News

PHOENIX — Embattled Pinal County, Arizona sheriff Paul Babeu — who came out as gay amid allegations that he threatened to have an ex-boyfriend deported — once ran a Massachusetts boarding school with a history of physical and sexual abuse, and for a time lived with one of the school’s male students.

COON RAPIDS, Minn. — Just weeks after denouncing a Rolling Stone article on bullying and teen suicide as a “brutal and distorted attack,” the Superintendent of the Anoka-Hennepin School District in suburban Minneapolis now says “there can be no doubt that in many situations bullying is one of the contributing factors” to suicide.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Three years after Maine voters rejected same-sex marriage, advocates have gathered the required number of verified signatures to put the issue of marriage equality back on the November 2012 ballot, according to Maine’s Secretary of State, Charlie Summers.

SAN FRANCISCO — A group of Republican members of Congress who oppose gay rights filed an appeal today of a federal judge’s ruling that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional.

DALLAS — An openly lesbian judge in Dallas County, Texas says she refuses to perform marriage ceremonies for heterosexual couples until the state of Texas allows same-sex partners to wed.

WASHINGTON — The virulently anti-gay Family Research Center has launched an aggressive new fundraising campaign to “Stop Fake Marriages” in the U.S., because, according to the FRC, 2012 could be the “tipping point” year in the battle for marriage.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Opponents of a marriage equality bill passed in the Maryland state legislature — which is on its way to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s desk for his promised signature — have filed the necessary paperwork with the Maryland Board of Elections for a referendum petition to let Maryland voters decide the issue.

SAN FRANCISCO — State officials have given anti-gay activists the go-ahead to gather petition signatures to repeal Senate Bill 48, also known as the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act. The law requires that California school students be taught about the historical contributions of LGBT people.

The issue of same-sex marriage has returned to the national stage in an unprecedented way as numerous states throughout the country are seeing action on the issue.

DALLAS — A GOP candidate running for the U.S. Senate from Texas, told his opponents and the audience during a Republican debate in Dallas Wednesday night that he feels that believes being gay is a choice and gays will have to answer to God.