News

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) on Friday praised the nomination of U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) to be Secretary of State during President Obama’s second term.

ATLANTA — The number of new HIV infections for young gay and bisexual men has risen by 22 percent between 2008 and 2010, according to a new study released this week by the Centers For Disease Control (CDC).

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court on Thursday said that two leases held by the Boy Scouts of America do not violate the constitutional separation of church and state, despite the Scouts’ policies that prohibit atheists, agnostics and homosexuals from becoming members.

In the wake of a string of victories for same-sex marriage, former Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich has reportedly called on the Republican Party to accept the “reality” of marriage equality.

TRENTON, N.J. — A bill has been introduced that could make New Jersey the nation’s second state to impose limits on gay-to-straight “reparative,” or “conversion” therapy.

Rhode Island state Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Democrat) said Monday that, despite her opposition to same-sex marriage, she expects the issue will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee in the upcoming legislative session if the House advances a bill.

LGBT advocates in Virginia are rallying around an anti-discrimination bill ahead of the state’s 30-day 2013 legislative session that begins on Jan. 9, but Virginia’s history with LGBT rights and the language of the bill has attracted detractors from within the community.

CINCINNATI, Ohio — A federal appeals court on Monday upheld the University of Toledo’s decision to fire a high-level human resources administrator, who wrote a newspaper opinion column challenging the idea that LGBT people deserve the same civil rights protections as members of racial minority groups.

As lawmakers prepare to bring same-sex marriage legislation up for vote in the Illinois General Assembly early next month, a group of conservative religious organizations have formed a coalition against the bill.

The final version of major Pentagon budget legislation includes watered-down “conscience” language similar to the anti-gay provision found in the House version of the bill, according to a top House Democrat on defense issues.