U.S. Reps Baldwin and Polis on ENDA

Out U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., in an interview with Bilerico Project's Bill Browning taped during last week's International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference in San Francisco, discusses the timetable and strategy for passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Browning was also able to sit down with Colorado's own openly Rep. Jared Polis to discuss ENDA and other pending LGBT bills.

Jared Polis makes the Out 100 List

U.S. Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; and Jared Polis, D-Colo. (pictured), have been named to Out magazine's 2009 "Out 100 List" of LGBT movers and shakers. The three are described by Out as "fierce advocates" who "form a powerful, out triumvirate, wielding influence over the economy, social welfare, labor, and education."

Jared Polis hosts gay town hall

Openly gay Colorado Representative Jared Polis held what is thought to be the first GLBT Town Hall in the country right here in Denver last Saturday night.

The purpose of the town hall meeting was to emphasis LGBT issues such as the Healthcare Reform Bill, the federal Hate Crimes Act, ENDA, and Don't Ask, Don't Tell. - via Towleroad

Gay Town Hall meeting with Rep. Jared Polis

Jeffrey Shaw, Chairman of the Colorado Stonewall Democrats announces a GLBT Town Hall meeting with openly gay Rep. Jared Polis on October 24:



We are very excited to announce that Rep Jared Polis will join us on Saturday, October 24, for a unique town hall meeting primarily geared to the LGBT community. To my knowledge, this will be a "first-of-a-kind" meeting ever held in this country which will emphasize LGBT community concerns regarding such issues as the Healthcare Reform Bill, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill, the trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the military, and many other similar issues.

While the meeting will emphasize LGBT issues, everyone is welcome to attend and questions will be accepted from everyone. Although we are the sponsors of this event, it is not intended as a Democratic Party event, but one for all of our community and those who are friends of our community from anywhere in the State of Colorado.

More details will follow, but the basics are that the event is a LGBT Town Hall Meeting with Rep Jared Polis at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Rockies at 960 Clarkson St (10th and Clarkson) here in Denver on Saturday, October 24, from 7-8:30PM. Make plans to be in attendance, and, as I said, more details will follow.

Also important for us is that we raise some funds to help support this event. If you are able to donate in any amount, or if you would like to become a member of Colorado Sonewall Democrats (or renew an expired membership), please go to www.stonewalldems.org and follow the prompts to the donation page. We will greatly appreciate any support you can give us.

I look forward to seeing all of you and your friends at the upcoming Town Hall Meeting.

Polis: Repeal federal marriage ban, leave issue to states

Out U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., a co-sponsor of a measure to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act, writes on CNN.com that marriage-equality issue should be decided by each state and not the federal government.

"No one should be denied the opportunity to choose his or her spouse," says Polis.

Legislation introduced to repeal DOMA

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, hailed today the introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) which would repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and restore the rights of all lawfully married couples—including same-sex couples to receive the benefits of marriage under federal law. The bill also provides same-sex couples with certainty that federal benefits and protections would flow from a valid marriage celebrated in a state where such marriages are legal, even if a couple moves or travels to another state. The lead sponsors of the measure include 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).

“The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a hurtful and cynical law enacted to discriminate against loving, committed same-sex couples,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, who also offered remarks at the introduction press conference. “It does real harm by denying thousands of lawfully-married same-sex couples the federal rights and benefits that only flow through marriage. Many of these include the protections couples turn to in times of need, like Social Security survivors’ benefits, medical leave to care for an ailing spouse and equal treatment under U.S. immigration laws. Today’s introduction of legislation to repeal DOMA is a welcome step, and as more states recognize the commitment of loving same-sex couples and their families, it's time for this law to go into the history books where it belongs.”

Earlier this month, HRC launched a national action alert, an interactive website, RepealDOMAnow.org, and delivered to Congress nearly 50,000 survey responses showing the concrete harms DOMA brings to the lives of LGBT Americans and their families. The survey was commissioned in August by the Human Rights Campaign and asked a series of questions on DOMA repeal. The results of the survey showed 70 percent of respondents consider the repeal of DOMA a “top priority.”

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.

Hardball 6.0 - Hit a home run for charity!

Hardball 6.0 has arrived, and it’s time to dust off your spikes, find your old glove, pick up your baseball bat, and hit a home run for charity.

Hardball was originated in 2003 by Jared Polis and Josh Metnick, and has been rotated and played annually in either the Chicagoland area or Colorado.

The charity chosen for this year’s event is Community Computer Connection (C3). C3 has been refurbishing computers since 2001 and has distributed over 17,000 computers to more than 130 schools and 470 organizations across Colorado.

“This is a really special event for everybody each year— pulling together a pick-up soccer, basketball or even football game doesn’t require all that much – but after most of us reach eighteen years of age, or even after little league, playing an actual game of baseball requires significant planning to do it right. It is not every day you get to play in a real minor league stadium, with real minor league umpires. And, it is all for a great cause. Many of us who play in the tournament owe much of their career successes to early exposure to computers and programming, and it is good to give back in the same manner,” says Josh Metnick, one of the event co-founders.

