Wednesday Morning Open Thread

Good morning.

Two important events today in the world of LGBT policy. The House Judiciary Committee is holding a mark-up on the Matthew Shepard Act, which will expand hate crimes protection from "race, color, religion or national origin" to include "gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability." In the last session of Congress, the bill passed both houses (even breaking a filibuster in the Senate), but Bush said he would veto it. This year, it should become law, because that last impediment is gone.

Also, the Maine Legislature is holding a hearing on the same-sex marriage bill. The hearing, which should last all day, was moved from the State House to the auditorium at the Augusta Civic Center to accommodate the crowds.

And, in other news, torture is the topic of the day. Lots of different stories and revelations.

Let's get it started...