Mark Takano

With the direction of the Supreme Court at stake, Democrats are reminding LGBT people of what they have to lose.

Massachusetts became the first state to elect an openly gay attorney general, while the gay candidate in Maine’s gubernatorial race narrowly lost his chance to make history. Nationally, gay-rights activists worried that conservative gains in Congress would hamper their bid for federal anti-bias legislation.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takano won reelection to a second term in California’s 41st House district on Tuesday night. Takano, who was challenged by Republican Steve Adams, was first elected to the House in 2012, becoming the first LGBT person of color in the U.S. Congress.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) on Tuesday introduced the Social Security and Medicare Parity Act in the U.S. House, a bill to close loopholes in the Social Security Act and guarantee that all married couples, including same-sex couples, receive the Social Security and Medicare spouse and survivor benefits that they have earned.

The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday came under increased pressure to prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination and ensure future host countries do not have discriminatory laws on their books.

The Nov. 6 election resulted in four new lesbian, gay and bisexual candidates winning seats in the House of Representatives and all eyes are now on them to see what they’ll do on LGBT issues upon taking office.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Openly gay Democrat Mark Takano beat his Republican opponent John Tavaglione by a double-digit margin in the race for California’s U.S. House District 41, and will become the first LGBT person of color in the U.S. Congress.