LGBT Issues

UPDATE: Day of Decision Details for Prop. 8 Ruling and West Hollywood Rally

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protesters in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​The Day of Decision has finally arrived for anxious court watchers of the Proposition 8 federal trial, with U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker delivering his ruling this afternoon. Walker will decide whet ... More >>

Proposition 8 Overturned in Major Victory for Gay Marriage Advocates

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protesters in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has overturned Proposition 8 in San Francisco today, handing gay rights advocates a major victory in the continuing battle over same-sex marriage. In November, 2008, Ca ... More >>

GLAAD Names CW and MTV As the Most Gay Friendly Networks

​ MTV and the CW are the most gay-friendly channels, according to an exhaustive study by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the Hollywood Reporter reports. GLADD noted in a press release that the survey reviewed 4,787.5 hours of primetime programming from the five major network ... More >>

Outfest: Are Hollywood Studios Behind the Times with Gay Actors?

Hollywood PR guru Howard Bragman​At an Outfest panel in Los Angeles on Saturday, Hollywood's outdated logic that Americans won't accept openly gay, male actors playing straight, leading roles was once again revealed, with panelists saying the entertainment industry still believes moviegoers w ... More >>

Proposition 8 Rally Probably Slated for West Hollywood

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protester in Westwood in November, 2008.​A rally in response to the upcoming decision of the Proposition 8 federal trial will probably take place in West Hollywood, reports Frontiers News Editor Karen Ocamb. "The city has a special stake in the outcome," w ... More >>

Are 'No on 8' Leaders Geoff Kors and Kate Kendell Off the Hook?

EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors​With closing arguments for the Proposition 8 federal trial wrapped up, honchos at Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who were major players in the disastrous "No on 8" campaign, are touting a so-called "groundbreaking" study on P ... More >>

Conservative Ted Olson Stands Up for Gays at Proposition 8 Trial

Attorney Ted Olson​When closing arguments get underway for the Proposition 8 federal trial on Wednesday in San Francisco, a world-famous liberal won't be standing before U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker and making the case to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban. Instead, that attor ... More >>

L.A. Gay Pride Co-Founder Morris Kight Remembered

Gay rights pioneer Morris Kight.​Forty years ago, Christopher Street West, which oversees this weekend's L.A. Gay Pride Parade, was co-founded by the late gay rights pioneer Morris Kight, who also started up the Gay Liberation Front in Los Angeles in 1969 and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center in ... More >>

Prop. 8 Film Director Reed Cowan Talks With L.A. Weekly

Film director Reed Cowan​Just a few days before L.A. Gay Pride weekend, Reed Cowan, a TV journalist in Miami, talked with L.A. Weekly about his superb documentary on Proposition 8 that was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival and now opens in theaters across the country on June 18 -- two days ... More >>

From Obama to Gay Inc., 'Get Equal' Shakes Up Status Quo

Get Equal, the feisty, newly established gay rights group, has been shaking things up and making headlines for the past several weeks now, and a new feature story in The Advocate is one more example.Patrick Range McDonaldGet Equal co-founder Robin McGehee at a Fresno rally in 2009.​Titled "The Ris ... More >>

Chad Griffin: One Man Behind Marriage for All

Ivy Bottini: The Beauty of Seeking Justice

Queer Town: Chely Wright Tells Her Truth

Last week, Chely Wright, the country music artist who won the Top New Female Vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music in 1994, scored numerous hits, among them the number one song "Single White Female" in 1999, and found herself as one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2001, ... More >>

Queer Town: Gavin Newsom Wins Big Gay Endorsement

Equality California, one of the most powerful and politically-connected gay rights groups in the state, has endorsed San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for his run for lieutenant governor, which is no surprise to us. Patrick Range McDonaldS.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom works the crowd at L.A. Gay Pride Parad ... More >>

Queer Town: Closing Arguments Finally Scheduled for Prop. 8 Trial

On Wednesday, in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker finally scheduled closing arguments for the Proposition 8 federal trial, which are tentatively set for June 16.Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protester in Westwood in November, 2008.​Paul Hogarth, who blogged live from Walker's ... More >>

Get Equal Interrupts, Annoys Obama at L.A. Fund Raiser

Five members of Get Equal, a newly-established grassroots gay rights group based in California, interrupted and annoyed President Barack Obama as he spoke at a Democratic fund raiser for Senator Barbara Boxer at the California Science Center in Los Angeles last night.Patrick Range McDonaldGet Equal ... More >>

Queer Town: Johnny Weir's Big Gay Weekend in L.A.

