Welcome to The Morning Pride, ThinkProgress LGBT’s 8:45 AM round-up of the latest in LGBT policy, politics, and some culture too! Here’s what we’re reading this morning, but let us know what you’re checking out as well. Follow us all day on Twitter at @TPEquality.
– Last night brought many important election victories for the LGBT community. Towleroad has a thorough round-up, but here are a few highlights:
- Democrat Liz Mathis won the special Iowa Senate election. After spending around $40,000 on her opponent, Republican Cindy Golding, the National Organization for Marriage called Golding “weak.”
- Virginia has elected its first openly gay senator, Democrat Adam Ebbin.
- Openly gay Alex Morse was elected mayor of Holyoke, MA, making him the youngest mayor in the nation at age 22.
- Houston’s openly lesbian mayor Annise Parker won reelection.
- Voters in Traverse City, MI approved a non-discrimination ordinance with protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.
- There were also many important victories for LGBT candidates in states like Florida, Indiana, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Ohio.
– Unfortunately, Ledyard, NY town clerk Rose Marie Belforti, who refuses to fulfill the obligations of her job to sign same-sex marriage certificates, won reelection.
– Additionally, yesterday, Broward County, Florida approved a countywide Equal Benefits Ordinance to support domestic partners.
– The Human Rights Campaign is calling out law firm Foley & Lardner LLP because of partner Cleta Mitchell’s decision to represent NOM in Minnesota.
– Matt Foreman has some ideas for how HRC can grow as it approaches its next transition.
– The ACLU has reminded schools in Utah that preventing same-sex couples from attending dances is unconstitutional.
– Arizona’s state superintendent of public instruction, John Huppenthal, has apologized for suggesting the gay community engages in “inappropriate behaviors” comparable to neo-Nazis.
– Right Wing Watch highlights the religious right groups fighting the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.
– Brett Ratner has resigned as Oscars producer after suggesting “rehearsing is for fags.”
– The Dutch government is investing in a series of new anti-bullying PSAs, some of which address anti-gay bullying.
– Jerry Mahoney profiles “the five people you meet as a gay dad.”