LGBT Issues

New York Legalizes Gay Marriage, LGBT Activists in California Respond

​On Friday night, June 24, the New York State Senate passed a bill that legalizes gay marriage in the Empire State. Governor Andrew Cuomo quickly signed it into law, which will go into effect in 30 days. LGBT activists in California and elsewhere quickly responded to the news. "We are beginn ... More >>

Equality California Seeking Relevance With Prospect of Pro-Gay Marriage Ballot Measure?

​And so Equality California leaders came to West Hollywood yesterday, holding one of their town hall meetings to understand if ordinary gays and lesbians in California want to go back to the voting booth with a pro-gay marriage ballot measure in 2012. There are many critics of such an expens ... More >>

Dustin Lance Black: Black & Proud

Roland Palencia, New Equality California Executive Director, Repeats Old Excuses for Proposition 8 Loss

Debra EvansEQCA Executive Director Roland Palencia​On Monday, Roland Palencia was named the new executive director of Equality California, the statewide gay rights group. He is replacing Geoff Kors, who built the organization into a political powerhouse while also playing a major role in the ... More >>

L.A. Gay Pride: Comedian Margaret Cho Gets Lifetime Achievement Award, Bravo's Annoying Andy Cohen is 'Person of the Year'

Gay Pride award winner Margaret Cho​Gay Pride in L.A. is almost here, and Christopher Street West, which organizes the official parade in West Hollywood every year in June, has named its "2011 Slate of Honorees." Comedian Margaret Cho tops the list with the Morris Kight Lifetime Achievement A ... More >>

Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays

How Gay Is America? UCLA Study Shows Only 3.5 Percent of U.S. Claims Rainbow -- But 11 Percent Are Tempted

The gay-rights movement: Only 9 million strong?​Measuring the gayness of our country has long proved a controversial task. Ever since pioneer sexologist Alfred Kinsey boldly claimed in the 1940s that 10 percent of Americans were gay -- based on his limited personal experience -- various polls ... More >>

Will Equality California Push For Pro-Gay Marriage Ballot Measure in 2012?

Patrick Range McDonaldGay marriage supporters in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​Equality California, the major gay rights organization, is looking into whether or not it will push for a pro-gay marriage ballot measure sometime very soon, probably 2012. "Legal experts advise that the case m ... More >>

Founding Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors Says Goodbye With 'One Last Email'

Patrick Range McDonaldOutgoing EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors​Founding Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors says goodbye with one of his trademark emails, which includes a pitch for a contribution. We wouldn't expect him to go out any other way. Kors, who's leaving EQCA, was ... More >>

Kevin James Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate Reconfirms He's A Gay Republican

L.A. mayoral candidate Kevin James​Radio talk show host Kevin James wants Los Angeles voters to know that he's a registered Republican who wants to be the first openly gay mayor of L.A. "There's no doubt that if I became the first openly gay mayor of Los Angeles," James tells L.A. Weekly, "i ... More >>

California Attorney General Kamala Harris Joins Obama as Friend of the Gays, Asks Court to Lift Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

​Updated after the jump with high fives from across the gay-rights community. After disappointing news came two weeks ago that the fight against Prop. 8 is being delayed until at least September, brand-new California Attorney General Kamala Harris took matters into her own hands today, airing ... More >>

Scott Schmidt, West Hollywood Candidate: Gay Republican Tried to Stop Prop. 8, Now Aims to Unseat Incumbent John Heilman

WeHo City Council candidate Scott Schmidt​In West Hollywood, City Council candidate Scott Schmidt is apparently getting the reputation as the guy who worked harder to try to defeat Proposition 8 than incumbents John Heilman, Abbe Land, and Lindsey Horvath -- combined. Schmidt sent out a camp ... More >>

Gay Rights Activists Thrilled with Barack Obama's Decision to Back Off on Defense of Marriage Act

​Gay rights activists in California and across the United States are thrilled with the Obama Administration's decision today to stop defending the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act in federal court. "This is a huge victory for gay and lesbian couples and removes any doubt that the freedom to marr ... More >>

Gay Marriage Advocates Organize Nationwide Counter Actions on Valentine's Day

​Gay folks still can't get hitched in California and many other states, but that's not stopping same-sex couples from requesting marriage licenses at city and county clerk's offices today -- Valentine's Day -- in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other cities. Marriage Equality U.S.A. and Get ... More >>

Will Gay Republican Fred Karger Run for White House in 2012? Something Very Interesting Is Brewing

Gay Republican Fred Karger​Fred Karger, the openly gay Republican who battled Mormons and the National Organization for Marriage during the Proposition 8 campaign, was featured in the Washington Post yesterday, gaining major recognition for his possible run for the White House in 2012. If Ka ... More >>

