Megyn Kelly may snicker through her spot with FOX’s Bill O’Reilly about Siverton, Oregon Mayor Stu Rasmussen, but she’s not about to agree that kids should be “protected” from transgender people.

Mark Tendam, Evanston, Illinois’ first openly gay alderman, didn’t always think he was going to become a politician, according to the Daily Northwestern. However, the beauty of Evanston was always something of a draw to him, “I was fascinated by how you could walk to Howard Street and see Chicago on the other side” he said.

Tendam, who was elected to the Evanston City Council in April, started his career as a corporate graphic designer, but quickly became interested in the non-profit realm. While serving as Better Existence’s HIV Board’s President, Tendam joined Leadership Evanston, a local community-building organization that provides leadership development.

“It was never really an issue,” Tendam said of his sexual orientation during the campaign.  He and his partner have lived together in Evanston for 15 years.

Tendam says he’s been humbled by his experience so far on the council.  “One handicapped lady called the office, and we gave her a half-sized roller bin for recycling instead of her full sized one. This job has a lot of the big stuff and the little stuff.  Not so much in between,” said Tendam.

More than 340 openly LGBT elected officials serve at the local and municipal levels throughout the U.S.  You can find out more about Ald. Mark Tendam at his website.  Find out local officials in your state at this interactive map.

A bill that would give the domestic partners of federal employees the same benefits as the spouses of federal employees has been passed in a key House sub-committee.

The Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, introduced by Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), mandates that same-sex partners of federal employees would be eligible for health benefits, long-term care, family and medical leave, and federal retirement benefits, among others.  The bill also stipulates that partners of federal employees would be subject to the same responsibilites that apply to the spouses of federal employees, such as anti-nepotism rules and financial disclosure requirements.

Baldwin released a statement shortly after the 5-3 vote passage of the bill announcing she was “delighted” by the subcommittee’s action and for Chairman Lynch’s support of the issue.

“Extending benefits to the domestic partners of federal employees is more than a matter of fairness,” said Baldwin.  “As a majority of Fortune 500 companies have already demonstrated, equality and diversity in the workplace boost productivity and help attract and keep the most qualified employees,” Baldwin said.

The bill, if passed by Congress, would also formalize President Obama’s memorandum calling for federal agencies to extend certain benefits to same-sex couples.  At a White House ceremony in June, the President announced his support of the measure.

Learn more about the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act and other pending LGBT-related federal legislation at the Web site of the Human Rights Campaign.

The Victory Fund has learned President Barack Obama plans to award America’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Harvey Milk, one of the country’s first openly gay elected officials. The award will be accepted at a White House ceremony August 12 by Stuart Milk, the nephew of the late San Francisco Supervisor and civil rights activist.

“We are thrilled President Obama is honoring Harvey Milk with the Medal of Freedom. He’s an American hero and trailblazer whose election more than 30 years ago triggered a political awakening that inspires us still today. This recognition sends an important message about how critical political leadership will be in making all Americans equal in the eyes of the law,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund.

Stuart Milk echoed Wolfe’s praise, saying, “The President’s action today touches the core of our very human hearts and my uncle would be so proud of this high honor.  His election was, for him, a beginning–a chance to make real change. That change is happening, but we still have so far to go.  I hope this recognition inspires LGBT Americans everywhere to heed Harvey’s call to run for office, to serve openly, to live proudly with authenticity and to demand the equality that we all deserve.”

American tennis great Billie Jean King, who is openly lesbian, and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, who has championed LGBT equality throughout his political career, also will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the August 12 ceremony. Kennedy was honored by the Victory Fund in 2004 with its Oates-Shrum Leadership Award in recognition of his tireless work on behalf of LGBT Americans.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award created to honor especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, or world peace, or cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

Openly gay Chicago Alderman Tom Tunney has proposed establishing set-aside contracts for businesses owned by LGBT residents, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

At a hearing Tuesday, the city’s Budget Committee extended until 2015 a construction contract set-aside ordinance for businesses owned by minorities and women.  Just before the unanimous vote to approve the extension, Tunney inquired as to whether any other municipality designates LGBT as a qualified minority.  Corporation Counsel Mara Georges stated that she knew of none in the U.S., but added, “We are certainly happy to talk to you about it and whether that’s something we should attempt to pursue.”

Tunney first raised the issue in 2003, but it was dropped shortly thereafter. “All I’m asking is just to explore this as we move forward with making it an even better ordinance,” said Tunney.  “We’re looking to do more research within the community about quantifiable discrimination in terms of access to credit and financial issues … to see whether or not, at a future date, categories within the LGBT community might be eligible.”

(Via Towleroad)