LGBTQ Nation

Major survey shows clear majority of Americans support marriage equality

In the late 1980s, support for same-sex marriage was essentially unheard of in America. Just a quarter century later, it's now favored by clear majority of Americans. The dramatic shift in opinion is among the fastest changes ever measured by the General Social Survey, a widely respected survey that has measured trends on a huge array of American attitudes for more than four decades.

Newsmakers

Pat Robertson urges parents not to attend their gay child’s wedding

On Thursday's "700 Club," Pat Robertson took a question from a viewer who sought his advice on whether she and her husband should attend their gay child's upcoming wedding, which Robertson predictably urged them not to do.

USA

Ga. Senate OK’s religious freedom bill critics say will allow LGBT discrimination

The Georgia Senate gave decisive approval Thursday to a contentious "religious freedom" bill - one of a wave of measures surfacing in at least a dozen states that critics say could provide legal cover for discrimination against gays and transgender people.

USA

Federal appeals court blocks Nebraska same-sex marriage ruling

A federal appeals court has allowed Nebraska's gay marriage ban to stay in place, putting a federal judge's ruling striking down the ban on hold.

USA

Alabama lawmakers seek protection for judges who won’t marry same-sex couples

As Alabama wrestles over the issue of same-sex marriage, some lawmakers are seeking legal protections for judges, ministers and others who refuse to officiate at, or recognize, weddings that violate their religious beliefs.

USA

Military court recognizes WikiLeaks defendant Chelsea Manning as a woman

A military appeals court says references to Manning in all future filings, orders and decisions shall use either feminine pronouns or gender-neutral phrases such as "Private First Class Manning."

USA

Utah Senate panel gives unanimous approval to LGBT non-discrimination bill

A landmark Utah proposal protecting gay and transgender individuals passed its first test at the state Legislature on Thursday when a Republican-controlled Senate committee offered its unanimous and at times emotional support of the measure.

USA

Virginia AG: School boards can prohibit discrimination against LGBT students

Democrat Mark Herring’s written opinion reverses one issued in 2002 by a Republican predecessor, Jerry Kilgore, who said public schools could not extend such protection without the General Assembly’s explicit permission.

USA

All-women’s Wellesley College to admit transgender students

President H. Kim Bottomly and trustees' chairwoman Laura Daignault Gates said in a letter Wednesday that "Wellesley will consider for admission any applicant who lives as a woman and consistently identifies as a woman."

USA

U.S. Supreme Court will hear same-sex marriage cases on April 28

The court released its calendar Thursday for the final two weeks of arguments this term and allotted the gay marriages cases two-and-a-half hours on the last Tuesday in April.

USA

Arkansas, Nebraska businesses sign pledge for LGBT equality

Hundreds of businesses in both Arkansas and Nebraska have signed a pledge with the Human Rights Campaign to advance workplace equality for members of the LGBT community.

USA

Alabama justices: Until U.S. Supreme Court rules, we’re in charge

The Alabama Supreme Court has made itself an outlier in the judicial march legalizing same-sex marriages in the United States, drawing rebukes from gay rights advocates and evoking comparisons to Alabama's defiance of federal authorities during the civil rights movement.

World

Singapore court fines blogger for comments on gay sex cases

A Singapore court fined a prominent dissident blogger on Wednesday for questioning the timing of two constitutional challenges to the city-state's ban on gay sex.

USA

Utah state Senate to hear Mormon-backed LGBT anti-discrimination bill

The proposal prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation when it comes to housing or employment. Religious groups and organizations would be exempt from the requirement, as would Boy Scouts of America, which has a ban on gay adult Scout leaders and has close ties to the LDS

USA

New York man charged in 2013 death of transgender woman

James Dixon was arraigned Tuesday on manslaughter and assault charges in connection with the 2013 fatal beating of Islan Nettles, a 21-year-old transgender woman in Manhattan.

