(Albany, NY) Gov. David Paterson has urged lawmakers to give final approval to a same-sex marriage bill when they convene in a special session Tuesday. This announcement comes a week after a Maine referendum soundly repealed that state’s new same-sex marriage law. Although he can require the Legislature consider the bill, he can’t compel lawmakers to vote. Also on Monday, Christine Quinn, New York City’s openly gay council speaker, offered an impassioned plea for the state S... Read Full Story

(Albany, NY) Advocates for same-sex marriage are hitting New York’s state capital hard, trying to sway the few votes needed for final legislative approval of the bill in a special session Tuesday. This comes a week after a Maine referendum soundly repealed that state’s new same-sex marriage law. What appears to be a likely vote in New York is being forced by Gov. David Paterson who put it on the agenda of the extraordinary session he’s calling for Tuesday. Although he can re... Read Full Story

The National Organization for Marriage today issued a press release promising to fund primary challenges against any sitting Republican New York state senator who votes in favor of a pending marriage equality bill. “The GOP should learn from Dede Scozzafava’s experience: voting for gay marriage does not pay,” said NOM head Brian Brown (pictured), referring to the pro-marriage equality Republican candidate who was driven from the special election race to represent New York... Read Full Story

The lesbian community has always been slightly more muted than our gay male counterparts. Though our male counterparts dominate in mainstream media, and even LGBT media at that, ladies – I’m here to say that we have something to celebrate this week. After years of waiting for lesbian visibility in the media, today – we’ll celebrate not one, not two but three women. Over a year ago, I posted about Rachel Maddow’s entrance into the media landscape. In that post, we asked ourselves two question... Read Full Story

As we reported over the weekend, the House passed its version of health reform legislation on Saturday, including a number of key provisions for the LGBT community.  However, this process is far from simple, and far from over.  Before final passage, a last-minute anti-choice amendment, offered by Reps. Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Joe Pitts (R-PA), was adopted by a vote of 240-194.  The amendment makes it basically impossible for private insurance companies that participate in the new system to off... Read Full Story

Are you frustrated that ten months into the Obama administration, there's still no repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," no Employment Non-Discrimination Act, no repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, and no sign that President Obama wants to help defeat statwide ballot measures that seek to repeal gay marriage rights? If so, then there's a new movement just for you, and it's meant to cut off the gay ATM that continually helps fund the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Joe Sudbay and John Ara... Read Full Story

The fight for marriage equality has been filled with twists and turns, and everyone in New York is ready to see a vote on this important piece of legislation.  Tomorrow, Tuesday November 10th, the New York State Senate is being called back to Albany in an extraordinary session called by Governor David Paterson. HRC and our partners have been working the phones, gathering letters, and making sure that every single New York State Senator has heard from their constituents on this issues. Many in... Read Full Story

It’s the second week of the month and who knows what that means?! If you guessed Gay Movie Night, you’re right! OUT TAKES Dallas continues its 11th season by screening a new film on the second Thursday of each month, known as “Gay Movie Night”. Films are screened at The Magnolia Theater at West Village in Dallas. This month, OUT TAKES Dallas will be screening “The Big Gay Musical” on November 12, 2009. Opening for the film will be the short film “Ogles with Gogg... Read Full Story

(Augusta, Maine) Police are investigating a threat against a leader in past efforts against gay rights in Maine. Augusta police say the voicemail threat targeted Michael Heath, former leader of the Christian Civic League of Maine and its successor, the Maine Family Policy Council. The person who left the voicemail said, “I can tell him this. I’m a gay guy who owns guns, and he’s my next target.” The incident isn’t the only backlash following voters’ decision to scuttle Maine’s gay... Read Full Story

Dear Maggie Gallagher, I just watched the video you made concerning the victory of anti-marriage equality advocates in Maine. And though we’ve never met (a product, no doubt, of some great cosmic alignment of the stars in the universe — one that I consider myself grateful for every single day), I feel as though I know you. So I felt compelled to write to you this morning, in the hopes we might better understand each other. In your video, you say we are stunned and hurt and upse... Read Full Story