Dec 06, 2006Articles: Gay-rights activists hopeful about agenda's new prospects
By vanrozenheim
(WASHINGTON, USA) - The gay-rights movement suffered a setback in last month's midterm election when seven states passed initiatives banning same-sex marriage or domestic partnerships. But with Democrats about to take control of Congress, some of its other legislative goals appear within reach — including making violence against gays a hate crime and outlawing workplace discrimination. For the last 12 years of Republican control of Congress, gay-rights organizations set aside their push for legal protections in order to defend against conservative measures such as same-sex marriage bans.
