Monthly Archives: June 2011

Rhode Island civil union bill passes, but pleases no one

The Rhode Island Senate passed a civil union bill 21 to 16 on Wednesday, June 29, which the governor has said he will sign but which LGBT civil rights advocates are not happy with and are urging he veto.

Lawsuit seeks marriage equality in New Jersey

Five days after the New York State legislature legalized marriage for same-sex couples, LGBT civil rights supporters in New Jersey are asking the state courts to rule that the state constitution there guarantees same-sex couples marriage equality.

LGBT suicide prevention conference shows local and national collaboration

Although there has been research dating back to the early 1970s on LGBT suicide risk, it wasn’t widely used by mainstream researchers or mental health care practitioners specializing in suicide prevention, said the director of prevention projects for the American

President: “Not going to make news” on marriage equality any time soon

President Obama at a mid-day nationally televised press conference on Wednesday was repeatedly pressed for his views on marriage equality. But he continued to dodge questions.

Obama: “met my commitments to the LGBT community”

President Obama told the audience at an LGBT Pride Month event at the White House Wednesday evening, June 29, that he has “met my commitments to the LGBT community.” But he also kept true to his promise at a press

Prop 8 proponents to appeal Judge Ware’s ruling, too

Supporters of Proposition 8 filed official notice Monday, June 27, that they intend to appeal a U.S. District Court ruling that rejected their request to vacate the landmark decision that found California’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.

Federal safe schools office bumped down the org chart

The U.S. Department of Education office once headed by openly gay appointee Kevin Jennings and charged with helping with efforts to stop bullying and harassment of students, including LGBT youth, is now gone–a victim of drastic federal budget cuts.

NY vote pressures GOP to weigh in

The news that New York State passed a marriage equality law last Friday night was big news and, not surprisingly, drew comments from various presidential candidates over the weekend.

Dramatic increases continue as Census data rolls out for California and four more states

The number of same-sex couples identifying themselves on the U.S. Census grew by 36 percent in California between 2000 and 2010, according to Census data analysis released Thursday by the Williams Institute. And, with the release of data available now

New York passes marriage equality

New York State on Friday night, June 24, became the sixth and most populous state to legalize marriage for same-sex couples, after a tense several days past the scheduled end of the legislative session, in which it was unclear if