Big astrological happenings make September a fateful month. Read the Lesbian News FEMASTROLOGY By Victoria Bearden and get your monthly horoscope.

The Aquarius Full Moon on July 31 will stir things up as August begins.  And the winds of change will be blowing. The Leo Sun will keep things upbeat.  Saturn Direct on August 2 will help us to “get the lead out,” finalizing old business and starting new projects. Mercury, the planet of communication, enters Virgo on August 8, pushing our thoughts more to productivity. And things will be full steam ahead, for the most part. Except for Venus! Yep, Venus is Retrograde.  This will keep Goddess of love in this sunny sign of Leo all the way through October, which will have some benefits. The only problem is Venus Retrograde has a reputation for being sort of icky when it comes to love and money. In love, the Retro-Leo-Venus vibration could lead to drama, control issues and egotistical outbursts. New relationships that start in August could have some serious glitches. Ongoing relationships could even have a few bumpy patches. And

Full Moons, fireworks, and fun, that’s how July begins! There’s a Full Moon in Capricorn on July 1, 2015 that comes with a touch of wildness from an opposition to Mars and a touch of creativity with a trine to Neptune. It should be a good one! With Venus and Jupiter conjunct in Leo on Full Moon Day, it’s bound to be emotional, exciting and maybe a little bit over the top! Positive aspects roll on July 4 promoting good vibes for the holiday. And of course, Mercury Retrograde is long gone now and things are looking up! By July 6th things heat up a little with a powerful and transformative opposition between the Sun in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn. This could be a “combustible” day, with emotions running high and important situations reaching a “tipping point.” This transit may motivate some folks to make a big push for what they want, no matter what. Watch out for aggressive behavior

We start the month off with a Full Moon in fiery, exciting Sagittarius on June 2, 2015 at 9:19 AM Pacific Time. And it could be quite unpredictable on the day of the Full Moon, as she will oppose Mars in Gemini in the afternoon. This can make people extremely excitable, for better or worse. And with Mercury in Gemini still Retrograde, issues connected to communication, transportation and technology could become pretty messed up! This energy won’t last long but it could pack quite a punch. So enjoy the creative energy wave (particularly in the evening) but keep your wits about you, as disruptive events are very likely. Venus, the planet of love, beauty and art, enters Leo on June 6, 2015, ramping up romance and creativity in a BIG way. Of course, if you are a Leo it’s even better as you already have Jupiter in Leo bringing in all kinds of great opportunities. Must be nice! Still, there is

Mercury Retrograde in Gemini is the big deal this month. It's usually a time full of "hiccups" when it comes to plans, business, communication, travel, technology and machinery. But not every Mercury Retrograde cycle means major trouble for everyone. It can be a time to reconnect to issues or people from the past, which can lead to positive insights and problem solving. Nevertheless, the month of Maywill have some bumps in the road and the most likely areas of turbulence will be computers, communication and transportation. Keep this in mind and delay making big new purchases or plans that cannot be easily altered, if possible. We will enter the "Shadow" of Mercury Retrograde on May 4, 2015. This means the energy vibrations will subtly begin to shift right at the beginning of the month. Mercury will retrograde on May 18, 2015 at 6:49 pm Pacific Time. The "Storm" or more concentrated form of the energy will come in strong before that on

APRIL 2015 PLANETARY UPDATE This Eclipse will bring up lots of truth and game changes revolving around personal and diplomatic relations. April is going to be some kind of wild!!! The month begins with a Total Lunar Eclipse in Libra on April 4, 2015! Eclipses always pack a powerful punch and this will be a strong one, as tense aspects will be made to the still aggravated square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. This Eclipse will bring up lots of truth and game changes revolving around personal and diplomatic relations. Watch the headlines, as there will be some dramatic events in world politics, to be sure. Many of you who know a little more about astrology might be wondering why the Uranus/Pluto square is still such a big deal, as this world-altering tension fest is finally starting to unwind since its 2012 debut. In the words of recently deceased astrologer Jeff Jawer, “the impact will continue for years, just

From Seattle to San Fran, LN's Entertainment Editor and SelfHelp columinist, Dian Katz, let's you know where to go to find the Lesbian bars when you hit town. Dian says, "

Feeling lucky? March 1st and 2nd are both particularly fortunate days. If you plan important activities and communications on these days you will have an edge, for sure! The Sun is in early Pisces now and so is Neptune, so you must also make sure not to let wishful thinking supplant reality as you move ahead into this interesting month. It’s also nice to know that Mercury is Direct, which will give us all a chance to fix up anything that went totally haywire during the last 6 weeks or so. There is a Full Moon at 14 degrees Virgo on Thursday, March 5, 2015. This one should be good for bringing the creative and the practical aspects of our lives into sync. But remember that darn Neptune factor and be cautious, as people may be a little unfocused in the earlier part of the day on March 5, which could lead to emotional misunderstandings and other kinds of Full Moon blowups. The BIG NEWS is the Total Solar Eclipse on Friday, March 20, 2015, which also happens to be Spring Equinox! Wow, that’s cool! This is a big deal, literally, as

        Gloria Bigelow, Dana Goldberg, Suzanne Westenhoefer and Dinah Leffert are slated to headline "The Dinah Comedy Night" on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 8:00pm at The Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, CA. This high-energy, uniquely creative, hysterical quartet will deliver a diverse range of topics, styles, and flavors, giving something for everyone of all ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds to enjoy. This year again The Dinah brings together four of the most acclaimed female stand up comedians who will showcase their comedic dexterity in this one of a kind, ridiculously hilarious comedy show. Guaranteeing a laugh-fest, Bigelow, Leffert, Goldberg and Westenhoefer offer the perfect explosive mix of comedy! Celebrating its milestone 25th Anniversary, Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, the largest & biggest lesbian event in the world, is, once again, upping the volume on your laughter, bringing together the perfect mix of the hottest lesbian comics on the circuit for an exceptional comedy night that is MUST SEE COMEDY!   To purchase tickets or for more

