News

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) on Thursday re-introduced The Safe Schools Improvement Act in the U.S. House, a bill to help ensure a safe learning environment at schools nationwide and provide necessary resources to prevent school bullying and reduce the rising drop-out rate.

A new poll finds that the majority of Americans believe that marriage equality is a civil rights issue, and that it will inevitably become legal – whether they support it or not.

Fast-food chain Chick-fil-A — embroiled in a controversy last year surrounding the millions of dollars it donated in 2009 and 2010 to anti-gay organizations — almost doubled it’s charitable donations to anti-gay groups in 2011, according to newly released IRS documents.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A bill that would have prohibited discrimination against transgender Marylanders in the areas of housing, employment, and public accommodations, failed on Thursday to pass a committee vote.

DAVIS, Calif. — Police in Davis, Calif., have identified a suspect in a brutal attack on a gay man last weekend, and said they were investigating the violent beating as a possible hate crime.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Seven U.S. Congress members from Illinois are urging state lawmakers in Springfield to support a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

The varied family portraits of the U.S. Supreme Court justices are somewhat at odds with the arguments of gay marriage opponents who stress the unique ability of heterosexual couples to have babies as a reason to uphold bans on same-sex marriage.

NASHVILLE, Tenn — Another new version of Tennessee’s Classroom Protection Act, more commonly known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, would require teachers to send gay students to see a psychiatrist.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The debate over same-sex marriage in Rhode Island is expected to heat up once again now that the state Senate has scheduled a key legislative hearing.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Lawmakers are preparing to hear three bills on Thursday aimed at expanding rights for its LGBT residents. The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee will hear testimony Thursday on legislation that would stop discrimination against LGBT employees, and extend rights to people seeking to adopt or provide foster care to a child.