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Who's saving Minnesota's gay teens?

Submitted by Jeff on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 5:07pm
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Rolling Stone describes the human cost of political gay-bashing: nine student suicides in two years in Michelle Bachmann’s home district. The article attributes this to the local School Board’s embrace of a fervent anti-gay agenda. The suicides feed a climate of severe gay bullying in the schools, making life hell for some - while administrators did nothing to protect them.


Virginia legislators to consider whether or not gays can adopt children

Submitted by Jeff on Sun, 01/22/2012 - 8:11pm
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A battle over whether child-placement agencies should be allowed to discriminate against prospective parents and children based on their sexual orientation has moved to Virginia's General Assembly. Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, has introduced legislation that would bar Virginia from contracting with or funding agencies that discriminate against children or otherwise eligible prospective foster or adoptive parents solely on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, family status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.


New Jersey Legislature will fight for marriage equality

Submitted by Jeff on Tue, 01/10/2012 - 9:16am
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Vowing to make a bill legalizing same-sex marriage a priority, the N.J. legislative leaders say they plan to make marriage equality a centerpiece of the new session that begins this week. "It's going be a fight," Senate President Stephen Sweeney (pictured) said. "We expect it to be a fight. The governor’s a decent person, and I think we can work on educating him to the fact of what it means." He doesn't expect a battle in the new Legislature, but rather with Gov. Chris Christie, who has been a staunch opponent of it.


Iowa court orders both same-sex parents be included on birth certificate

Submitted by Jeff on Fri, 01/06/2012 - 2:25pm
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An Iowa District Court ordered that the state's Department of Public Health must include Melissa and Heather Gartner - both names of married same-sex parents - on their children's birth certificates. The two moms sued the Iowa Department of Public Health after officials refused to include the name of their child's non-biological parent on the child's birth certificate unless the non-biological parent adopted the child.


Same-sex couples credited with nearly 14 percent rise in New York City marriages

Submitted by Jeff on Fri, 01/06/2012 - 7:40am
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There's been a sharp increase of marriage licenses issued in NYC over the past six months. Actually 14% more than last year during this time period. Almost all of them are believed to have been granted to same-sex couples. “We're overwhelmed,” Michael McSweeney, NYC city clerk, said. “It's been much busier for us than this time last year, but we're delighted to see the extra business because we understand the impact. We're handling it. We're thrilled.” New York legalized marriage equality in June and the law took effect in July.


Hawaii and Delaware begin to allow same-sex civil unions

Submitted by Jeff on Mon, 01/02/2012 - 11:22am
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Hawaii and Delaware join the list of states which recognize same-sex civil unions. Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island already recognize civil unions providing state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples. Six other states and Washington, D.C. allow same-sex marriage - creating a patchwork of U.S. legislation for same-sex couples who want to legalize their unions. Marriage licenses are given to same-sex couples in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and D.C. California's struggle for marriage equality is stayed pending an appeal.


Same-sex parents take advantage of adoption tax credit

Submitted by Jeff on Fri, 12/30/2011 - 9:47am
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Since the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage, these couples are viewed as strangers in many parts of their financial lives. They need to file separate federal tax returns, for instance. However, sometimes our partnerships can provide certain advantages. Take the adoption tax credit. If you adopt your spouse’s child, you cannot claim the credit. But since same-sex married couples are not considered spouses under federal law, they are permitted to use the credit - at least until their unions are recognized.


Both lesbian moms have legal rights to child in Florida break up

Submitted by Jeff on Fri, 12/30/2011 - 7:29am
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They were once a couple who wanted a child. One donated the egg. The other had it implanted into her womb and carried the child to term. After they two broke up, a circuit judge ruled that the mom who bore the child is the mother. Last week, however, a state appeals court in Daytona Beach overturned his decision, saying the other mother has parental rights, too. The 5th District Court of Appeal ruled that the U.S. and Florida constitutions trump Florida law and give parenting rights to both women. Under Florida law, a woman who gives birth is the mother.


Illinois to let 3,700 civil-union couples file tax returns

Submitted by Jeff on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 7:53am
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Gov. Pat Quinn (pic) signed the state's civil union law in January '11. That bill included the right to decide medical care for an ailing partner and the right to inherit property, but it didn't include the ability for same-sex couples to file a joint tax return.


MLB’s new collective bargaining agreement to add ‘sexual orientation’ to discrimination clause

Submitted by Jeff on Tue, 11/22/2011 - 3:38pm
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Major League Baseball will announce a new collective bargaining agreement which adds "sexual orientation" to its section on discrimination. Article XV, Section A of the MLB's expiring Basic Agreement, in effect from 2006-2011, states: "The provisions of this Agreement shall be applied to all Players covered by this Agreement without regard to race, color, religion or national origin." In the new agreement, the words "sexual orientation" will be added to the equivalent section. This decision follows that National Football League, which did the same in their CBA this year.


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