MARCH 13th “GOLDEN TICKET” SHOW BENEFITING LA COUNTY FOSTER YOUTH & FAMILIES FEATURING VEGAS LEGEND FRANK MARINO LOS ANGELES (Feb. 25, 2015) - Emmy Award® winning FOX 11 LA News anchor Christine Devine will host Cops 4 Causes “Golden Ticket” Show featuring “Frank Marino’s Divas Las Vegas” on March 13, 2015 at 6 PM.   Show benefits LA County foster youth and their families.   “Christine Devine is a tireless advocate for foster youth.  Her work with “Wednesday’s Child” which highlights children in need of loving foster homes is truly commendable.  Christine also is a huge supporter of the art’s and theater here in Los Angeles. We cannot think of a better choice to host our Inaugural Benefit for our Golden Ticket Program and Cops 4 Causes is honored to be joined by this remarkable woman, leader and humanitarian ” stated Cops 4 Causes President, Deputy Christopher Landavazo.   For this special evening, Vegas’ “Longest Running Headliner” Frank Marino brings his star-studded “Frank Marino’s Divas Las Vegas” show to Avalon Hollywood marking the first time the iconic female impersonator has

Great News! We've added a new section to our already jam-packed magazine, Lesbian News! We are glad to highlight those Lesbian-owned and Lesbian-friendly businesses that bring quality products to our readers. In this month's February issue, we show you clothes that every Lesbian dreams of, art work that is superb, jewelry that is divine, wine that is to-die-for, cake are that will blow your mind and, or course, those delightful toys that every woman needs when shes feeling frisky (alone or with the woman she loves!). Get this section of Lesbian News, absolutely FREE! Download it here and enjoy!

With Valentine’s Day around the corner you’ll want to read this! As February begins, Mercury, the planet of communication, is still retrograde in the sign of Aquarius. Mercury goes “direct” right before the big “V-Day” on February 11, 2015. Cool, right? Maybe but the days immediately before and after Mercury changes direction can be quite chaotic. So, if you are planning some kind of wonderful surprise for your honey on the 14…make sure you’ve got everything right. We wouldn’t want a Mercury Retrograde Valentine Faux Pas.   Take care with the written or spoken word during the first half of February. Doublecheck appointments and correspondences. Troubleshoot issues with cars, computers and devices. Check bank statements and credit cards carefully.   After Valentine’s Day, the Mercury Retrograde vibe will be fading fast and things will be clearer. Save really big decisions and activities until mid-month and beyond if possible. Venus, the planet of Love and Abundance, goes into Pisces at the end of January and lines up with Neptune right at the beginning of February. This is a romantic, creative, spiritual and magical energy. The Full Moon in Leo is on February 3 which will ratchet up the energy up a few notches. You can get great clarity

Walk into any clothing store, on one side you see clothes for men - neutral tones, classic style, comfortable fit. On the other side, women’s wear – an explosion of color, ruffles, frills, skinny jeans and dresses. But who is covering the in-between? You know. The tomboys. The white space between clothes for men and those frilly women's clothes. Count us in - that’s what TomboyX aims to fill. Classic, cool clothing that is menswear inspired but made for women. Designed by tomboys, for tomboys. Started by Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez, TomboyX has a mission to provide clothing that fits a woman's body while not fitting the norm of women's clothing. Whether you are a tomboy, all day, every day or just when the mood strikes you, you will find TomboyX clothes just what you need, when you need it! If Amelia Earhart or Katherine Hepburn were alive today, TomboyX is exactly what they would be looking for and we, here at LesbianNews,

It’s thought that someone at the Ohio sperm bank misread the label on the vial, resulting in the white woman receiving sperm from an African-American donor despite having requested a Caucasian sample. A white woman in Ohio is suing a sperm bank because she says staff mistakenly gave her vials of semen from an African-American donor after she had requested samples from a white man. Jennifer Cramblett used the services of the Downers Grove-based Midwest Sperm Bank in 2011 and successfully became pregnant. She is now raising her two-year-old mixed-race daughter with her same-sex partner, Amanda Zinkon, in Uniontown, Ohio. Although she became aware of the mix-up when she was pregnant in April 2012, Cramblett says that she has decided to sue the sperm bank now because she has experienced difficulties in the child’s upbringing in a predominantly all-white community – which she describes in the lawsuit as ‘too racially intolerant’. She is suing for 'wrongful birth' and 'breach of warranty', saying that she has suffered

The Supreme Court has taken no action on appeals asking it to take up the issue of same-sex marriage. The gay marriage cases are not among cases the court agreed to hear in its term that begins next week. The justices are expected Monday to turn away appeals in hundreds of cases, although it is not likely the same-sex marriage cases will be among those. The justices meet again in private on October 10 to consider new cases, and decisions about what to hear could be announced then or on October 14. (Courtesy of HuffPost.com)  

October Sun Sign Profile: Libra (September 23-October 22)   It’s always fascinating to hear what people have to say about their own Sun Signs. “So, how do you like being a Capricorn?” I asked a gal that the other day and she answered confidently, “Well, I think it’s a pretty good fit for me!” Typical practical, strong, business-like Capricorn answer! But when I ask most Libras the results are quite different. It usually goes something like this: “Well, yeah, you know, harmony, balance, beauty, and stuff like that…right?” Almost always, they want me to tell them what I think. And there is a key to the Libra personality, they want to connect.   Don’t get me wrong, Libras have their own opinions and don’t mind expressing them. Air Signs like to talk. Libras aren’t as notoriously chatty as Gemini’s but they can come in a close second. Cordial, engaging, charming, and persuasive, Libras often shine in professions where tact, decorum, and diplomacy matter. Of

Today, September 22, Judge Edward Rubin of the 15th Judicial District Court ruled in favor of the freedom to marry in a state legal challenge to an amendment in Louisiana that denies same-sex couples the freedom to marry. The case, Costanza and Brewer v. Caldwell, was filed in 2013 on behalf of Angela Marie Costanza and Chastity Shanelle Brewer, who are raising their 10-year-old son in Lafayette. The case sought respect for Angela and Chastity's marriage license; since Louisiana did not respect their marriage, one mother was not permitted to legally adopt her son. The ruling today grants the second-parent adoption and affirms that the Louisiana amendment violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment. The ruling today comes just three weeks after U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman became the first federal judge since June 2013 to uphold marriage discrimination, when he ruled in Robicheaux v. Caldwell in favor of marriage discrimination in Louisiana. Judge Rubin's order today is a

The United States Census Bureau has found that there are now over half a million married gay and lesbian Americans, ten years after Massachusetts became the first state to allow them to marry Over half a million Americans have married a partner of the same-sex, new Census data released this month reveals. The United States Census Bureau estimated in 2012 that there were only 182,000 same-sex married couples in America. However revised estimates from the bureau’s 2013 American Community Survey upped that figure substantially to nearly 252,000. That figure does not include same-sex couples who married but then later divorced. In comparison there are 56 million American households that are headed by opposite-sex married couples. Until May of this year the US Census Bureau lumped people who reported being in same-sex marriages in with unmarried couples who were living together, making it difficult to get an accurate picture of how many gay and lesbian Americans have actually married. The first same-sex couples to legally marry in America

