LGBTQ rights

MIAMI — A federal court in Miami has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Washington state lesbian who was not allowed to visit her dying partner at Jackson Memorial Hospital. “The hospital took the position that we thought was pretty extreme — that it has no duty, no legal obligation, to allow visitors [of any […]

PHOENIX — Domestic partners are being eliminated from Arizona state employee benefits just a year after they were added to the benefits plan, reports the Arizona Daily Star.

House Democrats are mobilizing around a new bill that would overturn the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman and relieved states of recognizing same-sex marriage performed in other states. Leading the effort is Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-New York), who said that when the law was signed […]

ATLANTA — Days of protests over an Atlanta police raid on a gay bar continued Tuesday afternoon, this time reaching city hall. About 20 protestors showed up for the Atlanta City Council’s Public Safety Committee meeting, claiming the Sept. 10 raid at the Atlanta Eagle bar was uncalled for and heavy handed, reports WXIA-TV. Witnesses […]

The number of businesses with perfect ratings based on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workplace policies and benefits rose by twenty percent in the past twelve months — despite the serious economic downturn — according to a new report released Monday by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender […]

ATLANTA — Patrons and supporters of the gay leather bar the Atlanta Eagle are gathering today at 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the establishment to hold a rally to protest a controversial raid where eight employees were arrested by Atlanta Police on Sept. 10. On Friday night, supporters gathered at the bar in […]

ATLANTA — The owners of an Atlanta gay bar say their establishment was unfairly targeted by police conducting a raid Thursday evening. Several customers at Atlanta Eagle say they were harassed without prompting, forced to the ground and frisked. “Our problem is with the way our customers were treated,” said one of the Eagle’s owners, […]

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 […]

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 […]

Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri is defending his decision to speak at a fundraiser for a Massachusetts group that considers homosexuality “destructive” and “an unhealthy practice.” Carcieri said on WPRO Radio on Wednesday that he agreed at the request of a friend to be the keynote speaker at a fund raising banquet for Massachusetts Family […]

In his most definitive comments yet on gay rights, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday he doesn’t believe sexual orientation should be a protected class in the way that race, gender and religion are. “I don’t think we should discriminate against people,” Herbert said during his first news conference since becoming governor two weeks ago. […]

The Anchorage Assembly has less than two weeks left to override the mayor’s veto of the gay rights ordinance, but the first opportunity to do so came and went Tuesday night, as the assembly took no action. The ordinance’s author, Patrick Flynn, says the Assembly would have to start all over if it wants to […]

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker is proposing a new city ordinance that includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The public discussion draft is based on a July report by the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission that provides “factual confirmation of the harms caused by discriminatory practices.” The ordinance would […]

Sirius XM Radio personality Michelangelo Signorile and Log Cabin Republican spokesman Charles Moran discussed President Obama’s campaign promises and gay rights positions on CNN today. Kicking off the segment, CNN anchor Don Lemon played clips of Obama referring to himself as a “fierce advocate” and champion for LGBT rights. Moran’s opening statement challenged Obama’s advocacy, […]

Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan vetoed the controversial anti-discrimination ordinance on Monday, citing negative comments and arguing that there is no need for the measure. City leaders passed the measure that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in areas of employment, housing and credit by a 7 to 4 vote last […]

In what’s shaping up to be a heated race in Iowa’s House District 90, Republican Stephen Burgmeier has received the endorsement of anti-gay rights organization Everyday America. The race between Burgmeier and Democrat Curt Hanson to fill the seat left open when Democratic Rep. John Whitaker accepted President Obama’s appointment to serve as the Iowa […]

A southern Utah newspaper has rejected a gay couple’s wedding announcement, saying its policy is to publish announcements only for marriages legal under Utah law. The Spectrum in St. George initially accepted […]

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would ban workplace bias based on sexual orientation and gender discrimination, has a chance of becoming law by the end of 2009, according to Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., its lead sponsor in the Senate. The measure was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday with 38 co-sponsors, including Sens. Edward Kennedy, […]

The local newspaper in Elkhart, Indiana landed in the center of the same-sex marriage debate this week when it published an Iowa couple’s marriage announcement. Michael Berkey and James Chapin, both of Hanlontown, IA were featured in the newpaper’s July 12 engagement section because Berkey is a graduate of the local high school and his […]