USA

Florida House panel OKs bill restricting public restrooms to birth gender

Transgender Floridians would have to use public bathrooms designated for their birth gender, unless they have a license or passport that proves they've completed their transition to their new sex under a bill that has passed its first legislative committee.

Newsmakers

Mets’ infielder disagrees with MLB ambassador Billy Bean’s gay ‘lifestyle’

Mets infielder Daniel Murphy says he disagrees with the "lifestyle" of people who are gay. The Mets hosted Billy Bean, a former major leaguer who came out after retiring and is MLB's first ambassador for inclusion, to talk at spring training.

USA

Federal judge won’t lift stay in Arkansas same-sex marriage case

A federal judge who last year tossed out Arkansas' voter-approved gay marriage ban said Wednesday she wouldn't lift her own stay and let same-sex marriages resume immediately.

USA

Utah LGBT non‑discrimination bill exempts Boy Scouts, religious groups

Utah lawmakers introduced a landmark anti-discrimination bill Wednesday that protects LGBT individuals while also carving out protections for the Boy Scouts of America and religious groups.

USA

A defiant Alabama regains ground against marriage equality

Alabama's stand against same-sex marriage regained ground Wednesday after the state's highest court ruled that its ban remains legal, despite federal court pressure to begin issuing licenses to gays and lesbians. But advocates said they're not giving up either - and that the justices in Montgomery will find themselves on

Newsmakers

Fire Department of New York gets first female, openly gay chaplain

The Fire Department of New York has sworn in its first female and first openly gay chaplain. The Rev. Ann Kansfield was sworn in on Tuesday. She is the department's eighth chaplain.

USA

S.D. Senate panel dismisses bill aimed at voiding transgender student athlete policy

A measure that would have required transgender students to use the sex on their birth certificates to determine the sports team they played on was defeated by a South Dakota Senate committee Tuesday, but another bill on the issue is being considered later this week.

USA

Nebraska AG seeks stay of ruling striking down same-sex marriage ban

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson says the state should not be forced to recognize same-sex marriages until the matter is decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Arts

‘The Fosters’ makes television history with youngest same-sex kiss

A kiss between two 13-year-old male characters on the ABC Family show "The Fosters" is making waves for reportedly being the youngest same-sex kiss in American television history.
(Advocate)

USA

Alabama Supreme Court orders judges to stop issuing same-sex marriage licenses

The Alabama Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the state's probate judges to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, saying a previous federal ruling that gay marriage bans violate the U.S. Constitution does not preclude them from following state law, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

World

Slovenia lawmakers approve same-sex marriage, gay couple adoption

Slovenian lawmakers have approved same-sex marriage and child adoption by gay couples amid opposition from conservative groups and the Catholic Church.

USA

Ex-Rhode Island House speaker pleads guilty to federal charges

Former Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox, who in 2010 became the state's first openly gay speaker, has agreed to plead guilty to charges of bribery, wire fraud and filing a false tax return following an investigation that included a dramatic federal raid on the Statehouse.

USA

East Grand Rapids, Mich., council supports adding LGBT protections

The city in western Michigan is adding sexual orientation and gender identity to an existing non-discrimination ordinance on housing and employment.

Newsmakers

Joe Biden to headline Human Rights Campaign annual convention

Vice President Joe Biden will deliver a speech this week at a convention hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT rights group.

USA

Bill expected soon on LGBT discrimination, religious rights in Utah

Utah lawmakers are expected as early as Tuesday to unveil a compromise bill that protects LGBT individuals against discrimination in housing and employment while also protecting religious rights.

USA

Charlotte, N.C., rejects LGBT-inclusive ordinances after hours of public debate

The Charlotte, N.C., city council voted Monday night 6-5 against expanding the city's nondiscrimination ordinance to include sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity to a list of protected groups.

USA

Calif. attorney files for ballot initiative seeking to have all gays executed

An Orange County, Calif., attorney has filed a proposed ballot measure with the California Attorney General's office asking voters to criminalize homosexuality in the state and impose a death penalty sentence.