On Wednesday, cartoonist [and former LN cover] Alison Bechdel was named one of 21 new MacArthur Fellows. [caption id="attachment_1037" align="alignright" width="341"] Alison Bechdel via Lesbian News, September 2003[/caption] Bechdel’s name may be familiar to you from her graphic memoirs Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic and Are You My Mother?, or you may recognize her as the deviser of the Bechdel test, a metric she described in a 1985 comic strip that assesses whether movies have meaningful interactions between female characters. For decades, she’s been assembling a groundbreaking body of work that plays with what the cartoon form can do, through her graphic memoirs as well as through her comic strip "Dykes to Watch Out For." Bechdel’s choice as a MacArthur Fellow made a splash, however, as it marks only the second time a cartoonist has been selected for the honor. The first, Ben Katchor, was awarded the fellowship in 2000. Graphic novels and cartoons have been catching more and more of the spotlight in

Singer-songwriter k.d. lang is featured on a new stamp released by the Canada Post, pictured above. Each stamp features a photo of lang taken by Jeri Heiden, whose art direction can be seen on lang's many iconic album designs. The stamp is one of five in the Post's Country Legends stamp series, honoring some of Canada’s most recognized country musicians, and part of Canada Post’s larger 2014 stamp program, which aims to demonstrate Canada's diverse combination of achievement, progress, and culture. The new k.d. lang stamp is now available to order via canadapost.ca. "Collectively we continue to capture moments that will long live through our stamp collection," says Deepak Chopra, President and CEO of Canada Post. "And we encourage everyone to take note of these stories as they truly mark who we are as Canadians." k.d. lang's latest album, Sing it Loud, was released on Nonesuch Records in 2011 and followed the 2010 career retrospective Recollection, which marked the 25th anniversary of

People seeking clues about how soon the Supreme Court might weigh in on states' gay marriage bans should pay close attention to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told a Minnesota audience Tuesday. Ginsburg said cases pending before the circuit covering Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee would probably play a role in the high court's timing. She said "there will be some urgency" if that appeals court allows same-sex marriage bans to stand. Such a decision would run contrary to a legal trend favoring gay marriage and force the Supreme Court to step in sooner, she predicted. She said if the appeals panel falls in line with other rulings there is "no need for us to rush." Ginsburg didn't get into the merits of any particular case or any state's gay marriage ban, but she marveled at the "remarkable" shift in public perception of same-sex marriage that she attributes to gays and lesbians being more open about their relationships.

When "Orange is the New Black" writer Lauren Morelli started working on the series, she didn't realize how much it would also script her future. As Morelli wrote in an essay for Mic.com in May, writing for the Netflix hit helped her realize that she was gay -- even though at the time, she was married to a man. When production began on "OITNB," Morelli had been wed for five months. "I realized I was gay in fall 2012, one of my first days on the set," Morelli wrote. "It wasn't so much one thing, but the sum of many small details: how uncomfortable I felt around groups of lesbians or how I considered myself

Symantec, the software firm behind Norton AntiVirus, routinely allowed customers to filter out LGBTI websites One of the biggest web filtering services in the world has announced they are scrapping a system that allows homophobes to block access to 'gay and lesbian' content. Symantec, the online security firm behind Norton AntiVirus, has routinely been filtering out LGBTI websites offering news, charity and support as they consider them to be essentially the same thing as child porn. The fourth-largest software company in the world, they say the 'lifestyle-sexual orientation' category will now be steadily removed from its databases. 'Making this change was not only the right thing to do, it was a good business decision,' said Fran Rosch, executive vice president, Norton Business Unit, Symantec today (16 September). 'Having a category in place that could be used to filter out all LGBT-oriented sites was inconsistent with Symantec's values and the mission of our software.' While Symantec will allow customers to set their search to block offensive websites,

Sara Gilbert found an amazingly awesome way to tell her co-hosts and the audience on "The Talk" that she and her wife, Linda Perry, are having a baby. Sara Gilbert is perhaps best-known for playing Darlene Conner on the ABC sitcom "Roseanne," and for her role as Leslie Winkle on "The Big Bang Theory." But Gilbert is also the co-host and executive producer of CBS' "The Talk." "The Talk" this week has a segment called "Face You Fears," during which randomly assigned co-hosts have to face their greatest fears on live TV. Gilbert was supposed to become the stuffing for a bed of nails sandwich to help her through her fear of being hurt. But Gilbert declined to take part in the challenge -- for an excellent reason. "I'm actually not going to do the dare," Gilbert, choking up, tells her co-hosts, who include Sharon Osborne. "I'm going to tell you guys why. I, we found out about the dares this week, I was scared to do it, I

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is the fifth federal appeals court to hear arguments on same-sex couples’ marriage rights this year. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals appeared poised to strike down bans on same-sex couples’ marriages in Idaho and Nevada in nearly two hours of arguments on Monday. All three judges hearing the cases — Judges Stephen Reinhardt, Marsha Berzon, and Ronald Gould — appeared ready to rule the bans unconstitutional as violating equal protection guarantees. As with other appellate courts to hear marriage cases this year, the court did note that the judges expect the matter to be headed to the Supreme Court. When Monte Stewart, the lawyer arguing in support of both Idaho and Nevada’s bans, questioned the court’s view of Justice Anthony Kennedy’s opinion in last year’s case striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act, Reinhardt retorted, “I think you’re going to have an opportunity to find out what Justice Kennedy thinks.” Although not as fireworks-filled as

[caption id="attachment_2157" align="aligncenter" width="620"] (Photo credit: Thomas Geyer)[/caption] Vivian Boyack, age 91, and Alice “Nonie” Dubes, age 90, have been together for 72 years, and this weekend they tied the knot. As the reverend who performed the ceremony in Davenport, Iowa said, “This is a celebration of something that should have happened a very long time ago.” What does it take to sustain a relationship since circa the middle of World War II? A lot of love and work, according to Boyack. “We’ve had a good time,” Dubes says. (Courtesy Feministing.com)  

