via Igor Volsky, ThinkProgress During an interview with the Boston Herald on Wednesday, Mitt Romney reiterated his support for a federal amendment to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, but also said that he would establish three different tiers of marriage specifically for gay people: Expressed support for a constitutional … Continue reading
via Margaret Talev and Nicole Gaouette, Bloomberg The Obama administration will weigh how countries treat gays and lesbians in making decisions about foreign aid, according to a presidential memorandum released by the White House. Laws prohibit same-sex sexual activity in many nations in the Middle East and Africa, and in two of the largest recipients … Continue reading
via The AP, WBEZ Leaders of one of Chicago’s oldest Roman Catholic churches are objecting to a newly-proposed route for the city’s annual gay pride parade, saying the event will draw large crowds outside the church entrance and block access to Sunday Masses. The parade that has run through parts of Chicago’s North Side for … Continue reading
via David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement Vermont on Monday swore in its first openly-lesbian Supreme Court justice. Beth Robinson, who is 46, has worked to secure gay and lesbian rights for over a decade, winning the landmark 1999 case that made Vermont the first state to offer civil unions. Robinson also worked as the co-founder … Continue reading
via Get Up Australia
via Peter Makossah, Nyasa Times Malawi and other African countries will not be forced or induced into enacting pro gay laws in exchange for aid, United Kingdom’s minister for Africa Henry Bellingham has declared. Bellingham , who has been visiting Malawi on his African tour that has also taken him to Zambia, stressed that her … Continue reading
via AP, USA TODAY Senate Democrats who back gay marriage have decided now is the time to repeal a federal law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. The Democrats may satisfy their gay marriage supporters, but the bill won’t get very far. The repeal could be approved by the Senate … Continue reading
via BBC News David Cameron has threatened to withhold UK aid from governments that do not reform legislation banning homosexuality. The UK prime minister said he raised the issue with some of the states involved at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia. Human rights reform in the Commonwealth was one issue that leaders … Continue reading
via Elizabeth Flock, The Washington Post To better ensure its staff follows the school’s biblical mandate, Georgia’s Shorter University told its 200 employees late last month to sign a “Personal Lifestyle Statement” rejecting homosexuality, adultery and premarital sex. The pledge also bans teachers and administrators at the conservative Christian university from drinking alcohol in front … Continue reading
via Carlos Santoscoy, Chicago Pride New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced on Friday that she would introduce a bill to bar discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people who want to adopt or become foster care parents. Gillibrand said she would sponsor the Every Child Deserves a Family Act in the Senate. If approved, … Continue reading
via Los Angeles Times Important as it was, the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” did not put gay and lesbian service members on an equal footing with their straight counterparts. A poignant story by Times staff writer Phil Willon described how partners of gay service members are still denied benefits available to other couples, including marriage … Continue reading
via David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement Mitt Romney today denounced hate speech in his address to the Values Voters Summit, a virulently anti-gay right-wing extremist convention held and attended by several certified anti-gay hate groups. In response, Bryan Fischer, the public face of the certified anti-gay hate group, American Family Association, called Romney’s speech … Continue reading
via Dinesh Ramde, The Huffington Post More than two decades after Scott Anderson told his California congregation that he was gay and therefore must resign as its pastor, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) is preparing to welcome him back with mostly open arms. Anderson will be ordained Saturday in his new home of Madison, Wis., as … Continue reading
via Cindy Abel, The Huffington Post As America’s students settle into a new school year, they’ll also be returning to their social studies classes — courses ostensibly about teaching students about history and how it applies to civic life. But when it comes to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) contributions to our history, these … Continue reading
via The Huffington Post North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue, a Democrat, signaled on Friday that she’ll oppose passage of a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, according to the AP. “My top priority is creating jobs,” said Perdue in a statement. “Too many people are out of work and I’ve heard from several business leaders … Continue reading
via Josh Lederman, The Hill House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) threatened Friday to withhold funding from the Justice Department unless it agrees to defend a ban on government-recognized same-sex marriages. “We’re going to take the money away from the Justice Department, who’s supposed to enforce it, and we’ll use it to enforce the law,” Boehner … Continue reading
via Amanda Terkel, The Huffington Post President Obama forcefully called for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act on Saturday night at the annual Human Rights Campaign fundraising dinner, but he did not come out in support of marriage equality, as some hoped he would do. The 3,000 attendees at the dinner, which took … Continue reading
via Felicia Sonmez, The Washington Post Five months after House Republicans announced that they had set a $500,000 salary cap for the lawyer hired to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, a revised contract shows that the pay limit has been lifted to three times that amount. According to a new contract dated Sept. 30, … Continue reading
This June the United Nation Human Rights Council narrowly passed its first-ever resolution calling for universal gay rights with the support of more than 80 countries. It was an historic milestone, a global recognition that gay rights and human rights were finally synonymous, at least on paper, here in New York at the world body. … Continue reading
UK passport forms are being updated to include options for same-sex parents. New forms including “parent one” and “parent two” alongside “mother” and “father” are expected to be brought in by the end of the year. The Home Office says the additional terms will ensure passports are issued safely to the right person. Gay rights … Continue reading
A few weeks ago, Katy Butler, 16, updated her status on Facebook with an enthusiastic shout-out for Google+, the social network’s latest rival. “Oh my God Google! I love it! I was signing up for Google+ and they asked me my gender and the choices were male, female or OTHER!!!!! Oh ya Google!” Katy, a high … Continue reading
Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) is a proud father of a newborn baby, making him the first openly gay parent in the U.S. Congress. On Friday, Polis and his partner, Marlon Reis, sent out an announcement about the arrival of their son, Caspian Julius, who is 8 pounds, 12 ounces. “Baby and parents are doing well, … Continue reading
The Pentagon will permit military chaplains to perform same-sex marriage as long as such ceremonies are not prohibited in the states where they reside, it said Friday. Defense Department guidance issued to military chaplains said they may participate in ceremonies on or off military bases in states that recognize gay unions. Chaplains are not required … Continue reading
Fort Dodge, Iowa – Same-sex marriage is a temporary aberration that will dissipate, Newt Gingrich said here today. “I believe that marriage is between a man and woman,” Gingrich said. “It has been for all of recorded history and I think this is a temporary aberration that will dissipate. I think that it is just … Continue reading
This week, a judge once again shot down an appeal by Catholic Charities, which wants to continue handling adoptions and foster care applications in Illinois while refusing to place children with same-sex or unmarried couples. The state decided to end its contract with the charity–and now Catholics are fighting back against the “gay agenda” in … Continue reading