Dutch couple sues for recognition of their same-sex marriage in Austria

TYROL, Austria – Chretien van der Leest and Edwin Veldt are Dutch citizens living in Tyrol, Austria where they run holiday homes. When the Netherlands legalized marriage for same-sex couples in 2001, the couple married. However in Austria, based on a decree by the Austrian minister of the interior van der Leest and Veldt’s marriage…

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High school sophomores launch grassroots movement fighting for equal rights for LGBT teens

INDIANAPOLIS – A new organization formed by three high school sophomores will capitalize on the power of social media to demand action from federal and state legislators and judicial officials to eliminate discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender teens. “The advent of social media advocacy has had a huge impact on this country’s social politics,” said…

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Rubio aims to avoid same-sex rights as ‘central issue’ in immigration debate

(CNN) — Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said Tuesday he hopes immigration rights for same-sex couples “doesn’t become a central issue” in the ongoing debate, referring to it as a “landmine” that could thwart attempts to pass a comprehensive immigration reform package. In a wide-ranging interview with BuzzFeed that streamed live online, the junior senator from…

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Panetta expected to announce benefits extension for gay and lesbian military families

WASHINGTON — Outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is expected this week to announce the long-delayed extension of support and benefits for gay and lesbian military families, according to reports. Army Veteran and OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Allyson Robinson said today that the organization hopes Panetta will take full advantage of this final opportunity to act before…

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