Angelina Jolie is married, and so is her ex-girlfriend, Jenny Shimizu. Shimizu recently wed brand consultant Michelle Harper, according to Us Weekly. On Wednesday, photos of Harper wearing a voluminous wedding dress on Aug. 22 in the Soho neighborhood of New York City surfaced via Splash photo agency. Shimizu, a former Calvin Klein model, met Harper in 2012 at a party, per a New York Times profile on Harper, a club kid-turned-businesswoman. The two were recently featured in Vogue magazine wearing what Harper described in a June Instagram post as some "cray fun wedding garb." Shimizu and Jolie dated the 1990s after meeting on the set of 1996's "Foxfire." "I probably would have married Jenny Shimizu if I hadn't married my husband [Jonny Lee Miller]," Jolie told Girlfriends magazine in 1997. "I fell in love with her the first second I saw her. Actually, I saw when she was being cast in 'Foxfire,' and I thought she had just read for my part. I thought

Ceremony to take place at a time when number of potential marriage equality cases that might go before the high court grows Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an associate justice of the US Supreme Court, is set to perform yet another same-sex wedding ceremony this weekend - her fourth. Ginsburg, 81, will be conducting the ceremony of her former law clerk, Danny Rubens, and his fiance Danny Grossman. It was 13 months ago that Ginsburg performed her first same-sex wedding ceremony and she told the Washington Post at the time: 'I think it will be one more statement that people who love each other and want to live together should be able to enjoy the blessings and the strife in the marriage relationship.' This weekend's wedding takes place as the number of potential same-sex marriage cases that might go before the high court continues to grow. So far, cases in Utah, Virginia, Oklahoma, Indiana and Wisconsin are among the possibilities. Ginsburg had said earlier this year that she

Our hearts collectively broke earlier today when we learned that Joan Rivers passed away at the age of 81. The gay icon reportedly stopped breathing during a procedure on her vocal cords at a clinic last week and had been in and out of intensive care since the incident. While remembering Rivers' groundbreaking career, it must be noted that her contributions to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and queer visibility were massive. In honor of the legendary comedian, we present to you six of our favorite queer moments from Joan Rivers' life. Our thoughts are with her family and friends. [su_dropcap]1[/su_dropcap] Joan Officiates A Gay Wedding Last month Rivers officiated a gay wedding at New York's Plaza Athenee -- and it wasn't her first. In 2013 the comedian also presided over a King Kong-themed ceremony on top of the Empire State Building. "Every wedding I officiate has a cover charge and a two-drink minimum," she joked. [su_dropcap]2[/su_dropcap] Joan On Kissing A Woman In early 2013, Rivers opened up on NBC's "Today Show" about a recent

CHICAGO (AP) — A U.S. appeals court issued a scathing, unequivocal ruling Thursday declaring that gay marriage bans in Wisconsin and Indiana were unconstitutional, on the same day that 32 states asked the Supreme Court to settle the issue once and for all. The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago was the fourth to hear arguments on the issue. The decision from a normally slow and deliberative court was released a little more than a week after oral arguments. The unanimous, 40-page decision from a three-judge panel blasted the states' justifications for their bans, several times singling out the argument that only marriage between a man and a woman should be allowed because it's — simply — tradition. There are "bad traditions that are historical realities such as cannibalism, foot-binding, and suttee, and traditions that

CVS is rebranding -- and they want you to know that your family is welcome, no matter what that family may look like. Ever since CVS stopped selling cigarettes and renamed itself CVS Health, the pharmacy giant has been extremely public about its commitment to the health and well-being of all customers. Now, the chain has released a new advertisement that showcases a broad range of families and individuals, including a gay couple (look for them around 0:23). (Courtesy of HuffPost.com)

The state of Coahulia made history this week as the first in Mexico to pass marriage equality in the legislature. The legislation, which passed Congress in a 19 to 1 vote on Monday, will take effect in one week. The law now defines marriage as, "the free union with full consent of two people, which has as its objective to realize community life where both [people] seek respect, equality and mutual aid, and make in a free, responsible, voluntary and informed way reproductive decisions that fit their life project, including the possibility of procreation or adoption." In the U.S., 19 states plus the District of Columbia, currently recognize the rights of loving, committed same-sex couples to marry.   (Courtesy of HRC.org)  

Much of 2014 has felt a bit like a run-away train for many of us. The Grand Cardinal Cross in late April was the focal point for an enormous conflagration of planetary forces and the “ripple effect” will continue to be felt for the rest of this year. Some of the energy from the Grand Cardinal Cross has been challenging and dramatic, on a personal level and on a global level. Events in the Ukraine and the Middle East bear a strong testament to the nature of these tense celestial influences. Further ramifications of things set in motion by this complex influence will be revealed more clearly by December 2014.   But as Summer ends and Fall beckons, the 2014 Year of the Horse slows down to a gentle canter. September will not be boring but will be a bit calmer and uneventful. Take advantage of this slight “lull” to gather your resources and prepare for the last quarter of the year.

Final four perform to Wind Beneath My Wings with routine choreographed by Travis Wall They let the dancing do the talking. Although nothing was said about it on the air, Fox's So You Think You Can Dance on Wednesday (27 August) featured what is believed to be the first romantic same-sex routines in its 11-year history. Top four contestants Valerie Rockey, Jessica Richensm Ricky Ubeda and Zack Everhart Jr danced in same-sex pairings to the song Wind Beneath My Wings to choreography by the show's openly gay choreographer Travis Wall. Many fans were impressed, including gay NBA player Jason Collins who tweeted after the show: Dude that was an amazing opening on @DANCEonFOX choreographed by @traviswall tonight! Nice job dude (as usual). Adding to the gayness of the evening: Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson was a guest judge.   (Courtesy of GayStarNews.com)  

Sara Quin grew up hiding a big secret. Little did she know, her twin sister was hiding the same one. Pop musicians Tegan and Sara share their story about growing up gay.  

