United States, North America

Owing to the United States' federal system and the diversity in attitudes toward LGBT rights, the status of LGBT civil rights in the U.S. is at present a patchwork. At the federal level, there is no recognition of same-sex unions and no laws forbidding employment discrimination against LGBT persons. Some states have enacted such laws, however. State legislatures in Connecticut (2005), California (1999), Hawaii (1996), Maine (2004), New Jersey (2006), Washington (2007), New Hampshire (2007), Oregon (2007) Vermont (1999) and the District of Columbia (2001) have enacted either civil unions or more limited domestic partnership options for same-sex couples. Since 2004 marriage is open to gays in Massachusetts; Connecticut made it available in 2008. More states are debating it currently. For more, click here.

 

News & Reports:

 

Raul Castro daughter lauds Obama gay marriage stance

San Francisco (Reuters) – Cuban President Raul Castro’s daughter Mariela said on Wednesday she was surprised by the warm welcome she received on arrival in the United States and was heartened by President Barack Obama’s support for same-sex marriage. Sexologist Mariela Castro, 50, heads the communist island nation’s National Center for Sex Education and is… Read more »

Federal Anti-Gay Hate Crimes Law Gets First Test In Kentucky

Harlan County, Ky. — In the middle of an April night last year, a young gay man named Kevin Pennington crawled out of the woods in the remote hills of southeastern Kentucky, looking for help. Bruises and cuts covered his face and body and he limped down the road, dragging his ankle along the asphalt,… Read more »

Lady Gaga responds religious protests with emotional speech

International pop star who has met protests from Christians and Muslims during Asian tour speaks out during Manilla concert Lady Gaga’s Asian tour has been met with religious protests in Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia. At last night’s concert in Manilla she finally aired her views. ‘So many people have been protesting and it really… Read more »

Supergays! DC Comics to out hero

Creators of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman to make existing character gay Superheroes Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman could be coming out of the closet in a forthcoming issue, according to their creators. DC Comics co-publisher Dan DiDio announced at the Kapow Comic Convention in London on Sunday (20 May) that a character who was… Read more »

Hillary Clinton accepts World Pride Award

The US Secretary of State sends ‘powerful’ message to world on gay rights as four men are due to be hanged for sodomy in Iran World Pride organizers say Hillary Clinton’s formal acceptance of a gay rights award sends a ‘powerful’ and ‘poignant’ message to the world as four men in Iran await execution for… Read more »

The Republican Party’s anti-gay bias

Only Ric Grenell can explain the “personal reasons” that compelled him to leave Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. If his departure was influenced even the slightest by the anti-gay attacks that followed his appointment, I sympathize. In 2001, when I, an openly gay career Foreign Service officer, was sworn in to serve as U.S. ambassador to… Read more »

Leon Panetta: Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ going ‘very well’

The US Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta, said today that the repeal of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ (DADT) policy, which prohibited openly gay personnel from serving in the military, has not affected military morale or readiness. His announcement is based on a new internal Pentagon report into the issue, about which he spoke to journalists… Read more »

Obama Says Same-Sex Marriage Should Be Legal

Washington — Before President Obama left the  White House on Tuesday morning to fly to an event in Albany, several aides intercepted him in the Oval Office. Within minutes it was decided: the president would endorse same-sex marriage on Wednesday, completing a wrenching personal transformation on the issue. As described by several aides, that quick… Read more »

North Carolina approves amendment banning gay marriage

North Carolina approves amendment banning gay marriage Raleigh, North Carolina –  North Carolina joined its southern neighbors Tuesday in enshrining opposition to same-sex marriage in the state constitution, a move that churned the national debate over gay marriage despite having little immediate effect inside North Carolina. The state already banned gay marriage, so the amendment… Read more »

Gay on TV: It’s All in the Family

On “Glee” this spring, a transgender character named Unique is competing in a sing-off. On “Grey’s Anatomy,” Arizona and Callie are adjusting to married life, having been pronounced “wife and wife” last year. On “Modern Family,” the nation’s most popular television show, Cameron and his partner Mitchell are trying to adopt a second child. What’s… Read more »

Iowa judges who legalized gay marriage to receive JFK Profiles in Courage Award

Caroline Kennedy describes ousted judges as ‘interesting and courageous on many levels’ Former Iowa Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and justices David Baker and Michael Streit were voted off the bench in 2010, a year after their ruling against an Iowa law restricting marriage to a man and a woman made gay marriage legal in the… Read more »

Hillary Clinton wins World Pride Award

London honors US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with LGBT award as it hosts World Pride 2012 Pride London and global LGBT organization Kaleidoscope Trust will be honoring US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with the World LGBT Award this July at a gala dinner to celebrate World Pride 2012. The British capital is hosting… Read more »