USA

Arkansas AG opposes effort to lift stay in same-sex marriage case

The Arkansas attorney general's office has asked a federal judge who struck down the state's gay marriage ban as unconstitutional to not allow same-sex couples to wed while the ruling is being appealed.

USA

NYC mayor to skip St. Patrick’s parade over policy excluding gays

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is not planning to march in the nation's biggest and oldest St. Patrick's Day parade unless its organizers change their limitations on displays of gay pride.

USA

Nebraska welfare officials ignoring state’s ban on gay, unmarried foster parents

Nebraska welfare officials have been placing foster children in the homes of gay, lesbian and unmarried couples since before Gov. Pete Ricketts took office in January, despite a 1995 policy barring the state from doing so.

USA

LGBT rights activists arrested for protests in Idaho House, Senate chambers

Police arrested roughly two dozen LGBT rights activists after protesters refused to leave the Idaho Senate and House chambers in an attempt to pressure lawmakers into passing anti-discrimination protections.

Newsmakers

Holder: ‘Nothing justifies excluding same-sex couples from the institution of marriage’

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says the Justice Department will file a brief with the Supreme Court stating its position that same-sex marriage bans violate the fundamental constitutional guarantee of "equal protection of the laws."

USA

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts denounces same-sex marriage ruling

Gov. Pete Ricketts is denouncing a federal judge’s decision to strike down Nebraska’s constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

USA

Supreme Court rejects appeal by Prop 8 donors to keep their identities secret

The justices let stand a lower court ruling against ProtectMarriage.com, the National Organization for Marriage and other supporters of a 2008 ballot initiative that outlawed same-sex marriages in California until the ban was overturned five years later.

USA

Federal judge strikes down Nebraska same-sex marriage ban

A federal judge blocked Nebraska’s same-sex marriage ban on Monday, but the decision will not take effect for a week and the attorney general’s office immediately appealed to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

USA

Marriage News Watch, March 2, 2015

Texas lawmakers are gunning for the judge who let two lesbians to get married. Meanwhile, homophobic lawmakers celebrate the 10th anniversary of the state's marriage ban. There's just one problem: the law will probably be overturned before it actually turns ten.

USA

California GOP officially recognizes gay faction ‘Log Cabin Republicans’

The California Republican Party on Sunday officially recognized the party’s organized gay wing that has fought years for formal acceptance.

USA

New York City mayor marches in LGBT-friendly pre-St. Patrick’s Day parade

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told hundreds of participants at an LGBT-friendly St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday that a society for all is one that embraces and respects everyone.

LGBTQ Life

‘Tomboy’ Renee recalls shopping trip to ‘The Gap’ to fix gender

Renee was a "tomboy" as long as they can remember. As a teenager, Renee was part of an all-girls youth group, and was asked to represent the group at a pageant weekend. Part of that involved wearing a gown.

LGBTQ Life

Jonathan Knight on being outed and how ‘The Amazing Race’ helped his anxiety

New Kid on the Block Jonathan Knight, who appears on CBS' "The Amazing Race" with his partner Harley Rodriguez, opens up about how hiding his sexual orientation led to his struggle with stage fright and panic attacks.

Views & Voices

Will our prisons overflow with Christians?

Many leaders of the Christian Right, from megachurch pastors like Rick Warren to the top prelates in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, have repeatedly threatened civil disobedience (and worse) over marriage equality. If they follow through on their claims, a summer of “martyrdom” may be at hand if the

USA

North Carolina mom believes bullying led to transgender teen’s suicide

Local LGBT community leaders in Charlotte, N.C., are responding with messages of support and encouragement, following the death Thursday of a transgender student. Ash Haffner, 16, died by suicide on Thursday.

Newsmakers

No evolution for Jeb Bush: ‘I believe in traditional marriage.’

Despite a perception that he’s the most LGBT-friendly Republican in the field of potential presidential candidates, Jeb Bush said Friday he remains opposed to same-sex marriage, reports The Washington Blade.