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were married Saturday, in Chateau Miraval in France, a spokesman for the couple said Thursday. They wed in a small, nondenominational ceremony attended just by friends and family. Jolie and Pitt obtained a marriage license from a California judge, who also presided over the ceremony in France, the AP reports. The couple's six children took part in the festivities. Sons Maddox and Pax walked their mother down the aisle. Daughters Zahara and Vivienne threw flower petals, and Shiloh and Knox served as ring bearers, the spokesman said. Jolie and Pitt were engaged in April 2012 and began dating in 2005, after meeting on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The relationship began as a Hollywood scandal, after "Brangelina" began their relationship while Pitt was still married to actress Jennifer Aniston. Aniston and Pitt divorced in October 2005, ending a five-year marriage. The couple have six children together; three adopted children: Maddox, Pax and Zahara; and three biological children: Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne. Pitt has been nominated for

What an incredible moment for queer visibility! Patricia Rodríguez, the winner and title holder of Miss Spain 2013, came out of the closet this week through an Instagram post with her partner. The move makes Rodríguez the first openly lesbian national beauty queen. Rodríguez later thanked her fans for the positive reaction to her decision to come out in a follow-up Instagram post, adding: "I published impulsively, I appreciate the outpouring of support. Thank you." Congrats, Patricia!   (Courtesy of HuffPost.com)  

What a difference a decade makes. I remember 15 years ago going to the Sparks games. Our group had the best seats right in the center of the 1st section. We still have those seats. I introduced myself to the media plus anyone that could possibly at the very least help me to get the WNBA to advertise with us. I wore all purple including my shoes managing to make the big TV screen in the middle of the auditorium, everyone cheered.  While it didn’t happen so quickly (does it ever?) when the WNBA decided to embrace its gay fans, it was in a major way: We’re talking Pride Tee-Shirts in the official shop, a full gay site at www.wnba.com/pride, sponsorship of Pride Games (the first Pride game aired back in June) and ads for the LA Sparks WNBA team being placed on well-respected lesbian sites like Lesbian News, North America’s longest running Lesbian publication. Buy LA Sparks tickets: http://www.axs.com/artists/113921/los-angeles-sparks-tickets   With statistics showing that 21%

67% of Republican voters would be happy to vote for an openly gay candidate but most still wouldn’t want to find out someone in their family was gay, according to new polling New polling by researchers at McClatchy and Marist College has found that only 30% of Republican voters would have a big problem with their party selecting an openly gay or lesbian candidate to be their representative, with 67% saying a candidate’s sexuality would have no baring as long as they had good qualifications. However almost as many would be upset if they found out their own child was gay or lesbian, with 37% saying they would be ‘upset’ and 23% saying they would be ‘very upset.’ Only around three-in-ten Democratic and independent voters said they would be upset to learn their child was gay or lesbian. The poll also found 63% of Republicans still oppose same-sex couples being allowed to legally marry, with 59% saying the issue should be settled on a state-by-state

Lesbian News Executive Editor Zoe Edgerton has recently been awarded an Emmy for editing on the daytime drama, The Bold and the Beautiful. This award is in addition to the first Emmy she won as an editor on the daytime drama The Young and the Restless in 2002.   Congratulations, Zoe!!    

PHOENIX — Women's basketball stars Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson are engaged. Griner proposed to Johnson and both posted it on social media, with Griner showing a photo of her on one knee with a ring in her hand in front of Johnson on her Instagram account. Griner plays for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and Johnson for the Tulsa Shock. In the post, Griner wrote: "Last Night was a Night to Remember(,) I became the happiest person on this earth! (almost pass out but when that one word came out I came back to life) Me and my baby @missvol25 are in it for Life!" Johnson also had a photo on her Instagram account of Griner lying in bed with an engagement ring resting on her shoulder. Griner has embraced her role as a prominent gay athlete since finishing a record-breaking career at Baylor. She came out last year and wrote a candid memoir, "In My Skin," that was critical of college coach Kim Mulkey. The 6-foot-8 center, drafted first overall by Phoenix last year, has helped

Facebook made a $10,000 donation in May to the reelection campaign of Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, who has received national attention for fighting a court ruling that would make gay marriage legal in the state. The donation, first reported by QSaltLake, is listed in a filing for Reyes' 2014 primary campaign on the State of Utah Financial Disclosures website. Here's a screenshot of the filing: And closer up: In an email to The Huffington Post, a Facebook spokesperson offered a statement on the donation: Facebook has a strong record on LGBT issues and that will not change, but we make decisions about which candidates to support based on the entire portfolio of issues important to our business, not just one. A contribution to a candidate does not mean that we agree with every policy or position that candidate takes. We made this donation for the same reason we’ve donated to Attorneys General on the opposite side of this issue -- because they are committed to fostering innovation and an

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal appeals court has denied a request to delay its ruling striking down Virginia's same-sex marriage ban. A panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond on Wednesday denied the request by a county court clerk in northern Virginia to stay the decision while it is appealed to the Supreme Court. That means that without intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court, same-sex couples could begin marrying and have their out-of-state marriages recognized by next Wednesday. Late last month, the court ruled that Virginia's gay marriage ban approved by voters in 2006 is unconstitutional. Representatives for the defendants didn't immediately comment. (Courtesy of HuffPost.com)

Robin Williams, the beloved actor who died of an apparent suicide Monday, posted a touching photograph on Instagram two weeks earlier that showed him holding his daughter, Zelda Rae Williams, when she was a young child:   Williams, who was 63 years old, is survived by three children: Zachary, 31; Zelda, 25, and Cody, 22. Zelda is also an actress. His wife, graphic designer Susan Schneider, with whom he lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, said in a statement Monday that she was "utterly heartbroken." "This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings," she added. "As he is remembered, it is our hope that the focus will not be on Robin's death but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions." Fans took to Williams' Instagram page to express their own grief, and dozens of celebrities paid tribute on Twitter. In earlier Instagram posts, Zelda Williams shared

The news of Robin Williams' death has conjured a bounty of memories regarding the beloved actor's life. One of his crowning moments came in 1998, when he collected the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his turn as psychotherapist Sean Maguire in "Good Will Hunting." He'd been nominated three times previously, for "Good Morning, Vietnam" (1987), "Dead Poets Society" (1989) and "The Fisher King" (1991). His acceptance speech was peppered with grace and humor, insisting that he "still want[s] to see some I.D." for the movie's then-young screenwriters, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, and thanking the "Mishpucka Weinstein." His embrace with host and old friend Billy Crystal after the speech remains one of the most touching moments from that year's Oscars. Relive Williams' glorious moment below. (Courtesy of HuffPost.com)  

Even though they scored a key victory in federal appellate court, attorneys for three Utah gay and lesbian couples said Thursday they plan to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take Utah's appeal of a favorable gay marriage ruling. It is vital that justices weigh in about whether state same-sex marriage bans violate the Constitution to settle the matter for a nation that needs an answer, said Kate Kendell, executive director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The group is representing the couples alongside private attorneys in Utah. "Because we understand the tremendous importance of this issue, and that the ultimate question can only be finally resolved at the Supreme Court, we agree with attorneys for the state of Utah that the court should take the case and provide a final resolution," Kendell said. Utah filed its request this week for the justices to hear an appeal of a June ruling from the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which found

