembers.

“We expect that to end shortly, and I look forward to being a value to the Academy in making the transition,” Polis said.

Polis’ appointment has sparked a sometimes-fiery debate on military blogs, and even some fellow Board members say they’re perplexed by his appointment. If he were a student at the Academy, Polis would be kicked out.

“This is not the direction I would choose,” said former Rep. Robin Hayes, a Republican from North Carolina who is on the Board and supports the military’s ban on gay servicemembers. Hayes was careful to point out he would welcome Polis to the Board, but Hayes said the military’s ban should stand – especially at the service academies.

“This is certainly a topic of discussion, but to be perfectly frank, I don’t think sexual orientation should be criteria for the diversity we’re working for” at the academies, Hayes said.

Pelosi said in her announcement that the Polis appointment reflects the nation’s diversity. An aide said she wouldn’t elaborate on that but said Pelosi opposes the military’s gay ban.

For opponents of gays in the military, though, the Polis appointment signals a step closer to undoing the 1993 ban.

“This is more than a signal,” said Elaine Donnelly, president of the Washington-based Center For Military Readiness, a group of mostly civilians that favors banning gays from service. “I think when you’re talking about the service academies, you’re talking about the future of the military leadership. So this appointment, it appears to be advocacy.”

Polis said he would stress tolerance, but not bring up changing the gay ban.

“I hope that LGBT cadets feel comfortable” at the Air Force Academy, he said.

The fundraiser has met with much controversy in response to the Justice Department’s defense of the Defense of Marriage Act. Several other prominent figures have dropped out of the fundraiser because of the Obama administration’s stance on DOMA.

“I will not attend a fundraiser for the National Democratic Party in Washington next week when the current administration is responsible for these kind of actions. How will they ever take us seriously if we keep forking out money while they harm us,” said author and civil rights activist David Mixner last week in a statement after pulling out from the fundraiser. “For now on, my money is going to battles within the community such as the fight in Maine or the March on Washington!”

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network announced Monday that they will have protesters outside of the event tomorrow.

“SLDN will be calling upon the President to end his silence on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” executive director Aubrey Sarvis released in a statement on SLDN’s website Monday. “We will be wearing and handing out buttons with the number 265, representing the number of service members who will have been discharged this week since President Obama was sworn in.”

Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, and Hilary Rosen, the managing partner of the DC office of the Brunswick Group, have also dropped out of the event.

Openly gay elected representatives Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, and Jared Polis are still scheduled to attend and are listed as three of the top four names on the invitation.

“I’m a Democrat and a proud Democrat. Our party’s not perfect but certainly I will help the Democrats however I can,” Rep. Polis explained to the Advocate on why he is still attending.

“I think the administration made a big mistake. The wording they used was inappropriate,” the Massachusetts Democrat told the Boston Herald during an interview published in the paper’s Wednesday edition.

Jared Polis, another gay member of Congress, released a statement on his website explaining his shock and hurt after the Justice Department compared same-sex marriage to incest.

“I was shocked and disappointed to learn that President Obama chose to defend DOMA in federal court, especially given his campaign promise to call for a full repeal of DOMA. My sadness turned to outrage when I read the Justice Department’s brief that not only defended this hurtful law but seemed to embrace it,” said Rep. Polis. “Comparing my loving relationship with my partner, Marlon, to incest was unconscionable coming from a president who has called for change.”

Read the full CNN story here.

(Washington) The number of openly gay members of Congress grew by one on Tuesday with the swearing in of Jared Polis (D-Colo.). Polis joins the returning Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) in the House.

Polis has been given a plum committee position.  He has been named to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

A major priority of the committee will be the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act, the main federal law affecting education from kindergarten through high school.

Polis had little difficulty winning his firmly Democratic district last November, but he took no chances and ran a strong campaign, putting much of his own money into the run. He also had the support of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

Previously, Polis was elected statewide to the Colorado State Board of Education from 2001 – 2007. During that time he served a term as vice-chairman and one as chairman.

In 2000, he founded the Jared Polis Foundation, which works to improve and expand access to education. Its annual Teacher Recognition Awards celebrate the enormous commitment and importance of teachers. Hundreds of teachers and their schools receive micro-grants as part of this program.

Polis came out publicly while serving on the Board of Education.

During his tenure on the Board, he successfully worked to establish new ways to help schools close the learning gap, improved access to online education, helped win increased funding for at-risk students, and worked to improve teacher preparation programs at our colleges and universities. 

Polis also co-chaired a successful $300 million bond initiative in the Boulder Valley School District to make repairs and upgrades to learning environments across the district as well as improve energy efficiency.

When I last wrote for this site, 2008 was gearing up to be a pretty dreary one for LGBT hopes in electoral politics.

I used the vacation to get out of the house, away from the computer and into a movie theater or two. Seeing Milk (much too late, I agree) did very little to raise my spirits about American politics – the obvious comparison between proposition 8 and proposition 6 is too glaring – but it did cause me to reevaluate my commitment to getting gay individuals into political positions.

Being a gay candidate has never been sufficient to earn my support. Identity politics are essential to the fabric of any society, but they can’t be the be all and end all of a voting strategy.

Still, when the fight for full rights for LGBT Americans is so heated, one wonders if, for now, being gay should be enough. I mean, I felt good about Harvey Milk after two hours of Sean Penn and as far as the movie let on, Milk was for gay rights, against dog poop and not concerned with much else (of course there is more to Milk’s time in office, but the reaction still stands).

So, on New Year’s Day, Sam Adams, the first openly gay mayor of a large city, was sworn into office. It’s a cause for celebration, even if his liberal stance on housing and education upsets you. Visibility, as Milk demonstrated, is essential if this country is going to complete its slow march to civil equality.

