New York

Openly gay attorney Sean Patrick Maloney has advanced to the November general election in New York’s 18th Congressional District after winning his Democratic primary tonight. [ Read more → ]

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The New York state legislature this week approved a bill that would require the state's public schools to develop procedures to address complaints of email, texting and online harassment -- also referred to as cyber-bullying. [ Read more → ]

NEW YORK -- A Brooklyn teenager was was left blind in one eye after being assaulted by bullies who shouted anti-gay epithets during an attack earlier this month at his middle school, according to the teen's family [ Read more → ]

Almost one year to the date since New York state legalized same-sex marriage, the June 25 issue of New Yorker magazine features this illustration, entitled "June Brides" by Gayle Kabaker. [ Read more → ]

QUEENS, N.Y. -- A fifth grade student in Queens, N.Y., who earlier this week was prohibited from reading an essay on marriage equality that he wrote for a school competition, will be allowed to recite his essay during a special assembly. [ Read more → ]

A New York woman has been awarded a $25,000 settlement in a discrimination lawsuit against a Sizzler Restaurant in Forest Hills, N.Y., where she was allegedly attacked while trying to dine with friends. [ Read more → ]

NEW YORK, NY -- U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Jones in Manhattan added herself to a growing list of federal judges across the nation on Wednesday by ruling that a key component of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unfairly discriminates against married same-sex couples by prohibiting them access to federal benefits available to married heterosexual couples. [ Read more → ]

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A New York appellate court on Thursday ruled that it was not slanderous to falsely say that another person is gay. [ Read more → ]

BOSTON -- Organizers of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade that takes place in South Boston have rejected applications submitted by two LGBT advocacy groups to participate in Sunday’s parade. [ Read more → ]

Jeremy Hooper at Good As You calls our attention to Sunday's televised "debate" on same-sex marriage between Freedom to Marry President Evan Wolfson and National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown. [ Read more → ]

From the repeal of "Don't Ask-Don't Tell," a policy which had banned gays and lesbians from serving openly in the U. S. military, to winning strategic battles in gaining civil unions and full marriage equality for same-sex couples in several states, victories in a significant series of elective offices across the country, 2011 ended on an upbeat note for the nation's LGBTQ community. [ Read more → ]

One leading advocate called 2011 an “epic” year for marriage equality. Was it? While only one state -- New York -- enacted full marriage rights for same-sex couples, it was the most populous state to do so. Five other states also moved closer to marriage equality than ever before. Public opinion shifted dramatically towards supporting equality. And the Obama administration announced that it no longer considers a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act constitutional. [ Read more → ]

A new law in Ireland means that New Yorkers now have more rights on the Emerald Isle than they do in their own country. A hospital in Tennessee violates federal guidelines in denying visitation to a lesbian couple. There's a new ad for marriage equality in New Hampshire that epitomizes Yankee thrift. And 20,000 Australian doctors agree: marriage equality is good for your head. [ Read more → ]

NEW YORK -- A federal immigration judge has signed an order dismissing the case against an Argentine woman who had married a U.S. citizen and was facing deportation. [ Read more → ]

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. -- The Williamsville Central School District concluded its investigation into the Jamey Rodemeyer case last week by suspending some North High School students after Amherst police closed their criminal investigation Nov. 22 without filing charges. [ Read more → ]

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- A jury in Chemung County, N.Y. has found Louis M. Duffy guilty of murder in the May 1 killing of Clinton "Billy" Lewis, the owner of Club Chill, a gay bar in Elmira, N.Y. [ Read more → ]

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Tired of waiting for Albany lawmakers to toughen the state’s anti-bullying laws, two Erie County legislators have proposed making cyber-bullying a misdemeanor. [ Read more → ]

The number of adoptions by gay and lesbian parents has almost tripled over the past ten years, despite the "patchwork of discriminatory policies" that often make it difficult for gays and lesbians to adopt, as either couples or individuals, according to a new study released this week. [ Read more → ]

More than 250 gay, lesbian, and same-sex marriage activists have officially registered as members of the Erie County, N.Y. Conservative Party -- which strongly opposes same-sex marriage -- an effort by activists to ensure the re-election of GOP state Sen. Mark Grisanti. [ Read more → ]

A fringe Hassidic group based in Brooklyn is claiming that "man-on-boy" pedophilia has "surged" in New York State since same-sex marriage was legalized bill was passed a few months ago, and is launching an awareness campaign to thwart, repo gay married child molesters. [ Read more → ]