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring said he will ask the Supreme Court to review a decision that struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage, although he supports the lower court's decision. The Democrat has chosen not to defend the state's law, but has also asked for 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stay its decision because he believes there could be unintended consequences. Herring's office said it planned to make its filing seeking a Supreme Court review on Friday. "I believe the district and appeals courts ruled correctly in striking down Virginia's discriminatory marriage ban, but it has long been clear that the Supreme Court will likely have the final word. I want that decision to come as soon as possible and I want the voices of Virginians to be heard," Herring said in a statement. On Monday, the plaintiffs in the case challenging Virginia's same-sex marriage ban said they wanted a federal appeals court to allow

CINCINNATI — The broadest attack yet on states' gay marriage bans will be Wednesday in a packed courtroom in downtown Cincinnati, where lawyers challenging four states' prohibitions will stand shoulder to shoulder in hopes of convincing a three-judge panel that the bans are unconstitutional. The states – Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee – have so far waged their battles separately, fighting to uphold the bans that voters years ago embraced. Each state faces slightly different challenges filed by same-sex couples, including the right to adopt children as a couple, to have their names placed on a partner's death certificate and to have their marriages – performed legally elsewhere – recognized in the states they call home, where same-sex marriage is illegal. Despite the variations in the attacks, make no mistake: The ultimate targets are the bans, and the real goal is the right to marry, adopt children and enjoy the same rights that opposite-sex couples have when they exchange vows. "Putting all of

[caption id="attachment_2043" align="aligncenter" width="1245"] Kim Hackford-Peer (L) marries her partner Ruth Hackford-Peer (R) as Ruth holds their son Casey, 7, at the Salt Lake County office building in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 20, 2013. Jim Urquhart/Reuters[/caption] Though diametrically opposed on the merits of marriage equality, both challengers and defenders of laws standing in the way can usually come together on one point: their shared conviction that the matter will soon be decided by the nation’s highest court. And yet, despite a growing chain of judicial triumphs for gay and lesbian couples – each ruling now an almost routine, predictable event – there are still no sure things, and those betting on when or which case could go before the justices, as well as the outcome, may regret putting money down. True, no ban on same-sex nuptials has survived at the federal district level since the Supreme Court invalidated a key portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) last year. That trend

NAIROBI, Kenya — A Ugandan court struck down a punitive anti-gay law on Friday that has strained Uganda’s relations with the West, but the court ruled on narrow technical grounds, preserving the possibility that the measure could be revived. In front of an overflowing courtroom in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, a panel of five judges announced that the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which punishes some homosexual behavior with life in prison, was invalid because it had been passed by Parliament without a proper quorum. “We’re very happy,” said Sylvia Tamale, a Ugandan law professor who has supported gay rights despite persistent [caption id="attachment_2048" align="alignright" width="300"] Gay rights activists celebrated on Friday in Kampala, Uganda, after a five-judge panel announced that a punitive anti-gay law was invalid. Credit Isaac Kasamani/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images[/caption] threats and harassment. “But it’s unfortunate that the court did not deal with the substantive issues that violate our rights.” Uganda’s government, which is tightly controlled by President Yoweri Museveni, a former guerrilla fighter who

Summer is at its height and it’s time for all those Leo birthdays. And remember, Leos expect a big party and lavish gifts! The emphasis this month is fire. The Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter will all be rolling through the Fire Sign Leo, which is exciting, dramatic, and potentially fun. Some of this energy will be bouncing off Uranus in Aries, sparking innovation and positive surprises. Take some time to be creative. This year has been demanding and August would be a good time to make a conscious choice to revel a bit.   Lucky Jupiter has just recently moved into Leo, which will be noticeable. Jupiter is the planet associated with “good fortune.”  Leo is associated with the Sun and the 5th House, which is also pretty darn fortunate. So, let the games begin! This month should be favorable for more risk taking, particularly if you have an emphasis in Fire Signs in your own birth chart.   If you are planning

“[I]nertia and apprehension are not legitimate bases for denying same-sex couples due process and equal protection of the laws.” WASHINGTON — The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals held Monday that Virginia’s ban on same-sex couples’ marriages is unconstitutional. On a 2-1 vote, the appeals court joined the wave of court decisions declaring such bans unconstitutional. The decision, by Judge Henry Floyd acknowledged both the debate over such laws and, in the court’s view, the clear constitutional impediment to laws banning same-sex couples from marrying. “We recognize that same-sex marriage makes some people deeply uncomfortable,” he wrote. “However, inertia and apprehension are not legitimate bases for denying same-sex couples due process and equal protection of the laws.” In considering the matter, Floyd, joined by Judge Roger Gregory, ruled, “The Virginia Marriage Laws … impede the right to marry by preventing same-sex couples from marrying and nullifying the legal import of their out-of-state marriages. Strict scrutiny therefore applies in this case.” Judge Paul Niemeyer dissented from the

Today U.S. District Judge Raymond P. Moore ruled against Colorado’s constitutional amendment banning marriage equality.  In Burns v. Hickenlooper, attorneys with Kilmer, Lane and Newman, LLP sued the state on behalf of six same-sex couples who argue that Colorado’s ban on marriage equality violates the U.S. Constitution. Judge Moore stayed his ruling until August 25 to allow the state time to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which has already struck down bans on marriage equality in Utah and Oklahoma. “Today’s ruling from Judge Moore provides even further confirmation that Colorado’s ban on marriage equality is unconstitutional,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow.  “Through civil unions, Colorado has already recognized the need for same-sex couples to have equal access to the benefits and obligations of marriage. Now it's time for the state to stop its appeal and allow these families the dignity that comes with full marriage equality.” Last month clerks in Boulder, Denver, and Pueblo counties began issuing marriage

HRC released a video ad featuring legendary actress Susan Sarandon for HRC’s Americans for Marriage Equality campaign.  In the video, the Oscar winner states, “While marriage might not be my thing, if it’s your thing you damn well ought to be able to have it equally and unequivocally.” “Like most Americans, Susan Sarandon knows that all families deserve to be treated with respect, dignity, and equality under the law,” said HRC’s Charles Joughin.  “We are incredibly grateful to Susan for speaking out in favor of marriage equality, and for lending her powerful voice to HRC’s fight for fairness nationwide.” Susan Sarandon’s celebrated acting career has spanned more than four decades, earning her dozens of award nominations and wins, including the 1995 Best Actress Academy Award for Dead Man Walking.  Sarandon has used her fame and success for good, supporting numerous charities and goodwill efforts around the globe.  She has been honored for her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, as an advocate for victims of

