UPDATE (9PM ET): More reactions are below the fold. From National Center for Transgender Equality: Hate Crimes Bill Passes Historic First Federal Protections of Transgender People In an historic move, the United States Senate, by a vote of 68 to 29, joined the House of Representatives in passing The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. [...]

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin testified today before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs Hearing on S. 1102, the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act.  This is the bill that would provide equal pay for equal work to federal employees with same-sex spouses.  In other words, grant domestic partnership benefits on par with the [...]