California

A federal appeals court on Thursday ruled against the release of the videotapes of the Proposition 8 trial, the federal court challenge of California’s 2008 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.

On Jan., 14, 2012, EricJames Borges committed suicide, shocking his friends and his co-workers at The Trevor Project. SDGLN Contributor Melanie Nathan attended one of his funerals, and obtained a copy of one of his suicide notes that gives insight on what he was thinking. This is her exclusive story.

GRANITE BAY, Calif. — Another gay teen, the apparent victim of anti-gay bullying, has been lost to suicide. In the early morning hours of New Year’s Day, Jeffrey Fehr, 18, hanged himself at his family’s home in Granite Bay, Calif.

SAN DIEGO – Well-known AIDS and LGBT activist Mike Tidmus of San Diego died Sunday. He was 60. Tidmus’ death was reported on his Facebook page by his brother.

SAN DIEGO (CN) – In a federal class action, a woman claims Avis Rent A Car violated her civil rights by offering discounted rates to gay and lesbian customers, but not to her.

Bradford Wells breathed a sigh of relief this week following the news that his Australian-native spouse, Anthony Makk, won’t be forced to leave the United States anytime soon — Wells received a letter from U.S. Customs & Immigration Services that potential deportation action on Makk won’t happen for at least two years.

Welcome to 2012! We got a lot of work to do this year, so let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work. The new year marks new civil union laws in Delaware, Hawaii, and California. Psychologists in North Carolina lash out at anti-gay prejudice, LGBTs can marry in Cancun — probably — and something fishy’s going on with civil unions in the European Union.

From the repeal of “Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell,” a policy which had banned gays and lesbians from serving openly in the U. S. military, to winning strategic battles in gaining civil unions and full marriage equality for same-sex couples in several states, victories in a significant series of elective offices across the country, 2011 ended on an upbeat note for the nation’s LGBTQ community.

One leading advocate called 2011 an “epic” year for marriage equality. Was it? While only one state — New York — enacted full marriage rights for same-sex couples, it was the most populous state to do so. Five other states also moved closer to marriage equality than ever before. Public opinion shifted dramatically towards supporting equality. And the Obama administration announced that it no longer considers a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act constitutional.

VENTURA, Calif. — Brandon McInerney was sentenced Monday to 21 years in state prison for the execution style killing of openly gay classmate Lawrence King during a computer lab class three years ago.