gay rights

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Mormons Urge Church to Soften Gay-Marriage Stance

Group of dissenters launch campaign urging church to stop its political advocacy

(Newser) - A group of Mormons is campaigning to get the church to cease its aggressive activism against gay marriage, the Salt Lake Tribune reports, with the so-called Committee for Reconciliation calling for church leaders to soften their uncompromising stance on the issue. They say the church’s attitude has helped take...

Obama Invites Gay Advocates to White House

But angered rights campaigners want more than just talk

(Newser) - President Obama has invited gay rights leaders to the White House next Monday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, the New York protests seen as the start of gay liberation. It's unclear whether Obama will address the strong criticism he's recently faced from gay and lesbian advocates....

Obama Offers Gays Too Little, Too Late
Obama Offers Gays Too Little, Too Late
Analysis
Jun 17, 2009 11:42 AM CDT

Obama Offers Gays Too Little, Too Late

Toothless federal-benefits gesture falls flat in LGBT community

(Newser) - President Obama’s memorandum giving gay federal workers some of the benefits straight ones enjoy has gone over like a lead balloon in the gay community, Politico reports. Advocates say it’s a weak gesture because the Defense of Marriage Act—which the administration recently defended—prevents it from including...

Obama Extending Federal Benefits to Gay Partners

(Newser) - President Obama plans to announce tomorrow that he's extending benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, the Washington Post reports. The move, a victory for gay rights activists, will give the partners access to health care and other benefits. Obama's been under steady criticism from the gay community for...

China Hosts 1st Gay Pride Fest
 China Hosts 1st Gay Pride Fest 
Jun 15, 2009 4:10 PM CDT

China Hosts 1st Gay Pride Fest

'Shanghai Pride' a success, though some events canceled by authorities

(Newser) - In a breakthrough for gay rights, China’s gay community came to Shanghai last week for the country’s first-ever pride festival, Global Post reports. The weeklong event featured panel discussions, film screenings, play performances, and a large party—but no parade. The fact that the government allowed the festival...

Borat Follow-Up 'Outright Offensive': Gay Activists

Advocates feel 'deeply mixed' about faux-Austrian reporter

(Newser) - Gay groups are torn over the upcoming comedy flick Bruno, worried that it may seem to justify rather than mock homophobia, the New York Times reports. “Some people in our community may like this movie, but many are not going to be OK with it,” says the head...

Supreme Court Quashes 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Case

(Newser) - The Supreme Court has turned down a challenge to the Defense Department policy forbidding gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, granting a request by the Obama administration. The court won't hear an appeal from Army Capt. James Pietrangelo II, who was dismissed under the "don't ask,...

Gays Rankle at Obama's Unkept Promises
 Gays Rankle at Obama's 
 Unkept Promises 
ANALYSIS
Jun 4, 2009 1:39 PM CDT

Gays Rankle at Obama's Unkept Promises

(Newser) - Gay-rights supporters in and outside of Washington are getting fed up with President Obama’s perceived inaction on their core issues, Politico reports. Obama has been unwilling to back gay marriage, and has yet to fulfill his campaign promise of repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition...

NH Legalizes Gay Marriage
 NH Legalizes Gay Marriage 
UPDATED
Jun 3, 2009 4:34 PM CDT

NH Legalizes Gay Marriage

Gov. Lynch expected to sign it today

(Newser) - New Hampshire became the sixth state to allow same-sex marriage when Gov. John Lynch signed legislation this afternoon shortly after it was approved by lawmakers, the AP reports. Legislators hammered out a new version clearly spelling out that churches and religious groups would not be forced to officiate at gay...

Calif. Court Upholds Gay-Marriage Ban

Existing marriages still valid

(Newser) - California’s Supreme Court today upheld a state ban on gay marriage, but ruled that same-sex marriages that took place before voters approved the measure will stay valid, the Los Angeles Times reports. A court rejection of Proposition 8, which passed 52% to 48% in November, was considered highly unlikely....

