News

LINCOLN, Neb. — A Nebraska legislative committee on Friday advanced a bill that would allow gay and lesbian couples to serve as foster parents if they are related to the child or have a well-established relationship.

The Illinois same-sex marriage bill had its deadline date for approval extended into the summer. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) acted quietly on Friday night before the House adjourned to extend the bill’s deadline for approval until August 31.

FOSTORIA, Ohio — A transgender student in northwest Ohio will be allowed to follow the female dress code at Sunday’s graduation despite a conflict with school policies.

Frank Ferri made peace with God years ago. Last month, Ferri defeated the Roman Catholic Church. The openly gay state representative led the fight to legalize same-sex marriage in what may be the most Catholic state in the nation’s most Catholic region.

SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds of members of the Mormon church are planning on Sunday to duplicate a powerful message they sent last year by marching in the Utah Gay Pride Parade in downtown Salt Lake City.

CHICAGO — A gay couple alleges an innocent kiss nearly caused them to be ejected from their cab onto a rain-slicked Kennedy Expressway in Chicago on Thursday night.

OCALA, Fla. — A federal judge on Thursday reinforced the right of a Florida teen to organize a gays-straight alliance at her middle school.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. Pat Quinn said Friday the fight for same-sex marriage in Illinois is not over.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Despite urging from President Barack Obama in his home state and fierce on-the-ground campaigning, a legislative measure that would have made Illinois the 13th state to allow same-sex couples to marry didn’t rally enough support from lawmakers in the House.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles improperly revoked a gay-youth advocacy group’s specialty license plate last year and should reinstate that plate by late June, an administrative law judge has ruled.