News

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Last year’s emotional campaign over a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in Minnesota cost the two main competing groups a combined $18 million, according to campaign finance reports released Friday.

The Alabama public school high teacher and football coach who was secretly recorded in a classroom setting making derogatory comments about gays and First Lady Michelle Obama, has been suspended.

CHICAGO — Legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in Illinois is expected to come up in a Senate committee meeting Tuesday and could see a floor vote on Valentine’s Day.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) is set to reintroduce legislation on Tuesday that would enable gay Americans to sponsor their foreign partners for a green card as debate continues over whether such language should be included as part of comprehensive immigration reform.

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats, bolstered by Republican support, on Monday launched a new attempt to broaden a law protecting women from domestic abuse by expanding its provisions to cover gays, lesbians and Native Americans.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Freshman state lawmaker, Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia), the first openly gay elected member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, is leading efforts in the state House to gain bipartisan support for an anti-bullying bill known as the Pennsylvania Safe Schools (PASS) Act.

IRVING, Texas — The Boy Scouts of America’s national executive board began three days of closed meetings Monday that are expected to include a discussion of its policy excluding gay members and leaders, and Scouts on both sides of the debate are publicly weighing in.

CHICAGO — It really does get better for gay and bisexual teens when it comes to being bullied, although young gay men have it worse than their lesbian peers, according to the first long-term scientific evidence on how the problem changes over time.

BEREA, Ky. — LGBT citizens scored another victory in Kentucky, as the small town of Berea prepares to expand anti-discrimination protections for city employees.

WASHINGTON — District of Columbia officials are announcing a partnership between prosecutors, the mayor’s office and the gay, lesbian and transgender community.