Today, July 17, a judge in state court struck down Florida’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples, marking the 25th consecutive ruling in favor of the freedom to marry (with no rulings against) since June 2013. Chief Circuit Judge Luis Garcia ordered the Monroe County Clerk to stop enforcing Florida's anti-marriage constitutional amendment, saying that marriage licenses should begin being issued in Monroe County on July 22. For now, the ruling only applies to Monroe County. The ruling does not require the state of Florida to respect the marriages of same-sex couples legally performed in other states. The ruling is in Huntsman v. Heavilin, a case brought in Monroe County court in April 2014 by private counsel from Restivo, Reilly & Vigil-Fariñas LLC on behalf of Aaron Huntsman and Lee Jones, a same-sex couple together for more than a decade in Key West, FL. The couple spoke with Freedom to Marry and Equality Florida earlier this month. Read their story HERE.  Judge Garcia writes in his

Two countries (Argentina & Germany) with female leaders will battle it out for the World Cup; in a host country (Brazil) with a female leader.  [caption id="attachment_1969" align="aligncenter" width="750"] German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Left) and Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (Right)[/caption] Perhaps a global teaching moment?  

Several major gay rights groups withdrew support Tuesday for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that would bolster gay and transgender rights in the workplace, saying they fear that broad religious exemptions included in the current bill might compel private companies to begin citing objections similar to those that prevailed in a U.S. Supreme Court case last week. The gay community is a key constituency and source of campaign donations for Democrats, and calls to rewrite the most significant gay rights legislation considered in recent years is a major setback for the White House, which had used passage of the legislation last fall as a way to draw a contrast with House Republicans, who have refused to vote on the measure. But the groups said they can no longer back ENDA as currently written in light of the Supreme Court’s decision last week to strike down a key part of President Obama’s health-care law. The court ruled that family-owned businesses do not have to offer

Children of same-sex couples experience higher levels of general health and family cohesion than those from traditional families, a study shows. But the researchers warn that the stigma associated with their parents' sexual orientation is an ongoing challenge for these children. Researchers from the University of Melbourne surveyed 315 same-sex parents with a total of 500 children. About 80% of the children have female parents, while 18% have male parents. The children raised by same-sex partners scored an average of 6% higher than the general population on measures of general health and family cohesion. They were equivalent to those from the general population on measures of temperament and mood, behaviour, mental health and self-esteem. The lead researcher, Simon Crouch, said same-sex couples are more likely to share childcare and work responsibilities more equitably than heterosexual parent families, based more on skills rather than gender roles. "This appears to be contributing to a more harmonious household and having a positive impact on child health," he

The month begins with Mercury going direct (yippee) on July 1, 2014. Issues connected to communication, travel, computers, home remodels, machinery, cars, and new projects will be much more positive now. So, if you’ve been holding your breath about making new plans, you can exhale now!   As usual, I’d like to add a note of caution for July. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be a good astrologer. The Sun in Cancer will be opposing Pluto in Capricorn, and then squaring Uranus in Aries during the first days of the month. July 4 and July 8 will be key dates. This will “re-activate” the Grand Cardinal Cross, a controversial and volatile astrological influence that occurred in late April of 2014. Those of you who were on that wild roller-coaster ride around the last two weeks of April will remember it well, I imagine.   Without being all doom and gloomy, suffice it to say that the beginning of July may have some drama associated

WASHINGTON – Earlier today, the Justice Department released a report detailing the Obama administration’s broad implementation of the Supreme Court’s United States v. Windsor decision, which struck down key components of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) last year.  Under the leadership of President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder, the breadth with which this administration has implemented the Windsor decision constitutes the single largest conferral of rights to LGBT people in history. “President Obama’s advocacy on behalf of LGBT people is nothing less than historic,” said Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president Chad Griffin.  “We are incredibly grateful to both the president and Attorney General Eric Holder for keeping their promise of fighting to wipe out anti-LGBT discrimination at the federal level.  There is no question that the lives of LGBT people today are immeasurably better today than they were before this president took office. “The administration's sweeping interpretation and implementation of the Windsor decision has led to greatest conferral of equal rights, benefits and obligations to LGBT people in our nation's history. In record time, Attorney General

31 years ago today astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman to fly in space. Almost two years ago, after Dr. Ride's death, it was revealed that she had been with her female partner, Tam O'Shaugnessy, for 27 years. Today we celebrate her life, her legacy and her love.  

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama has directed his staff to draft an executive order that would ban workplace discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees of federal contractors, a White House official told The Huffington Post. The move is the clearest indication to date that the administration is prepared to take action on LGBT rights where Congress has fallen short. Notably, the official would not say whether the president will sign the order into law on Monday -- suggesting the White House is leaking the news to warn lawmakers that they have a limited window to pass more sweeping workplace discrimination legislation before he acts without them. "The president’s intentions are clear," the official said, when asked whether Obama would sign the order. "We will keep you posted." Obama’s plan to draft an executive order comes after years of inaction on this front. The administration has been calling on Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would make it illegal for

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton engaged in an awkward exchange with NPR's Terry Gross on Thursday when the radio host pushed her on her evolving stance on gay marriage. When Clinton ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008, she, like then-candidate Barack Obama, opposed gay marriage. Since then, both Clinton and Obama have both publicly switched their stance on the issue. Gross attempted to clarify whether Clinton's initial opposition was a "political calculation." During their conversation, Clinton responded vaguely to Gross' attempts to clarify whether the likely 2016 candidate's position on gay marriage changed at any point, making general points like "just because you’re a politician doesn’t mean you’re not a thinking human being," and "I think I’m an American, I think that we have all evolved." Gross continued to reframe her question, asking whether Clinton, at any point, changed her mind about gay marriage, or whether she supported it personally all along. "You know, I really — I have to

“For the United States to hold true to our commitment to defending the human rights of all people around the world, we must stand with the LGBT community in their struggle for recognition and equality everywhere.” [caption id="attachment_1892" align="aligncenter" width="625"] Gary Cameron / Reuters[/caption] A special envoy for LGBT rights would be created under legislation to be unveiled later today by Massachusetts Democratic Senator Ed Markey. The bill, titled “The International Human Rights Defense Act,” was formally introduced in the Senate on Thursday along with more than 20 co-sponsors, all Democrats. “For the United States to hold true to our commitment to defending the human rights of all people around the world, we must stand with the LGBT community in their struggle for recognition and equality everywhere,” Markey said in a statement to BuzzFeed. “By fostering a coordinated effort across the federal government and relevant agencies, we can meet the enormous challenge before us and work to ensure equality for all people around the

