Progress Illinois

A couple of weeks ago, we noted that National Stonewall Democrats, an organization dedicated to electing pro-LGBT candidates to office, had highlighted 30 of their favorite federal candidates from across the country and was asking supporters to whittle that list down to twelve.  These final picks would then receive on-the-ground organizing support from the group.  Today, they announced the results and U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias made the cut.  This means the Stonewall Dems will place an organizer on the ground here in Illinois to rally local chapters around this race. 

On a related note, the Giannoulias campaign released this new video of the candidate talking at length about LGBT equality issues:

The National Stonewall Democrats, an organization dedicated to electing pro-LGBT candidates to office, has a new website up highlighting 30 federal candidates from across the country who stand out on issues of equality.  Among them is Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias, who has vocally opposed the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and expressed support for gay marriage in Illinois.

The group is now asking for help in narrowing the list to ten candidates. Once the final group is chosen, the Stonewall Democrats will place an organizer with each of the corresponding local chapters to work on organizing around those races.  Head on over to place a vote.

Congress moved two major steps closer to eliminating the military’s discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy late last night. The House attached an amendment repealing the law to this year’s defense authorization bill, which passed 234-194. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved a similar measure just a few hours before that, setting the stage for a major vote in the upper chamber following the Memorial Day recess.

Illinois' own Rep. Judy Biggert deserves some credit for being one of only five Republicans to cross the aisle to vote in favor of repeal. The same can't be said for GOP U.S. Senate nominee Mark Kirk, a one-time proponent of gay rights who has all but abandoned that constituency since deciding to run statewide. On the Democratic side, Illinois Reps. Jerry Costello and Dan Lipinski voted against the bill, along with 24 other members of the party.

If you're scoring at home, Lipinski previously voted against health care reform and cast a "present" vote on the stimulus packaage. The guy is practically begging for a primary challenge in 2012.