Former Rutgers student who spied on gay roommate wants new trial

Attorneys for Dharun Ravi are asking a judge to overturn his conviction Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers student convicted in March of spying on former roommate Tyler Clementi, is now asking a judge to overturn his conviction or at least grant him a new trial. Ravi’s actions resulted in his former roommate committing suicide. He… Read more »

HIV among Gay and Bisexual Men

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM)1 represent approximately 2% of the US population, yet are the population most severely affected by HIV. In 2009, MSM accounted for 61% of all new HIV infections, and MSM with a history of injection drug use (MSM-IDU) accounted for an additional 3% of new… Read more »

What the Experts Are Saying About Moving Beyond HIV Stigma

In our roundtable discussion, experts urge a better understanding of the epidemic among African-Americans. In his December speech to commemorate the 23rd annual World AIDS Day, President Obama said what should be obvious to all Americans yet is not: “When new infections among young black gay men increase by nearly 50% in three years, we… Read more »

Sun, sand, and citizenship: the marketing of gay tourism.

Abstract This article investigates trends in the marketing of gay and lesbian tourism. It reviews gay and lesbian travel guides from the 1960s to the 1990s before examining more recent travel materials including brochures and Web sites promoting specific American cities. These promotional materials are a valuable object of inquiry because they are uniquely situated… Read more »

Prof Makau Mutua: I Support Gays, So What?

Interviewed by Denis Nzioka, Prof. Makau Mutua, Dean in an American university, says ‘Matters of human rights and dignity are not a popularity contest. We must do what is right’. Prof. Makau Mutua is the Dean, SUNY Distinguished Professor , Floyd H. & Hilda L. Hurst Faculty Scholar, The State University of NY, Buffalo Law… Read more »

Gay Marriage Effort Attracts a Novel Group of Donors

Los Angeles — On a warm Friday afternoon three years ago, Rob Reiner, the director, arrived for lunch at the Beverly Hills estate of David Geffen, the entertainment mogul. Mr. Reiner and his political adviser, Chad H. Griffin, had spent six months drafting an ambitious legal campaign aimed at persuading the United States Supreme Court… Read more »

Gay rights advocates revel after New Hampsire lawmakers kill measure to repeal same-sex marriage

Concord, N.H. — Gay rights advocates are declaring victory after New Hampshire’s failed attempt at repealing its gay marriage law, saying it resounds in a region where opponents have concentrated efforts to reverse momentum. The state House voted Wednesday to kill the measure, ending a push by its new Republican majority to rescind New Hampshire’s… Read more »

Jimmy Carter Endorses Gay Marriage

Former President Jimmy Carter has endorsed gay marriage. The 87-year-old Carter, who is pitching his latest book, NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter, discussed marriage for gay couples in an interview with The Huffington Post. When asked what the Bible says about homosexuality, Carter answered: “Homosexuality was well known in the… Read more »

125,000 sign Iraq veteran’s petition to keep New Hampshire’s equal marriage law

125,000 people across the US have called on New Hampshire’s legislature to keep the state’s equal marriage laws in a vote tomorrow, signing a petition started by marine who wants to be best man at his brother’s wedding. Craig Stowell, a married marine, said he started the Change.org petition to lobby lawmakers to protect the… Read more »

Jury Finds Spying in Rutgers Dorm Was a Hate Crime

New Brunswick, N.J. — A former Rutgers University student was convicted on Friday on all 15 charges he had faced for using a webcam to spy on his roommate having sex with another man, a verdict poised to broaden the definition of hate crimes in an era when laws have not kept up with evolving… Read more »

Senate confirms gay nominee to Calif. federal court

The Senate on Thursday confirmed to the bench a gay judicial nominee whom Republicans had held up for four months from receiving a floor vote along with other appointees. Michael Fitzgerald, whom President Obama nominated for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in July, was approved by a… Read more »

U.S. Embassy in Iraq Calls for an End to Gay Killings

The U.S. Embassy in Iraq has issued a statement condemning a wave of recent killings of gay men in the Middle East country, with estimates ranging from six to 40 murders in the past two weeks. The violence has been directed at homosexuals and young Iraqis who have adopted the “emo” look of dark colors,… Read more »

Homeless youth: the next battle for gay equality

New York (AP) — Iro Uikka clutches his throat as he describes the violent clash that led to spending his nights sleeping in New York City subway cars. “When I told my mother I was gay, she grabbed me by the neck and threw me out,” he says. “Then she threw my coat on top… Read more »

Number of U.S. Hate Groups Is Rising, Report Says

Atlanta — Fed by antagonism toward President Obama, resentment toward changing racial demographics and the economic rift between rich and poor, the number of so-called hate groups and antigovernment organizations in the nation has continued to grow, according to a report released Wednesday by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The center, which has kept track… Read more »

