Oregon

Three more states could soon join California, New Jersey and the District of Columbia in outlawing therapy that seeks to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBT youth.

Kate Brown has stepped in as Oregon’s governor following an influence-peddling scandal that prompted the resignation of her predecessor, fellow Democrat John Kitzhaber. Brown was sworn in during a Wednesday ceremony at the state Capitol. Brown, formerly the secretary of state, becomes the first openly bisexual governor in the nation.

“LGBT” has become a household term amid sweeping advances for gay rights, and yet the “B” sometimes seems like an awkward fit. But the sudden advent of America’s first openly bisexual governor may provide a chance to ease the awkwardness and broaden understanding of the bisexual community.

The resignation of Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has thrown a spotlight on the next in line to succeed him: Kate Brown, the 54-year-old openly bisexual secretary of state who has long been thought to have her eye on Oregon’s top elected position.

A hearing is scheduled in March to determine how much in damages two Oregon bakers owe a lesbian couple for refusing to bake them a wedding cake in 2013.

EUGENE, Ore. — Prominent Oregon gay rights activist Terry Bean pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Eugene to sodomy and sex abuse charges involving a 15-year-old boy. His lawyer, Kristen Winemiller, previously said Bean is the victim of an extortion ring.

A federal appeals court has denied a request by the National Organization for Marriage that the court reconsider its motion to appeal a federal judge’s ruling that struck down Oregon’s ban on same-sex marriage.

BEND, Ore. — An Oregon individual who identifies as neither a man nor a woman has filed a sex discrimination complaint against a Wisconsin-based wilderness therapy program claiming they lost out on a job by identifying as transgender.

The number of marriage cases before the Supreme Court keeps climbing, with the Court scheduled to decide which ones to take in just a few weeks. Plus, couples file new briefs in Texas, and appeal last week’s anti-gay ruling from a federal judge in Louisiana. These stories and more in this week’s Marriage News Watch report from Matt Baume at the …

The National Organization for Marriage has asked the full Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to allow it to appeal a federal court ruling that struck down Oregon’s ban on same-sex marriage. The request comes two weeks after a three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit Court rejected NOM’s attempt to appeal the May 19 ruling…