Champion ice skater and reality TV star Johnny Weir will soon be spending a very gay weekend in Los Angeles, but just don't label him as queer.Johnny Weir​Weir, who may or may not be gay, is scheduled to make an appearance at the 2010 GLAAD Media Awards show in Century City on April 17. The event ... More >>

Pro-Same-Sex-Marriage Initiative Fails To Make Ballot

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom campaigns against Prop. 8.​Proponents of a ballot initiative that would have asked voters to overturn Prop. 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage, announced Monday that they failed to gather enough signatures to get the measure certified for the November ele ... More >>

Queer Town: Orson Bean, Prop. 8 Supporter, Stars as Closeted, Gay Writer

Actor Orson Bean, who supported Proposition 8 and contributed money to the "Yes on 8" campaign, is now starring in a Noel Coward play about a closeted, gay writer.Actor Orson Bean​It seems a little weird to us, but perhaps what's even stranger is that Edge LA, a gay web site that runs a flattering ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Gay Marriage Testimony Ends, Closing Arguments Will Wait

After 12 days of testimony at the high-profile Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco, lawyers for both sides of the gay marriage lawsuit have rested their cases. The last piece of business for the attorneys will be closing arguments, which will be given several weeks from now.Patrick Range McDonaldPr ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Cross-Examination of Anti-Gay Marriage Witness Gets Heated

The cross-examination of anti-gay marriage witness David Blankenhorn by attorney David Boies turned into quite the sparring match at the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco on Tuesday.Prop. 8 witness David Blankenhorn​According to San Jose Mercury News reporter Howard Mintz, the cross-examination ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Anti-Gay Marriage Witness Says Gays Have Political Clout

As testimony for the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco nears its conclusion, Claremont McKenna College government professor Kenneth Miller, a witness for anti-gay marriage lawyers, took the stand and said gays and lesbians have political clout in California.Claremont McKenna CollegeProfessor Kenn ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Olson and Boies Expected to Rest Gay Marriage Case Today

Proposition 8 plaintiffs' attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies are expected to rest their case today in San Francisco.Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protestor marches in Westwood in November, 2008.​Olson and Boies have spent nearly two weeks trying to persuade U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Prop. 8 Leader William Tam Gets Grilled By David Boies

Thursday, January 21, was a day many people in the gay community had been waiting for -- William Tam, a leading voice of the Proposition 8 campaign, received a grilling at the Proposition 8 trial from attorney David Boies, who's made a solid gold reputation as an intelligent and relentless interroga ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Stanford Professor Says Obama 'Not a Reliable Ally'

President Barack Obama took a hit at the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco on Wednesday, when Stanford University professor Gary Segura said Obama is "not a reliable ally" of the gay community.Then presidential candidate Barack Obama with Prop. 8 supporter Rich Warren​The criticism of the presi ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Republican Mayor Says Lesbian Daughter 'Deserves' to be Married

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, a staunch Republican who only recently became a supporter of gay marriage, took center stage at the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco on Tuesday, telling the court that his lesbian daughter "deserves the same opportunity to have a wedding in front of family, friends ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Cambridge Professor Says Gays Raise 'Well-Adjusted' Kids

Anti-gay marriage supporters aren't the only people who can succeed as parents.Patrick Range McDonaldPro-gay marriage marchers in Westwood in November, 2008.​At the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco on Friday, Cambridge University psychology professor Michael Lamb told the court that gay and le ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: The Gay Dollar Competes with Children

The gay dollar was brought up at the Proposition 8 federal trial in San Francisco yesterday, and how California's same-sex marriage ban hurts the bottom line of business and government.Patrick Range McDonaldPro-gay marriage marchers in Westwood in November, 2008.​This is no small thing for a state ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Both Sides of Gay Marriage Lawsuit Endure Rough Day at Court

On the third day of the Proposition 8 federal trial in San Francisco, it was tough going for both sides of the big stakes lawsuit over California's gay marriage ban.For the plaintiffs, who want to overturn Proposition 8, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to indefinitely block a video feed of the tri ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Yale Professor Details Over 100 Years of Homophobia

We're not big fans of victimhood politics, but the testimony of Yale professor George Chauncey at yesterday's Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco showed exactly why a courthouse video feed is so important -- ordinary Americans would have watched Chauncey detail over 100 years of homophobia in Ameri ... More >>

Queer Town: Olson/Boies Appeal to the Heart, Then the Brain

The first day of the federal trial to overturn Proposition 8 started in San Francisco yesterday, with attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, who want to end the gay marriage ban in California, first pulling on the heartstrings and then following it up with expert testimony to appeal to the brain.Ameri ... More >>

Queer Town: Over 50,000 People Urge Judge to Televise Prop. 8 Trial

If anyone needs further proof that people respond to smart, grassroots organizing through the Internet, he only needs to look at yesterday's Courage Campaign petition drive.Patrick Range McDonaldPro-gay marriage marchers in Westwood in November, 2008.​According to a Courage Campaign press release ... More >>

Queer Town: Prop. 8 Judge Wants Your Immediate Comments on Televised Trial

U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker is now seeking public comments about whether or not to televise the Proposition 8 federal trial in San Francisco. Anyone from any state in the country can write to the court, including both supporters and opponents of California's same sex marriage ban.Patrick Range ... More >>

