In a social climate increasingly savvy to LGBT rights and homophobic slurs, public use of anti-gay language is showing a marked decline. Hefty fines and heightened awareness have led many celebrities in the entertainment and sports industries to swear off such language all together, according to Newsweek/Daily Beast writer Ramin Setoodeh; and perhaps this is…
Lee Hall, the writer behind the popular film and musical hit “Billy Elliott,” has responded with frustration and disappointment to the cancellation of his new opera after school officials pulled 300 primary school students from the production due to gay references in the libretto. The opera, entitled “Beached” and scheduled to open on June 15…
President Barack Obama has appointed the first openly gay individual to the United States Military Academy Board of Visitors, an act that underlines the imminent dissolution of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy banning gays and lesbians from open military service. The historic appointment of Army veteran Brenda S. “Sue” Fulton to the West Point…
GOP hopeful Michele Bachmann is well known for her anti-gay political views – views that helped her win a Senate seat against a more moderate Republican candidate and that have influenced her stance on what she once called “the biggest issue that will impact our state and our nation in the last, at least, 30…
The fate of a California measure to include LGBT history in state textbooks is currently in the hands of Governor Jerry Brown. If approved, the bill would render California the first and only state in the U.S. to make gay and lesbian history a mandatory facet of state curricula. While there is currently no ban…
Microsoft Corporation announced support today for the Uniting American Families Act, a measure authored by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (D) and designed to create immigration law reform for same-sex couples in the United States. Leahy’s legislation aims to promote greater equality by allowing LGBT Americans to sponsor permanent, same-sex partners in their bid for…
Prompted by the tragic and untimely suicide of 13-year-old Seth Walsh, the Department of Education launched an investigation into anti-gay bullying protections and prevention procedures within the Tehachapi School District, where Walsh was a student. In light of the investigations, the DOE has issued a statement ruling that the Tehachapi School District as negligent in…
With just two weeks until Pride Fest, San Diego LGBT Pride has announced that Family Ties Actress Meredith Baxter will be joined by Tucson hero and political activist Daniel Hernandez Jr. as celebrity grand marshal, as well as local business owner and community activist Chris Shaw. Baxter has appeared in a number of television series’…
In a televised interview Wednesday on “Piers Morgan Tonight,” superstar and Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron claimed that marriage is not a priority in her own personal relationships. However, when it comes to same-sex marriage, Theron believes that anyone who values the institution of marriage should have the option to wed. Recent efforts on behalf of…
Bishops within the Church of England announced today that they plan to review church teachings regarding homosexuality and, if appropriate, reconsider current policies regarding the appointment of gay bishops. At present, the Church of England permits gay priests to serve the church. However, priests involved in same-sex civil partnerships are barred from appointment as bishops….
