California

SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court on Friday blocked the start of a new California law that prohibits therapists from practicing sexual orientation conversion, or "reparative," therapy on minors. [ Read more → ]

SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court on Thursday said that two leases held by the Boy Scouts of America do not violate the constitutional separation of church and state, despite the Scouts' policies that prohibit atheists, agnostics and homosexuals from becoming members. [ Read more → ]

SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge on Tuesday denied a request by an anti-LGBT group to postpone the January 1, 2013 start of California’s new law banning controversial gay-to-straight conversion, or "reparative" therapy, for LGBT youth. [ Read more → ]

A federal judge in California on Monday issued a temporary injunction on the state's ban on controverial gay-to-straight "conversion" therapy, but limited the scope of his order to just the three providers who have appealed the ban. [ Read more → ]

Governor Jerry Brown on Wednesday made judicial history by appointing the first openly gay justice to serve on the California Court of Appeals. [ Read more → ]

SAN DIEGO – Joshua James Larson, the former Playgirl model who was convicted of second-degree murder in connection with the 2011 beating death of Jason “Cowboy” Huggins, was sentenced to an indefinite term of 19 years to life at a hearing today. [ Read more → ]

SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Health Commission, the governing and policy-making body of the city's Department of Public Health, announced Tuesday its intent to remove transgender exclusions from the "Healthy San Francisco" health access program. [ Read more → ]

SAN DIEGO – Bob Filner won election as mayor of San Diego early today, defeating Carl DeMaio, whose election would have made history as the first gay Republican to take the reins of one of America’s largest cities, [ Read more → ]

SAN DIEGO -- A British theologian claims that the University of San Diego has withdrawn a fellowship and revoked a speaking invitation because she signed a letter supporting civil marriage rights for same-sex couples in the United Kingdom. [ Read more → ]

After a year without a permanent executive director, the statewide LGBT lobbying group Equality California announced Wednesday that the board of directors has selected John O'Connor, who currently serves as the executive director of the LGBT Community Center of the Desert in Palm Springs, to fill the position. [ Read more → ]

Two LGBT advocacy groups, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Equality California, filed court papers late Friday seeking to intervene in a federal lawsuit challenging the new California law protecting LGBT youth from "gay-to-straight" reparative therapy. [ Read more → ]

LOS ANGELES -- A Moraga, Calif., teen who was kicked out of the Boy Scouts and denied his Eagle award because he is gay, was awarded a $20,000 scholarship from the online photo album company Shutterfly during an appearance on the Ellen Degeneres show on Thursday. [ Read more → ]

Therapists who purportedly counsel gay and lesbian patients into heterosexuality and two anti-gay organizations have filed lawsuits seeking an injunction against California's recently approved ban on reparative therapy for minors. [ Read more → ]

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. -- A 17-year-old high school senior from this hillside area just east of Oakland, Calif., has been told by the Boy Scouts that he is not eligible to be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout because he is gay. [ Read more → ]

Just two days after California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill banning psychological therapy aimed at turning gay and lesbian youth straight — often referred to as reparative therapy -- the anti-gay organization Liberty Counsel announced Monday it is preparing a lawsuit aimed at preventing the law from taking effect. [ Read more → ]

SAN FRANCISCO -- California Governor Jerry Brown on Saturday made history by signing a landmark legislation banning psychological therapy aimed at turning gay and lesbian youth straight — often referred to as reparative therapy. [ Read more → ]

SAN FRANCISCO -- California Governor Jerry Brown (D) on Friday signed a bill to ensure that women in same-sex relationships and single women can access fertility services on the same terms as women in opposite-sex relationships. [ Read more → ]

SAN DIEGO – A former Playgirl model has been convicted of second-degree murder in connection with the beating death of Jason “Cowboy” Huggins, a beloved figure in the San Diego LGBT community. [ Read more → ]

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA -- The city of West Hollywood has announced that it make permanent the temporary rainbow crosswalks installed back in June in honor of gay pride month. [ Read more → ]

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Police in Long Beach, Calif., are investigating an assault involving four U.S. Marine Corps' personnel who allegedly attacked a film student from San Dimas, Calif., and beat him unconscious outside the Silver Fox, a popular gay-patronized establishment. [ Read more → ]