Queer Town: Big Media Wants Full Access to Prop. 8 Trial

We're almost finished with 2009 and 2010 is already shaping up to be a very interesting year -- at least for gay and lesbian folks.Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protestors in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​Queer Town sounded the alarm a few weeks ago about the need to allow TV cameras insi ... More >>

One Last Pre-Trial Hearing Before Prop. 8 Showdown

On Wednesday, in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker will hold one more pre-trial hearing before lawyers meet on January 11 to start a non-jury trial on the constitutional merits of Proposition 8. Patrick Range McDonaldPro-gay marriage marchers in Westwood in November, 2008.​The long- ... More >>

Queer Town: Proposition 8, A Year Later

It's been a long year since Proposition 8 was passed on November 4, 2008, when the existing right to legally marry in California was shockingly taken away from gays and lesbians.Patrick Range McDonaldDays before Prop. 8 was passed, pro-gay marriage supporters took to the streets in West Hollywood.†... More >>

Queer Town: Proposition 8 Lawsuit Moves Forward, Motion to Dismiss Denied

In San Francisco this morning, Proposition 8 supporters asked U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker to dismiss the federal lawsuit that seeks to overturn the successful anti-gay marriage ballot measure that became law after California voters passed it almost a year ago.Patrick Range McDonaldProp. 8 prot ... More >>

Queer Town: Harvey Milk Gets His Day in California

Late last night, a few hours after gays and lesbians from across the country marched in Washington D.C., California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law "Harvey Milk Day," Frontiers News Editor Karen Ocamb reports.Daniel NicolettaSan Francisco Supervisor and gay icon Harvey Milk (center)â ... More >>

The Secret Lives of Queer Leading Men

How Howard Bragman, Hollywood’s coming-out guru, helps gay actors tell the truth

Queer Town: L.A. Raises Money for Maine's Gay Marriage Fight

On the day anti-gay marriage forces aired their first TV ad in Maine, Los Angeles gays and lesbians gathered for a fund-raiser at West Hollywood's East/West Lounge, hauling in between $5,000 and $6,000 for Protect Maine Equality, the campaign that's fighting to keep same-sex marriage legal in that s ... More >>

Queer Town: Ted Kennedy, Champion of Gay Rights, Has Died

U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, a longtime champion of gay rights, died Tuesday in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. He had been battling a malignant brain tumor for the past year. U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy​Kennedy was the brother of President John F. Kennedy and former U.S. Attorney General and Senator Rober ... More >>

Queer Town: Proposition 8 Trial Set for January, Gay Groups Told to Butt Out

While gay rights groups in California continue to clash over which year to push forward with a pro-gay marriage ballot measure (check out this Queerty post), Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker announced during a San Francisco hearing yesterday that a federal Proposition 8 lawsuit will go to tri ... More >>

Queer Town: Jeffrey King Calls Out Power Gays

Queer Town talked with Jeffrey King the other day, and he was not happy. A prominent figure in the gay community and founder of In The Meantime Men's Group, a South Los Angeles outreach organization for gay black men, King was frustrated with power gays -- black and white -- the gay mainstream as a ... More >>

Overturning Proposition 8: In 2010 or 2012?

Proposition 8, last year's successful ballot initiative overturning the existing right of gays to marry in California, was largely financed by out-of-state money and represented a resounding defeat for the cause of same-sex marriage here. Precisely, however, when Prop 8 opponents finished licking th ... More >>

Todd Holland's Advice to Play it Straight

Gay Director Apologizes and Debates Ensue

Queer Town: Smashing the Gay Closet in Hollywood

Soon after openly gay director Todd Holland issued a quasi-apology for telling an Outfest panel audience that young, gay actors should "stay in the closet," Queer Town received an email from Frontiers News Editor Karen Ocamb, the dean of gay journalism in Los Angeles and a highly-respected voice in ... More >>

Queer Town: Insider Howard Bragman Reveals the Hollywood 'Machine'

When gay rights activist Robin McGehee told Queer Town that the gay community -- especially gay filmmakers -- needs to be "challenging the machine" that keeps gay actors stuck in the closet, we looked to longtime Hollywood insider Howard Bragman to explain a few things about it.Hollywood insider How ... More >>

Queer Town: Outfest's Kirsten Schaffer Issues Statement, Robin McGehee Speaks Out

While openly gay and Emmy-winning director Todd Holland released an apology yesterday afternoon for telling an Outfest panel on July 12 that he advises up-and-coming, gay male actors to "stay in the closet," Queer Town asked Outfest Executive Director Kirsten Schaffer what she thought of the directo ... More >>

Queer Town: Director Todd Holland Apologizes for Outfest Remarks, Not Advice

At 2:50 p.m., in Los Angeles, Queer Town received a statement from openly gay, Emmy-winning director Todd Holland, which was distributed by the gay, media watchdog group GLAAD. Director Todd HollandIn the statement, Holland apologizes for his "poorly chosen" remarks made at Outfest, one of the premi ... More >>