News

Elections officials say they’ve now verified more than 100,000 signatures for Referendum 71, an attempt to overturn Washington’s new “everything but marriage” same-sex domestic partner law. The totals as of Monday evening are: 103,898 checked, 91,716 accepted and 12,182 rejected. The overall error rate is 11.72 percent. In order to make the November statewide ballot, […]

A federal judge in Southern California has dismissed the lawsuit that created a public rift between President Barack Obama and gay supporters. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter (pictured) ruled the case — the first of several pending challenges to the federal Defense of Marriage Act — must be refiled in federal court. Carter said […]

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 […]

The Nevada secretary of state’s office will take applications starting Monday from both gay and straight couples who want to take advantage of Nevada’s new domestic partners law.

The second trial gets underway Monday in the 2008 hate crime attack on Dallas resident Jimmy Lee Dean (pictured). Dean, 43, was hospitalized for 10 days after the attack in July 2008 by Jonathan Gunter and Bobby Singleton. Dean has undergone multiple reconstructive surgeries since then, although medical procedures have been unsuccessful in restoring his […]

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, […]

New Jersey is shaping up as the next battleground for gay marriage as advocates for and against begin recruiting volunteers and calling lawmakers in preparation for a major public debate later this year. Lawmakers are expected to debate a same-sex marriage bill during the lame-duck period between the November 3 election and start of a […]

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said Friday that he refuses to defend a new law that grants gay and lesbian couples spousal benefits such as hospital visitation, claiming lawmakers went against voters’ decision not to extend such privileges. Van Hollen believes the state’s new domestic partnership law, which took effect August 3, is unconstitutional. […]

The Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC), a leading civil rights panel in the state, has voted in favor of a resolution supporting gay marriage and to formally oppose any constitutional amendment that would overturn the decision. “The ICRC supports the unanimous Iowa Supreme Court decision on civil marriage equality for all adults and opposes efforts […]

The City of West Hollywood plans to honor the marriages of gay and lesbian couples with a plaque inscribed with a quote from Nelson Mandela, the Los Angeles Times has reported. The bronze marker will be installed in West Hollywood Park on September 8, a site where many gay weddings were held when it was […]