Expanding Black Masculinity to End ‘Black on Black’ Anti-LGBT Violence

If we’ve learned nothing else over the past month, we’ve learned that we as black Americans need to have an open and honest dialogue around the meaning of “manhood.” At the beginning of February, Deoni Jones, a 23-year-old African-American transgender woman, was stabbed to death at a Washington, D.C. bus stop — the suspect, a… Read more »

Maryland governor signs equal marriage into law

Maryland has become the eighth state in the union to agree to allow gay couples to marry. Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley signed the equal marriage bill into law last night saying “We are one Maryland”. It will take effect in 2013. Washington state’s equal marriage laws passed earlier this year are scheduled to come into… Read more »

Q&A: ‘Gay in America’ photographer Scott Pasfield

(CNN) – New York photographer Scott Pasfield released his first digital photography project in the book, “Gay in America,” last fall. With a mission to educate and destroy stereotypes about being gay, Pasfield spent three years traveling 52,000 miles across the nation to document the stories of 140 gay men. Video “I hope that people… Read more »

Bully Documentary Given R Rating, Can’t Be Shown in Schools

The Weinstein Company has lost an appeal to have the rating of its documentary Bully, a harrowing examination of the bullying epidemic in America, changed to PG-13 from R, which will prevent it from reaching its targeted adolescent audience. The documentary, which will be released March 9 and follows five bullied kids during the school… Read more »

Bush Appointee Finds DOMA Unconstitutional

Moments ago, Judge Jeffery White of the District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the Constitution’s equal protection clause in a case brought by Karen Golinski. Golinski, represented by Lambda Legal, “was denied spousal health benefits by her employer, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of… Read more »

Gov. Christie follows through on promise to veto gay marriage bill

Trenton, N.J.(AP) –  Gov. Chris Christie has followed through on his promise to reject a bill allowing same-sex marriage in New Jersey by quickly vetoing the measure Friday and renewing his call for a ballot question to decide the issue. The veto came a day after the state Assembly passed the bill. The state Senate… Read more »

The Plight of LGBT Immigrant Detainees

Feet in 2 Worlds is hosting a forum called ‘The Detention Dilemma: Families, Security and Immigrant Rights’ at The New School on February 23 at 6 PM. The event will take place at the Theresa Lang Community and Student Center at 55 West 13th Street, 2nd Fl. Email centernyc@newschool.edu to RSVP. After civil rights complaints… Read more »

Maryland gay marriage bill on way to governor

Annapolis, Maryland (AP) – Gay marriage is all but legalized in the state of Maryland after the legislature gave its final OK Thursday to the law that’s being sent to the governor, who said he expects to sign it sometime this week. The state Senate voted 25-22 for the law. The vote comes less than… Read more »

Washington Governor Signs Gay Marriage Bill

Olympia, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Chris Gregoire handed gay rights advocates a major victory Monday, signing into law a measure that legalizes same-sex marriage in Washington state, making it the seventh in the nation to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed. Gregoire signed the bill surrounded by gay rights supporters. “I’m proud our same-sex… Read more »

Vote Moves Washington State Closer to Gay Marriage

Seattle — Washington was poised Wednesday to become the seventh state to allow same-sex couples to marry after the State House gave final passage to such a bill. Gov. Christine Gregoire promised to sign it. The governor is expected to do just that as soon as next week, but it is not likely to take… Read more »

Court Strikes Down Ban on Gay Marriage in California

Los Angeles — A federal appeals court panel on Tuesday threw out a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage passed in 2008, upholding a lower court’s ruling that the ban, known as Proposition 8, violated the constitutional rights of gay men and lesbians in California. The three-judge panel issued its ruling in San Francisco, upholding a… Read more »

From Partner Benefits to Affirmative Action, Proposed Contractor Executive Order Specifics Discussed

With the senior policy advisor for Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) telling Metro Weekly on Feb. 4 that timing is key for President Obama to take action to prohibit federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, questions about the specifics of the proposed executive order — on which… Read more »

Cynthia Nixon: My bisexuality was not a choice, my gay relationship is

In a statement given to the American gay magazine The Advocate, Cynthia Nixon has addressed the confusion which followed her comments on sexuality. The actress’s observations in a New York Times interview this month sparked controversy, when she seemed to say she chose to be gay. Now the 45-year-old has said it was within the… Read more »

Interview: Greg Louganis on gold medals, HIV and Matthew Mitcham

He won his first Olympic medal at the age of 16. Eight years later he became the first man in 56 years to win two diving golds at the same Olympics. Four years after that, in Seoul, he added two more gold medals to his haul, despite famously hitting his head on the springboard during… Read more »