Chick-fil-A Doesn't Hate Gay People, It Just Wants Them to Eat Chicken & Not Get Married

Since we last reported on the "Chick-fil-A hates gay people" kerfuffle, complete with a homespun video from company president Dan Cathy, those pesky gay groups won't stop yammering about "rights" and "equality." This is really getting old -- and possibly hurting Chick-fil-A's image as the Southern f ... More >>

Marriage Equality U.S.A. and Get Equal Call For Gay Marriage 'Counter Actions' on Valentine's Day

​Marriage Equality U.S.A. and Get Equal want to shake things up on Valentine's Day this year in the name of full marriage equality. The two gay rights groups are calling for a national "counter action," in which gay folks go to a local county or city clerk's office in states where same-sex ... More >>

Mongols vs. Hells Angels

THE GAY'S THE THING

Mission Drift at Gay Inc.

Is the most powerful gay lobbying group in California becoming irrelevant?

Proposition 8: Federal Appeals Court Drops Imperial County Officials From Gay Marriage Lawsuit

Patrick Range McDonaldLos Angeles Mormon Temple in Westwood in 2008.​The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to allow Imperial County officials to defend Proposition 8 in court. Imperial County Board of Supervisors and a deputy clerk sought to overturn an August ruling by U.S. D ... More >>

Proposition 8 Hearing Underway at U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Jesse Jackson In Favor of Gay Marriage

Ted SoquiGay marriage supporters in West Hollywood.​The Proposition 8 hearing is underway at the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, with pro-Prop. 8 attorney Charles Cooper laying out his case for why anti-gay marriage forces have legal standing to appeal U.S. District Cour ... More >>

Proposition 8: Ted Olson Argues Gay Marriage Can't Harm Straight Folks, U.S. Ninth Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt Wonders How Far Court Should Go?

Pro-gay marriage lawyer Ted Olson​Nearly a year after court proceedings first started for the Proposition 8 federal lawsuit, attorneys for both sides argued their cases in front of a three-judge panel at the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco today. Pro-Prop. 8 lawyers seek ... More >>

Proposition 8: If Judge Vaughn Walker's Ruling Stands on Gay Marriage, Who Will Be Allowed to Get Hitched?

U.C. Davis law professor Vikram Amar​So let's say that U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling on Proposition 8 stands as it goes through the appeals process and the 2008 ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage in California is found to be unconstitutional. Will that decision ap ... More >>

Gay Rights Activist Geoff Kors Will Leave Equality California in 2011 After Nine Years at the Helm

EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors​Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors announced today that he will leave his position in March, 2011, after leading the major gay rights organization for nine years. Many observers credit EQCA for helping California become one of the most gay-fri ... More >>

Kamala Harris Victory in Attorney General Race Thrills California Gay Rights Groups

California Attorney General-elect Kamala Harris​Two prominent gay rights groups in California didn't waste any time celebrating Kamala Harris's victory over Steve Cooley in the state attorney general race, which L.A. Weekly called yesterday. "Today's decision in the attorney general race mea ... More >>

Proposition 8: Thirteen Out-of-State Attorney Generals Don't Want California Gays to Get Married, Join George Wallace in History Books

Prop. 8 supporter and Alabama Attorney General Troy King​With the appeal hearing for the Proposition 8 lawsuit set for Monday, December 6, we thought it would be a good time to look into the out-of-state attorney generals who stuck their noses into California's business and filed a friendly b ... More >>

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Approves C-SPAN Request to Televise Proposition 8 Hearing

Ted SoquiGay marriage supporters at a West Hollywood rally in August.​On Wednesday, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals approved a request by C-SPAN to televise a Proposition 8 hearing on December 6. Two cameras will be allowed in the courtroom, which will also serve as a pool feed for ot ... More >>

TICKED OFF TRANNIES WITH KNIVES

In Filing Pro-Prop. 8 Brief, 10 States Solidify Their Ass-Backwardsness

​Yesterday, we mentioned how 10 terrified states -- Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming -- recently filed an amicus brief that supported Proposition 8, California's gay marriage ban that's been deemed unconstitutional in federal co ... More >>

10 Terrified States Want Gay Marriage Ban to Stand in California

Wyoming Attorney General Bruce Salzburg​10 states not known for their gay-friendliness are mightily nervous about last month's federal court ruling that deemed California's Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional. Why? If the Proposition 8 decision stands as it goes through the federal appeals ... More >>

Ken Mehlman Comes Out; Great News For Prop 8 Opponents

​Ken Melhman's decision to come out and identify as gay, thus confirming one of the oldest rumors in Washington, is a big victory for opponents of Prop. 8, the California ban on gay marriage. Prop. 8 is currently up on appeal after being struck down by a federal judge earlier this month. Mehl ... More >>

Hollywood Youth Pride Hopes To Help Young People In L.A.

