Blog of Rights
Ian S.
Thompson

Ian Thompson is a Legislative Representative in the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office. In this capacity, Thompson works to advance the organization’s civil liberties and civil rights agenda in Congress and the executive branch by focusing on LGBT rights, HIV/AIDS and sex education. Prior to joining the ACLU in January 2006, Thompson interned in the Washington, D.C., office of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio). A 2005 graduate of Penn State University, Thompson holds a degree in International Politics.

07/20/2011

Senator Franken Skewers Anti-Gay Distortions at DOMA Hearing

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 7:11pm

Earlier today, at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s much-anticipated, landmark hearing on the discriminatory so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) took a witness from Focus on the Family to task for factual inaccuracies in his hearing testimony that could be read to disparage gay and lesbian-led families. 

You can view the exchange here:

Read More»
07/19/2011

BREAKING: White House Endorses Respect for Marriage Act

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 4:40pm

On the eve of a landmark hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on the discriminatory so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the White House on Tuesday afternoon formally endorsed the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA in its entirety. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the president “is proud to support the act, which would take the Defense of Marriage Act off the books for once and for all."

Read More»
07/12/2011
Defense of Marriage Act

Landmark Hearing on DOMA Set

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 6:11pm

It’s official! Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a landmark congressional hearing on the discriminatory so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and how it harms tens of thousands of married gay and lesbian couples and their families each and every day. This will be the first congressional hearing since the law came into being in 1996 to examine the law with a critical eye.

Read More»
07/12/2011
DADT

Same Old Political Games: Seeking to Delay and Derail DADT Repeal

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 1:38pm

Last week, during consideration of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act in the House of Representatives, congressional opponents of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) repeal succeeded in attaching two anti-gay, political, "red meat" amendments to the legislation. Despite all the political chatter in D.C. over the debt and deficits, what we often see on the floor of the House and Senate are ideological efforts by certain members of Congress to advance a narrow social agenda that is out of step with the American public while at the same time trying to convince that same public that they are focused like a laser on fiscal discipline and job creation. Guess again!

Read More»
06/29/2011
SNDA

U.S. Senators to LGBT Youth: "It Gets Better"

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 3:24pm

On Wednesday morning, 13 members of the U.S. Senate delivered a video message of hope and encouragement to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) young people across the country as part of the It Gets Better Project. Just as importantly, the senators committed themselves to working every day to bring about positive changes for LGBT people that will actually make their lives better, and our country a fairer and more just society.

Please note that by playing this clip You Tube and Google will place a long-term cookie on your computer. Please see You Tube's privacy statement on their website and Google's privacy statement on theirs to learn more. To view the ACLU's privacy statement, click here.
Read More»
06/20/2011

U.N. Human Rights Council: LGBT Rights Are Human Rights

By Devon Chaffee, Legislative Policy Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office & Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 5:56pm

On Friday, the U.N.'s Human Rights Council took a critical step forward for human rights by recognizing that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people around the world struggle against violence and discrimination every day and deserve protection from such abuses. On the closing day of the Council meeting in Geneva, members adopted, for the first time ever, a resolution condemning violence and discrimination against those who are LGBT. It is the first U.N. resolution to focus solely on LGBT persons.

Read More»
06/15/2011

Department of Education — Students Have a Legal Right to Form GSAs

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 2:27pm

On Tuesday morning, the U.S. Department of Education issued a "Dear Colleague" letter to school districts across the country reminding them that students have the right under the federal Equal Access Act to form Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs). GSAs are student-run extracurricular clubs that bring together lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and straight students to support each other and promote tolerance, and are common in public school districts throughout the nation. The announcement of the letter came on the closing day of the first-ever Federal LGBT Youth Summit last week.

Read More»
06/06/2011
Student Rights in School

ACLU Participates in First-Ever Federal Summit on LGBT Youth

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 12:08pm

This Monday marks an historic first for the federal government. The Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Justice are hosting a two-day federal summit to focus specifically on the unique needs and challenges facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. This is the first-ever federal summit to focus specifically on LGBT youth. In announcing the summit, the Department of Education wrote:

Read More»
06/03/2011

President Obama Proclaims LGBT Pride Month

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 2:36pm

President Bill Clinton first declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride month in 2000, and President Barack Obama recently expanded the observance by designating June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. During June, we celebrate the notion that diversity is a gift. Check back each Friday this month as we feature LGBT voices, struggles and triumphs and explore what "pride" really means.

President Obama has made it official. June 2011 has been proclaimed Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month — a time to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists and to celebrate the diversity of the American people. The White House proclamation reads in part:

Read More»
05/25/2011

Interactive NYT Feature Allows LGBT Teens to Share Their Stories

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 12:01pm

In an effort to better understand the current generation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teenagers, the New York Times has launched an interactive feature that allows these young people to speak in their own voices entitled "Coming Out." As the Times wrote in part:

Read More»
Statistics image