Greetings to all from a quickly cooling Washington, DC.  Last week's elections have raised doubts over the prospects of Congressional action to pass the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO) and repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT).  You may have seen a call from the Secretary of Defense for Congress to repeal DADT before year's end.  I hope members of both parties will join together to end this discriminatory policy, which actually impedes military readiness.  On DPBO, passage would affect many GLIFAA members in that it would allow same-sex partners of federal employees to receive health insurance and other benefits.  It also has a chance to pass in the lame duck session, so please join me in calling on Congressional leaders to summon the political will to get it done.

GLIFAA met with Counselor and Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills to inform her of our efforts throughout the Department and to gain her support on both personnel and foreign policy matters.  We are fortunate to have leadership that values diversity, works to remove inequalities where they appear in the Department, and incorporates the protection of human rights for LGBT people into our foreign policy.  As proof of this commitment, Secretary Hillary Clinton agreed after our meeting to tape a video reaching out directly to LGBT youth, as many others have done throughout the country.  She was the first major public official to release such a video, and it has been viewed over 400,000 times.  The Secretary movingly declares, "Many people are standing with you and sending you their thoughts, their prayers and their strength.  Count me among them." 

In October we hosted a reception for Ambassador David Huebner, U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, who continues to be a forceful advocate and advisor to GLIFAA.  Upcoming events include a reception in the Delegates Lounge with Counselor Cheryl Mills and Under Secretary Pat Kennedy.  The event, "Celebrating GLIFAA," will take place on Monday, November 29, from 12-1 p.m.  The goal will be to expand our membership, so we are asking everyone to bring a friend - LGBT or not - who may be interested in joining.  We will also have our annual GLIFAA Holiday Party in mid-December, so begin to prepare your holiday cheer.  We will send more information shortly.  Thanks to Dennis Cheng and his team for planning these events.

We have a new link on our website that allows you to pay your dues online.  I encourage you to do so, if you have not already, to support the ongoing initiatives and mission of GLIFAA and to expand our programming in the coming year.  Our board meets this Wednesday, so let me know if you have any items that you would like us to discuss.  As always, I welcome any ideas or issues at tollefson@glifaa.org.

All the best,

Jon