Calif. Gay-Marriage Ruling Comes Next Week

(Newser) - The California state Supreme Court will issue its opinion on gay marriage Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reports. The court will rule on three questions, including two challenges to the constitutionality of Proposition 8, which outlawed same-sex nuptials. One challenge comes from gay-rights lawyers who argue that Prop 8 was...

School Censors Tween's Report on Harvey Milk

(Newser) - The ACLU is threatening to sue a California school district that restricted access to a 12-year-old’s report on gay-rights activist Harvey Milk, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. When the school learned of the subject, it delayed the presentation and sent letters to parents requiring permission slips for their children...

On Gays in Military, Obama Moves Slowly

White House to defend 'don't ask' in court, will seek 'sensible' change

(Newser) - On gays in the military, President Obama is stalling. During the campaign, he promised to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy instituted as a compromise early in President Clinton’s term. Now that he’s got the chance, the Wall Street Journal reports, he’s being...

Lefties: Obama's Becoming Dubya
 Lefties: Obama's 
 Becoming Dubya 
ANALYSIS
May 17, 2009 9:53 AM CDT

Lefties: Obama's Becoming Dubya

Left feeling spurned by new president's policies

(Newser) - Sorry, ladies: Hell has no fury like a political base scorned, and tensions are simmering among liberals, who feel spurned by President Obama, Josh Gerstein writes for Politico. With his reversals on military tribunals and releasing photos of abused detainees, and reluctance to tackle gay rights and immigration reform, some...

Gay Marriage Is New GOP Litmus Test for Supremes

Same-sex unions replace abortion debate as heated issue

(Newser) - Abortion has long been the hot-button issue at Supreme Court confirmations—but this year, gay marriage is taking over, conservatives say.  Senate Republicans believe that questioning over the matter could be the new litmus test to help reveal a candidate's overall philosophy, reports the Washington Post. “It may...

Moscow Cops Smash Gay Protest

(Newser) - Moscow police broke up a gay rights demonstration today and arrested at least 20 protesters, the BBC reports. The activists, marching to draw attention to what they describe as deep prejudice, timed the protest to coincide with a European song contest popular in the gay community. "This shows the...

'Gay Tax' Hurts Couples Tying the Knot
 'Gay Tax' Hurts 
 Couples Tying the Knot 
COMMENTARY
May 16, 2009 4:13 PM CDT

'Gay Tax' Hurts Couples Tying the Knot

Federal inequality lands same-sex couples in the poor house

(Newser) - First comes love, then comes marriage, then the taxman, who penalizes same-sex couples with the “gay tax,” Nancy Goldstein writes on NPR. The media’s morality play about gay marriage has overshadowed the economic costs of inequality, argues Goldstein, who calculates her annual tax at $1,820 for...

GOP Takes Aim at Obama High Court Noms

(Newser) - Republican groups have already prepared dossiers and attack strategies on a host of possible Obama Supreme Court nominees, the New York Times reports. Ten memos obtained by the Times—all about female judges and scholars—focus on records of abortion rights, gay rights, and the citing of foreign laws. Weakened...

NH Gov Wants Tweaks to Gay Marriage Bill

Protection needed for religious opponents before he'll sign

(Newser) - The fate of New Hampshire’s same-sex marriage bill hinges upon giving protection to religious groups opposing the law, the Union Leader reports. Gov. John Lynch says he’ll sign the law if legislators include his suggested changes to clearly state that religious groups can’t be forced to violate...

Director Moakler Bails On Miss Cali Pageant

Executive director resigns a day after decision

(Newser) - Shanna Moakler has resigned as executive director of the Miss California USA pageant, she tells Us magazine a day after Carrie Prejean was allowed to keep her crown and Donald Trump promised all was well in pageant-land. “I cannot with a clear conscious move forward supporting and promoting the...

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