National Headlines

NEW YORK -- One after another, major U.S. corporations have updated anti-discrimination policies to protect gay, lesbian and transgender workers, drawing plaudits from gay-rights groups. There's one prominent exception: Exxon Mobil Corp. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON — Far-reaching immigration legislation neared a final committee vote on Tuesday as the White House and Democratic supporters pressed the panel's chairman to delay a showdown over the rights of gay spouses until a debate in the full Senate. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy says he will not offer -- for now -- an amendment to an immigration bill allowing gay Americans to seek green cards for their spouses. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- The Peace Corps says it will begin accepting applications from same-sex couples who want to serve together as volunteers overseas. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- Two people familiar with the Senate immigration deliberations say the White House has suggested to Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy that it would be best to put off a controversy over same-sex partners until a bill goes before the full Senate. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- The Senate Judiciary Committee is aiming this week to pass a landmark immigration bill to secure the border and offer citizenship to millions, setting up a high-stakes debate on the Senate floor. [ Read more → ]

With its ranks deeply divided, the Boy Scouts of America is asking its local leaders from across the country to decide whether its controversial membership policy should be overhauled so that openly gay boys can participate in Scout units. [ Read more → ]

AUSTIN -- The Texas state House of Representatives on Wednesday voted in favor of a bill to allow student organizations at any of the state’s public universities to discriminate in their membership practices. [ Read more → ]

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Fifty-three percent of Americans now support legalizing same-sex marriage, the third consecutive reading of 50 percent or above in Gallup polling over the past year. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Monday that if the Senate Judiciary Committee attached an amendment to include provisions for same-sex bi-national couples in the pending immigration reform bill, he'll pull his support. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Thursday expressed concerns over whether or not the final draft of a comprehensive immigration reform bill would contain protections for foreign-born partners of gay Americans, but would not commit to voting for such an amendment. [ Read more → ]

A new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds further public acceptance of gay rights in the United States, in areas ranging from the professional basketball court to the Boy Scouts, as well as the institution of marriage. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- A California congresswoman on Tuesday reintroduced the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act in the U.S. House, a bill that would would lead to an eventual repeal of laws that criminalize exposing others to HIV. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- Religious leaders said Wednesday that adding a gay rights proposal to immigration legislation could risk their support for the bill, setting up a potential Senate showdown. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON – The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday filed an amendment to a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would allow legally married gay Americans to sponsor their foreign-born same-sex partners for green cards. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- A bill that would prohibit discrimination against LGBT people seeking to adopt or become foster parents is due to be reintroduced Tuesday in the U.S. Congress. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee says NBA veteran Jason Collins will headline its annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender gala. [ Read more → ]

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- President Barack Obama says he supports recognizing gay unions in a broad immigration bill pending in Congress but won't say whether he would sign legislation that fails to do so. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON -- Republicans in the U.S. Senate are warning that efforts to include an amendment that offers a path to legal residency for foreign-born partners of gay Americans would derail an immigration package currently being considered in the Senate Judiciary Committee. [ Read more → ]

ESPN Radio talk show host Tony Kornheiser on Tuesday said the sports network issued guidelines to its employees for discussing gay athletes following NBA player Jason Collins’ announcement Monday that he is gay. [ Read more → ]