USA

Alabama court reverses itself, allows visitation case after same-sex couple split

An Alabama appeals court reversed itself on Friday, ruling that a woman who separated from her same-sex partner in Georgia can pursue visitation rights in Alabama.

USA

Mo. bill would make issuing same-sex marriage licenses a fireable offense

A Missouri legislator has introduced a bill that would make it illegal for the state to enforce a marriage other than between a man and a woman and could lead to the firing of government employees who issue such licenses.

Arts

Eddie Redmayne’s latest transformation: Transgender pioneer Lili Elbe

Fresh from his Oscar win for Lead Actor for his performance as famed astrophysicist Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything,” British actor Eddie Redmayne is taking on another project that involves a drastic physical transformation.

USA

Ky. Senate OKs bill requiring separate restrooms for transgender students

Kentucky's state Senate voted Friday to force transgender students to use separate bathrooms in public schools, a move that recalled the dark days of segregation for some but for others represented a stand for privacy rights.

Newsmakers

Benhams working to defeat Charlotte ‘depraved’ non-discrimination ordinance

David and Jason Benham say they're working to defeat a proposed LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance in Charlotte, N.C., which David Benham called “so depraved and just absolutely craziness.”

USA

Mississippi justices say gay marriage ban should be declared unconstitutional

Two Mississippi Supreme Court justices said Thursday that the court should find the state's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional and not wait for a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Views & Voices

The phantom roadmap to LGBT discrimination

Scheming villains thirst to rollback the progress our nation has attained toward full LGBT equality. But, could they actually do it? Insidious laws like Arkansas' innocent-sounding "Intrastate Commerce Improvement Act" (SB 202) may provide the roadmap.

USA

W.Va. Senate leader: ‘No way’ we’re considering LGBT discrimination bill

West Virginia Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael says there's "no way" his chamber will consider a proposal to nullify local ordinances that protect LGBT people from housing and employment discrimination.

LGBTQ Life

Facebook adds new gender option for users: ‘Fill in the blank’

Facebook users who don't fit any of the 58 gender identity options offered by the social media giant are now being given a rather big 59th option: fill in the blank.

LGBTQ Life

Study: Stem cell breakthrough opens door to biological children of same-sex couples

An international team of scientists have shown that it is possible to create human sperm and eggs from stem cells derived from adult skin, regardless of the donor’s gender.

USA

West Virginia House panel advances bill to nullify local LGBT protections

A West Virginia House committee on Wednesday advanced a bill that would nullify local nondiscrimination ordinances that critics said amounted to “legislative gay bashing.”

World

Mexico’s quiet marriage equality revolution

Courts in more than two-thirds of Mexico’s 31 states have granted same-sex couples the right to marry over the past two years in a series of rulings that will likely make marriage equality a reality nationwide in the near future.
(BuzzFeed News)

USA

Alabama religious groups support Roy Moore’s stand against same-sex marriage

Supporters who rallied around Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore during his 2003 Ten Commandments fight returned to Alabama Wednesday to praise his stand against same-sex marriage.

Views & Voices

Why do bakeries have to sell wedding cakes for same-sex ceremonies?

Why do some bakeries have to sell gay wedding cakes, but they don't have to sell cakes with homophobic slurs? And what's REALLY at stake here? Unfurrow your confused brow with this Fireside Chat from Matt Baume.

USA

Texas lawmakers, conservative leaders celebrate 10 years of marriage inequality

Several Texas lawmakers joined conservative leaders at the state capitol in Tuesday for a controversial slice of symbolic wedding cake in a 10th anniversary celebration of the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Newsmakers

Cop who objected to riding in gay pride says he was unfairly branded a ‘bigot’

A former Salt Lake City police officer who was put on leave and later resigned after he objected to riding in the motorcycle brigade at the front of last year's gay pride parade is speaking out against what he believes was a violation of his religious liberties.