This year’s event will be played in the Chicagoland area at the Windy City Thunderbolts stadium in Crestwood, IL (http://windycitythunderbolts.com). It will be a one-day best of three game tournament, held on October 3.

Players interested in registering to play for Hardball 2009 may do so at www.heilio.com/baseball2009. The cost to play is a tax-deductible $125 which includes uniform, lunch, and the amenities provided by the Thunderbolts (umpires, staffed press box, extra equipment, grounds-keeping, etc.)

Rep. Jared Polis appointed to Air Force Academy Board of Visitors

Out U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., has been appointed to the Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors. Although Polis is against the military's gay ban, he doesn't intend to lobby for the policy's repeal through his membership on the board, according to this article on TheDenverChannel.com.

Congressman Polis issues statement on DOMA

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) issued the following statement recently in response to the Obama Administration’s decision to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in a recent court filing.

“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. Comparing my loving relationship with my partner, Marlon, to incest was unconscionable coming from a president who has called for change.

Since this filing, I have called on the President to issue a statement or give any sign that would clarify his position and am disappointed in his lack of reply.

I am a proud Democrat, as are many in the GLBT community, and I believe we must hold our leaders accountable. The Obama Administration made a HUGE mistake in the DOMA brief. If they keep making mistakes like this, they risk losing the support of the GLBT community forever, although I do not believe we are at that point yet.

President Obama needs to honor his promise to repeal this law and end its needlessly divisive and harmful impact on our nation. I again call on him to work with us in Congress to help pass legislation, ending this hateful and divisive law.

As the New York Times editorialized yesterday, “busy calendars and political expediency are no excuse for making one group of Americans wait any longer for equal rights.”

Colorado's Jared Polis makes the cover of MetroWeekly

There have been gay members of Congress before and there are those who serve now. But Jared Polis, a Colorado Democrat, has the distinction of being the first out gay man elected to a first term. There's no arguing that's not a historic feat, considering the disproportionate disadvantage the GLBT community suffers on Capitol Hill. Every inch toward proportionate representation is a milestone. But Polis is much, much more than a name for the history books. Having just turned 34 on May 12, this dynamic young congressman brings to Washington a background in business, technology and education, along with his partner of five and a half years, Marlon Reis. Read all about it in the new issue of MetroWeekly.

Jared Polis: Why hate crime legislation is important

The death of Colorado transgender teenager Angie Zapata is an urgent reminder of the need for Congress to pass a federal hate-crimes statute, writes out U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., a co-sponsor of the bill.

"People from all over the country were appalled a decade ago when gay student Matthew Shepard was beaten to death in Wyoming," Polis writes. "We should be even more appalled that in those 10 years, our nation has failed to adopt a federal hate-crimes bill."

Polis is powerful

Jared Polis was named to the Out Power 50 list of 50 most powerful GLBT people in America. See where he came in at, and who else made the list, at Out.com.

Jared Polis is a media sensation

The Blade reports on Jared Polis' first months in Washington.

He's already been featured in his own reality show, 'The Hill'.

And on Gawker - but they don't seem to really like him there.

Did bloggers kill the Rocky Mountain News?

Rep. Jared Polis (Dem-CO-gay) is in the news and it seems to be his opinion that bloggers and citizen journalists killed the Rocky Mountain News.

Is he right?

Is blogging making newspapers obsolete?

A message from PFLAG about the Uniting American Families Act

PFLAG says: At our November PFLAG meeting we had a young couple who had become recently engaged. One was a citizen of Canada and both wanted to live together in the U.S. There were tears of frustration because of our current immigration laws that do not acknowledge same-sex relationships as valid for extending immigration rights. One of our Boulder members is the dad of a gay son who married a Russian man. They must live together in England because they are not allowed as a couple in either Russia or the U.S. These couples deserve to be together in our country.

Please take action by adding your support by contacting Jared Polis or Betsy Markey, our newly elected Congressional District representatives. Jared's D.C. phone: 202-225-2161; Boulder office: 303-484-9596; Betsy's D.C. office: 202-225-4676; Ft. Collins office: 970-221-7110.

*note: the bill was introduced on February 12 but it wouldn't hurt to leave a message of support for this wonderful piece of legislation and the politicians who support it

Hear Jared Polis speak tonight at CU

Rep. Jared Polis (Dem-CO-gay) will speak tonight at CU. Get the latest on the stimulus package, Colorado's economy and educational funding. Free admission. Check it out.

Congress is like college according to Polis

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO-gay) tells CNN and the rest of us what it's like to be a freshman in Congress. - via Washington Blade

Political hotness

No matter who you think is the hottest of this group, wouldn't it be great if Colorado's openly gay Jared Polis won this poll?

Submit your vote now.

Jared Polis' plan for gender equality

Rep. Jared Polis (Dem-CO-gay) lays out his recommendations for gender equality in the Obama stimulus package.

Gays and gay friendlies won big on Nov. 4 - except for where we didn't

The GLBT community won some and lost some this past election day.

Here's the good news.

Jared Polis (pictured) became the first openly gay man elected to Congress as a non-incumbent. Cograts Jared! And that horrible, horrible Marilyn Musgrave finally went down.

About time.

Read more at The Washington Blade.