The Washington state attorney general’s office announced Friday it will appeal a federal judge’s ruling to keep secret the names of people who signed petitions calling for a public vote on expanded domestic partnership benefits. Spokeswoman Janelle Guthrie says Attorney General Rob McKenna will ask the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review the […]

A proposal in the Ohio Legislature to prohibit employment and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is making progress for the first time, after years of languishing in committee. The Democratic-controlled House is poised to bring the legislation up for a vote when lawmakers return next week from a break. It was […]

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the state of Washington to continue shielding the identities of people who signed petitions to force a vote on expanded benefits for gay couples. U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle (pictured) in Tacoma granted the preliminary injunction involving petitions for Referendum 71 while a related case moves forward on the […]

LOS ANGELES — L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Chief Executive Officer Lorri L. Jean issued a statement yesterday, calling Assemblymember Michael Duvall’s extra-marital affairs “despicable.” “Even as he resigns in shame, former California Assemblymember Michael Duvall is wallowing in hypocrisy. While engaging in extra-marital affairs, he used ‘family values’ as a justification to vote against […]

SACRAMENTO — A Republican state assemblyman in California resigned Wednesday amid growing outrage over a videotape that caught him bragging in graphic detail about having sex with a female lobbyist and another woman. Mike Duvall, 54, whose votes on family-oriented bills received high marks from conservatives, said he is quitting because his “inappropriate comments have […]

California’s two Democratic U.S. senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, are facing increased pressure from LGBT leaders to take charge on pro-gay legislation as Congress returns from its summer recess, according to The Bay Area Reporter. The calls for the two female lawmakers to take the lead in pushing for LGBT bills have increased since […]

Brothers Samuel and Daniel McMillen from Liberty, MO will appear on the new season of CBS’ “The Amazing Race” this fall. What’s unique is that the brothers are both gay. As their story goes, Sam and Dan will tell you that their relationship did not truly start until last summer when they both came out […]

The Miami Herald. Uruguay, long-regarded as one of the most progressive countries in Latin America, set a standard for the region by allowing same-sex couples to adopt children with a bill that passed the Senate on Wednesday. The bill was approved 17-6, with most of its support coming from legislators of the ruling leftist Frente […]

The 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard shocked the nation. The 21 year-old college student was viciously murdered in Laramie, WY, bludgeoned to death while tied to a fence. Matthew was targeted because he was gay. Matthew’s death and the subsequent trial and convictions of his attackers incited demonstrations and debates over gay rights. For many, […]

UPDATED 17:30 PT — A judge on Tuesday refused to block a proposed ballot initiative on expanded domestic partnership benefits for gay couples in Washington state. Thurston County Superior Court Judge Thomas McPhee rejected arguments today in an Olympia courtroom in the lawsuit filed by Washington Families Standing Together. The group challenged the validity of […]

Alexi Giannoulias is running for the U.S. Senate, and says he favors legalization of same-sex marriage and repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. The 33 year old Illinois State Treasurer, who in July announced his bid for the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama, has been a longtime supporter of gay […]

Maine’s Catholic church continues to be active in the fight against same sex marriage. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland has asked churches to take up a special second collection next weekend to support Stand For Marriage Maine, the group leading the effort to repeal Maine’s same sex marriage law. Bishop Richard Malone also noted […]

ALBANY — Gay marriage may be on the New York state Senate’s agenda as early as this month if Gov. Paterson has his way. In an interview with the Advocate on Thursday, Paterson said he intends to put the bill legalizing same-sex marriage on the agenda when he calls the Legislature back into session to […]

SACRAMENTO — A bill to designate a day of honor for slain gay-rights activist Harvey Milk could be headed for another veto by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger once the California legislature sends it his way. The bill to designate Milk’s birthday, May 22, as a day of “special significance,” was passed by both houses of the […]

It’s been five years since Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriage, and as Rachel Maddow points out, despite all the fear, the sky didn’t fall. In fact, divorce rates are down to pre-1940’s level, and Massachusetts now boasts the lowest divorce rates in the country. From Thursday night’s broadcast of the Rachel […]

Supporters of Washington’s “everything but marriage” gay partnerships are continuing their court battle over Referendum 71. R-71’s conservative sponsors have collected enough petitions to force a vote on the latest expansion of domestic partnership rights, but gay-rights activists say that state election officials accepted thousands of improper signatures, and filed a lawsuit in Thurston County […]

The fate of Maine’s gay marriage law now lies in the hands of the voters. Election officials announced Wednesday that gay marriage foes surpassed the threshold of signatures necessary to put the state law on the November ballot, setting the stage for a furious, two-month campaign. The referendum means Maine voters have the chance to […]

Protect Maine Equality has released its first two television ads following Wednesday’s announcement that a ballot measure to repeal the state’s marriage equality laws has made it November’s ballot. (See related post.) The first features Sam Putnam af Portland, who plays high school football and baseball, and is the pride and joy of his mother, […]

Meet Sam Putnam of Portland, he plays high school football and baseball, and is the pride and joy of his mother, Jennifer and her partner, Michelle. For Sam, it’s pretty basic — this is his family and he wants them to be valued and treated equally in Maine. See related posts: Maine gay marriage on […]

Thousands of tourists, gay and straight, are descending on New Orleans this weekend for the annual Southern Decadence Festival, which organizers says is “one of the gay world’s major annual events.” In the almost four decades since it started, Southern Decadence has become a traditional Labor Day weekend, end-of-summer, event. But for two of the […]