At the same time, Tammy Baldwin will be one of the co-chairs for Obama’s inauguration, Kathleen Sibelius, a politician who openly opposed a constitutional ban on gay marriage in her state, is on the short list for Richardson’s replacement as commerce secretary, and Jared Polis has taken the leap from state education politics to Congress.

Perhaps an emphasis on visibility is just a chance to feel a bit hopeful when the mainstream political movement on LGBT issues is on hiatus. Still, the courts can’t win this battle without a little ground support. And nothing indicates ground support like voting for openly gay politicians.

Polis became the third openly gay member of Congress when he was elected to represent Colorado’s heavily Democratic 2nd District. He joins returning gay members of Congress Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.).

But while he is the third gay who will sit in the House, Polis is the first openly gay man to win a seat in Congress as a non-incumbent. Baldwin, who was open about her sexuality when first elected, is the first lesbian elected as a non-incumbent. Frank came out while in Congress.

Polis is one of about 50 newly elected members of Congress who converged on Washington this week. Orientation for the incoming members includes the minutiae of being a member of Congress – how to hire a staff and set up an office, how to conform to ethics rules and what to do in a security situation. They will also have to find housing in a city not known for bargain real estate.

Polis made millions creating Internet-based businesses. At 33, he is one of the youngest members of Congress.

During the campaign, Polis’ sexuality was a non-issue, but nationwide he was closely watched by LGBT advocates.

“Young gays and lesbians who might want to run for office look to examples and role models,” he told the Associated Press during the campaign.

“I think the people chose me for the ideas I articulated, the war in Iraq, the fight for universal health care, and really challenging the status quo,” he told a cheering throng at his victory rally, standing with his partner Marlon Reis.

Previously, Polis was elected statewide to the Colorado State Board of Education from 2001 – 2007. During that time he served a term as vice-chairman and one as chairman.

In 2000, he founded the Jared Polis Foundation, which works to improve and expand access to education. Its annual Teacher Recognition Awards celebrate the enormous commitment and importance of teachers. Hundreds of teachers and their schools receive micro-grants as part of this program.

Polis came out publicly while serving on the Board of Education.

During his tenure on the Board, he successfully worked to establish new ways to help schools close the learning gap, improved access to online education, helped win increased funding for at-risk students, and worked to improve teacher preparation programs at our colleges and universities.

Polis also co-chaired a successful $300 million bond initiative in the Boulder Valley School District to make repairs and upgrades to learning environments across the district as well as improve energy efficiency.

In Congress, Polis is expected to use his background in education policy to help rewrite the No Child Left Behind law.

He also will become part of the bipartisan LGBT Equality Caucus. The caucus was founded in June by Frank and Baldwin along with over fifty gay allies in Congress to lobby for civil rights.

Four major LGBT rights bills are expected to be taken up by the next Congress.

The Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Act, named for the 21-year-old college student who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998, would add sexuality to the list of categories covered under federal hate crime law.

The bill passed the House in 2007 and the White House threatened to veto it. In an effort to get around a veto, the Senate version was tied to the 2008 defense authorization bill.  It passed, but then went to conference where it was stripped out.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, also passed the House in 2007 but without protections for the transgendered.

The legislation would make it illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee.

When ENDA returns, it is likely to include gender identity protections.

Legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the ban on gays serving openly in the military was taken up in committee this year for the first time, but did not make it to a vote.

DADT was enacted in 1993. Since then, more than 12,000 servicemembers have been dismissed when it was learned they are gay.  According to statistics from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which advocates for gays in the military, an average of two service members are dismissed under the law every day.

It also is widely expected that legislation will be introduced to repeal the so-called federal Defense of Marriage Act, which forbids the federal government from recognizing any form of gay union – marriage, civil union or domestic partnership.

President-elect Barack Obama has said he would sign such a repeal, although no Democrat has so far said such a bill would be advanced.

Polis, a 33-year-old entrepreneur who made millions creating Internet-based businesses, beat Republican Scott Starin to represent the 2nd District , which includes his hometown of Boulder.

He will join fellow Democrats Barney Frank (Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (Wisc.) in the House.

There have been at least five other gays and lesbians in Congress, including currently serving Reps. Frank and Baldwin. Frank came out while in Congress. Baldwin was open about her sexuality when first elected.

Frank and Baldwin had little difficulty Tuesday winning re-election.

Polis’ 2nd District is firmly Democratic, but he took no chances and ran a strong campaign, putting much of his own money into the run. He also had the support of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

Previously, Polis was elected statewide to the Colorado State Board of Education from 2001 – 2007. During that time he served a term as vice-chairman and one as chairman.

In 2000, he founded the Jared Polis Foundation, which works to improve and expand access to education. Its annual Teacher Recognition Awards celebrate the enormous commitment and importance of teachers. Hundreds of teachers and their schools receive micro-grants as part of this program.

Polis came out publicly while serving on the Board of Education.

During his tenure on the Board, he successfully worked to establish new ways to help schools close the learning gap, improved access to online education, helped win increased funding for at-risk students, and worked to improve teacher preparation programs at our colleges and universities.

Polis also co-chaired a successful $300 million bond initiative in the Boulder Valley School District to make repairs and upgrades to learning environments across the district as well as improve energy efficiency.

The only other candidate seeking a seat in Congress, Democrat Linda Ketner, lost her bid for South Carolina’s 1st District. She ran against four-term Republican incumbent Henry Brown.

Read 365gay’s profile on Jared Polis.