News

PARIS — Paris riot police fought back crowds who pushed their way onto Paris’ landmark Champs-Elysees avenue as part of a huge protest against a draft law allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children.

Embattled folk singer Michelle Shocked, who last weekend stunned a San Francisco audience with an anti-gay rant, tweeted Friday that she still plans to appear at a California club on Saturday, even though the venue cancelled her appearance due to her homophobic remarks.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland’s largest public high school has reclassified six restrooms as unisex to create another option for transgender students and faculty who feel uncomfortable with traditional bathrooms.

It is hard to overstate the potential impact of the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court cases concerning marriage for same-sex couples. The primary questions posed by the two cases – Hollingsworth v. Perry involving Proposition 8. and U.S. v. Windsor, involving the Defense of Marriage Act— could lead to rulings that dramatically advance the equality of LGBT people under the law. But the Supreme Court may end up issuing no ruling in either case.

Buncombe County, N.C., commissioners voted 4-3 on Tuesday to begin offering health and other benefits to the same-sex partners of county employees.

WASHINGTON — A line has begun forming outside the U.S. Supreme Court for people who want to attend next week’s arguments in two same-sex marriage cases.

The Respect for Marriage Coalition on Friday unveiled the latest in a series of national television ads aimed at showcasing the broad public support for the freedom to marry.

JACKSON, Miss. — Former Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove says he now regrets signing a state law in 2000 that bans same-sex couples from adopting children.

After initially stating that he was undecided on whether New Jersey should ban the controversial use of “gay conversion therapy,” Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday he opposed the practice, but stopped short of taking a position on a bill that would ban the therapy on LGBT youth.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear will have to decide Friday whether to veto a bill that supporters say would give stronger legal standing in Kentucky to people who claim their religious rights are being violated.