News

A spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie says he will appeal a state court ruling calling for same-sex marriage to be legalized.

CHICAGO — A lawsuit seeking to overturn Illinois’ ban on gay marriage can move forward in the courts, a judge ruled Friday, buoying hopes among some same-sex couples that it’s just a matter of time before they can marry in their home state.

New Jersey must allow gay couples to marry starting Oct. 21, because the state’s civil union law is unconstitutionally denying federal benefits to same-sex couples, a judge ruled Friday.

NEW YORK — Exxon Mobil Corp. said Friday that it will begin offering benefits to legally married same-sex couples in the U.S. for the first time starting next week.

UNITED NATIONS — The president of Gambia is using his address to the United Nations General Assembly to attack gays and lesbians, calling homosexuality one of the three “biggest threats to human existence.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The executive board of the Illinois chapter of the AFL-CIO is supporting gay marriage. The board voted Thursday in Chicago to urge the Illinois House to adopt the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.” The adopted resolution states the AFL-CIO joins faith communities, civil rights organizations, President Barack Obama and its own […]

PHILADELPHIA — Two women who moved to Pennsylvania after being wed in Massachusetts asked a court on Thursday to force their new home state to recognize the marriage.

SOCHI, Russia — The International Olympic Committee has dismissed concerns over Russia’s law banning gay propaganda, saying it doesn’t violate the Olympic charter’s anti-discrimination clause, and pronounced Russia ready to host the 2014 Winter Games.

McLEAN, Va. — Republican Ken Cuccinelli found himself furiously rejecting claims by his Democratic opponent in the governor’s race, Terry McAuliffe, that his actions against gay rights as Attorney General had almost driven business from Virginia.

BATON ROUGE, La. — The leader of an anti-gay hate group has been appointed to the Louisiana state Law Enforcement Commission, a group which oversees awarding grants, training of police officers, and regulates law enforcement activity across the state.