Steve La​A group of activists marched down Sunset Blvd in Hollywood Sunday heading toward the first Hollywood Youth Pride, an event dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered young people -- a demographic increasingly vulnerable to homelessness, prostitution and illicit drug use, ac ... More >>

Mike Penner, Christine Daniels: A Tragic Love Story

The L.A. Times sports journalist lived most of his life wanting to be a woman. He discovered too late that he wanted his wife even more

Attorney General Candidate Steve Cooley Would 'Defend' Proposition 8

L.A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley​Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, who's the Republican candidate for California Attorney General, would defend Proposition 8 in court if given the opportunity, says his campaign spokesman Kevin Spillane. "The role of the attorney g ... More >>

Proposition 8 Demonstration Planned for West Hollywood

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protesters in Westwood in November, 2008.​Angered by the fact that the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay to proponents of Proposition 8, gay rights activists are now planning a demonstration on Thursday night in West Hollywood. "There's a ... More >>

Ninth Circuit Says No Gay Marriages On Wednesday

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protesters in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​In a very brief order this afternoon, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has put a hold on gay marriages until at least December. U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's decision, as a result, will not go ... More >>

Prop. 8 Proponents File Emergency Appeal Seeking To Prevent Same-Sex Marriages Next Week

​Updated after the jump with a deadline for Prop. 8 proponents' appeal. First posted at 11:26 a.m. Proponents of Prop. 8, the initiative that bans same-sex marriage in California, filed an emergency appeal (PDF) Friday in U.S. Ninth Circuit court of appeals, pleading for "relief ... in less t ... More >>

Prop. 8 Stay May Be Lifted Today, West Hollywood Ready to Marry Gay Couples

Ted SoquiGay marriage supporter in West Hollywood last week.​U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker will issue a ruling today on whether or not he will continue a stay on his Proposition 8 decision, which found the anti-gay marriage ballot measure to be unconstitutional. If Walker lifts the ... More >>

Same-Sex Marriages To Resume In California Next Week: Federal Judge Lifts Stay On Decision Overturning Prop. 8

Via TwitpicCelebration earlier this month at San Francisco City Hall.​ By Dennis Romero and Patrick Range McDonald, with reporting by Steve La from Norwalk Updated with reporting from the county clerk's office. First posted at 12:40 p.m. U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker on Thursday mo ... More >>

Prop. 8: Judge Vaughn Walker To Issue Ruling on Stay

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protester in Westwood in November, 2008.​U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker will rule on Thursday on whether or not he will continue a stay on his Proposition 8 ruling. That decision found the anti-gay marriage ballot measure to be unconstitutional. I ... More >>

Does Gay Activist David Fleischer Debunk Myths Surrounding 2008 Prop. 8 Campaign?

Steve La​ Last night at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, David Fleischer, founder of the LGBT Mentoring Project, sought to debunk common wisdom in gay rights circles on why Proposition 8 passed in 2008, offering up results from his study, "The Prop. 8 Report." "The bottom line is that what most ... More >>

Prop. 8 Stay Messes With Big Wedding Day in West Hollywood

Patrick Range McDonaldWest Hollywood officials celebrate gay weddings in June, 2008.​Unlike the summer of 2008, the city of West Hollywood doesn't plan to hold a major ceremony if U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker lifts his stay on the Proposition 8 ruling, which would allow gay and les ... More >>

Proposition 8 Trial Video and Document Evidence Released on Federal Web Site

Ted SoquiGay marriage supporters at a West Hollywood rally last week.​Judge Vaughn Walker has released video and document evidence for the Proposition 8 trial on the official web site for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Such things as political ads f ... More >>

Cardinal Roger Mahony Slams Prop. 8 Decision

Cardinal Roger Mahony​On his blog on Wednesday, Cardinal Roger Mahony, who leads the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, slammed U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker for overturning Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that took away the existing right of gays and lesbians to legally marry in Ca ... More >>

Proposition 8: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown Oppose Stay on Gay Marriage

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger​California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown have filed briefs today that oppose a stay on U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's decision to overturn Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that took away the existing ... More >>

Prop. 8 Ruling: Thousands Rally In West Hollywood, Long Beach

Steve La​ Hours after a federal judge struck down the Prop. 8 ban on gay marriage, using strong language to affirm the civil rights of gays and lesbians, demonstrators began celebrating Wednesday evening. The joy and satisfaction were tempered with the knowledge, however, that an appeal is com ... More >>

Prop. 8 Appeal Process Begins

​ As expected, lawyers fighting to protect Proposition 8, the California ban on gay marriage, have appealed Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling, which overturned the marriage ban Wednesday, the San Jose Mercury News reports. Walker's decision overturned Prop. 8, using strong lan ... 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 >>