Steve Lee, Editor

CNN Poll: Obama at 51 percent approval but lower on key issues

WASHINGTON (CNN) — As President Barack Obama begins what could be a pivotal week, with gun control, immigration reform and border security, and the budget all in the spotlight, a new national survey indicates the president’s approval rating has inched above the 50% mark. But according to a CNN/ORC International poll released Monday, the president’s…

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‘Harvey Milk Champions of Change’ nominations sought

In August 2009, President Obama honored Harvey Milk posthumously with America’s highest civilian medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, with the following citation: Harvey Bernard Milk dedicated his life to shattering boundaries and challenging assumptions. As one of the first openly gay elected officials in this country, he changed the landscape of opportunity for the nation’s…

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USAID announces new partnership to promote LGBT human rights abroad

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a new LGBT Global Development Partnership, a public-private partnership between the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute (GLVI), the Williams Institute, and Olivia Companies, which further promotes foreign assistance to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender…

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And then there were three: Tim Johnson backs same-sex marriage

(CNN) — Sen. Tim Johnson, D-South Dakota, on Monday joined the wave of senators from his party who are endorsing same-sex marriage for the first time. The third-term senator, who’s not seeking re-election next year, said in a statement his “views have evolved sufficiently to support marriage equality legislation.” “This position doesn’t require any religious…

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Margaret Thatcher: Tributes paid to ‘great leader, great Briton’

LONDON (CNN) — UK and world leaders led tributes to Britain’s “Iron Lady,” former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on Monday, with words reflecting on her passion, courage and determination — as well as her polarizing politics. “Margaret Thatcher took a country that was on its knees and made Britain stand tall again,” Prime Minister David…

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Michelle Shocked manages the near impossible: An apology that’s more offensive than the act (VIDEO)

http://youtu.be/YDnCXwOsQnU Almost two weeks after punk folk female icon Michelle Shocked made comments deemed highly offensive to a crowd at a San Francisco concert about same-sex marriage, the singer appeared on CNN’s Piers Morgan to offer an equally offensive apology. You will recall, and as it was reported here, Ms. Shocked was appearing at Yoshi…

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Johns Hopkins reacts to Carson’s homosexuality comments

(CNN) — The dean overseeing Johns Hopkins University Medical School said Friday that controversial comments made by faculty member Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon and outspoken conservative, went against the “core values” of the school. This follows remarks last week by Carson which some saw as equating homosexuality with criminal acts of pedophilia and bestiality. He…

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