News

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Several openly gay and lesbian candidates for local offices in North Carolina sailed to victory on election night.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Voters in Royal Oak, Mich., have passed Proposal A, upholding a Human Rights Ordinance the Royal Oak Commission passed in March of this year.

RICHMOND, Va. — Democratic state Sen. Ralph Northam defeated Republican E.W. Jackson in a race sharply defined by social issues.

ASBURY PARK, N.J. — Gov. Chris Christie was re-elected with ease Tuesday, demonstrating the kind of broad, bipartisan appeal that will serve as his opening argument should he seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has released a statement, applauding the passage of marriage equality in Illinois.

HONOLULU — Lawmakers on two House committees Tuesday neared the end of five days of public testimony on a gay marriage bill that has already cleared the state Senate.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Chicago-area pastors who are opposed to same-sex marriage say they will stand behind Illinois lawmakers who voted against the measure.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says he used “the art of persuasion” with less than 10 lawmakers to help pass a bill allowing same-sex marriage.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A historic vote Tuesday in the Illinois House positioned that state to become the largest in the heartland to legalize gay marriage, following months of arduous lobbying efforts by both sides in President Barack Obama’s home state.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The state’s top elected officials are watching lawmakers debate a bill that would add Illinois to 14 other states allowing same-sex marriage.