What is life like for the queer community in the United States? That's the question Vocativ, the global media organization for the Digital Generation, set out to answer with their new Queer Index, "a thorough examination of dozens of quality-of-life factors for America’s LGBT communities, based on Vocativ’s proprietary technology that mines the 'Deep Web' –- the 80% of the Internet outside the scope of search engines," according to a statement from the company. The Queer Index incorporates data from open databases, public sites and social networks, including Craigslist, Facebook, Yelp, Rentboy, the US census and the FBI crimes database. Vocativ used this information to determine its definitive listing of the top 35 most LGBT-friendly cities spanning the United States. 16 "key lifestyle metrics" were measured, Vocativ notes, and "specific factors explored include the size of cities’ LGBT communities, number of 'out' singles, openly gay and lesbian politicians, queer-friendly businesses, hate-crime rates, and even the ease of casual hook-ups." “For Pride Month, we wanted to create a useful and

Nabisco has made another incredible public display of support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community through their Honey Maid Graham Cracker advertising campaigns, with the latest coming just in time for Pride Month! The snack company tweeted out this gif last Thursday, declaring their support for the LGBT community through social media with a clever play on the viral equality symbol. The company also sent out this tweet on Monday: In March, Nabisco released a powerful pro-LGBT family ad that that drew criticism from a number of conservatives. In response, the company released another pro-queer ad in which two artists turned all of the negative feedback on social media into an incredible "Love" art installation. Thanks for your continued support, Nabisco! (Courtesy of HuffPost.com)

Nordstrom marked LGBT Pride Month with a poignant and colorful Instagram photo. It isn't the first time that Nordstrom has taken a public stance on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. In 2012, representatives for the Seattle-based retail chain backed same-sex marriage in Washington state via a company-wide memo. "With respect to our gay and lesbian employees, Nordstrom was an early adopter of adding sexual orientation to our anti-discrimination policy, which means we guarantee the same legal rights and protections in our workplace to gay and lesbian employees just as we do for other employees regardless of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical, mental or sensory disability, and gender identity," the memo, which was also posted to GLAAD's official website, read. "We feel the next step in this journey is to now support freedom to marry, also called marriage equality," it continued. A year later, the company followed up with a commercial expressing similar values. Dubbed "The Ultimate Wedding Party,"

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Seven couples filed a federal lawsuit Friday challenging the constitutional prohibition on same-sex marriage in North Dakota, making it the last state in the country with a ban to be sued by gay couples seeking the right to marry in their home state. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Fargo, challenges both North Dakota's ban on gay marriage and its refusal to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples who legally wed in other states. That means cases are currently pending in all 31 states with gay marriage bans. Judges have overturned several of the bans since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act last year. A federal judge also struck down Wisconsin's ban on same-sex marriage on Friday, ruling it unconstitutional. North Dakota's attorney general's office said it had not yet seen the suit and thus could not comment on the specifics. "Ultimately, only the Supreme Court can determine whether North

Nate Phelps grew up in a physically and mentally abusive household headed by Fred Phelps, the founder of the hate group known as the Westboro Baptist Church. Since escaping the toxic environment of the 'church' known for its trademark slogan of "God Hates Fags," Phelps has devoted his life to being an advocate for LGBT acceptance. The upcoming documentary "Not My Father's Son" will give unique insight into the inside workings of the WBC, chronicling Phelps' journey from his abusive childhood to his eventual departure which cut him off from his family. In the trailer for the film, Phelps matter-of-factly provides a chilling voiceover that explains what his childhood was like: So, my father used what was called a "mattock handle." It was a large piece of wood about four-and-a-half feet long and it had about a thirteen, fourteen-inch circumference. And he would swing that like a baseball bat when he was beating one of the kids. And he did it such that he would

After over four decades of pride parades, 150,000 spectators at the Capital Pride parade witnessed something never before seen – a US Armed Forces color guard marching alongside rainbow flags and following Dykes on Bikes. It’s a first for the 39th annual Capital Pride parade on Saturday or any other pride parade in the US with a new contingent – a US Armed Forces color guard that presents the red, white and blue as well as flags of each branch of the military. The eight-member color guard team from the US Army Military District of Washington led the parade through Dupont Circle and 17th Street and ending at 14th Street and S Street. 'The Department of Defense has authorized what military gay rights groups and organizers of the Capital Pride parade say is a first nationwide,' reports The Washington Post. A statement on Capital Pride's website reads: 'We are very proud that for the first time ever in our country, the Department of Defense will participate in

An officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department has been put on paid administrative leave after reportedly refusing an assignment at this weekend’s gay pride parade, KSL News reports: "We don't tolerate bias and bigotry in the department, and assignments are assignments," said department spokeswoman Lara Jones. The officer is on paid administrative leave as the internal affairs unit reviews the situation, Jones said. He had been given a traffic control and public safety assignment. The department has provided services at the Utah Pride Festival since its inception, as well as a host of other community events. "We serve a variety of community events with similar functions, and to allow personal opinion to enter into whether an officer will take a post is not something that can be tolerated in a police department," Jones said. Added executive director of the Utah Pride Center Steven Ha: “Clearly the officer’s act was more than just smelling of bigotry, but I think the act was bigotry, choosing to not

Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) plaintiff Edie Windsor dropped by HuffPost Live this week, speaking at length about her history-making legal victory as well as her plans for the future. See the VIDEO HERE. In the wake of U.S. Supreme Court's 2013 ruling, Windsor and her attorney Roberta Kaplan said they'll now focus their efforts on homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. “A lot of them are kids who came out with joy, with everybody else coming out, and they were thrown out of their homes,” Windsor said. Added Kaplan: “We won an important battle. But we now have to turn our attention to the people in our community who are needy and do not have the resources that we have here in New York City … it’s time, long overdue, to direct the attention of our community to those people.” On June 2, Windsor appeared at a rally in support of homeless LGBT youth at Washington Square Park in Manhattan. That event was organized by New

With Federal Court Ruling, Wisconsin’s Marriage Ban Becomes the Latest to Fall [caption id="attachment_1823" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's ban on gay marriage appear during a press conference at the Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wis. in November, 2013.(Photo: Pool photo, AP)[/caption] Today U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled against Wisconsin’s constitutional amendment banning marriage equality, making Wisconsin the twelfth state to see such a ban struck down in federal court since the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its historic marriage rulings last June.  In Wolf v. Walker, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Wisconsin and the law firm of Mayer Brown LLP sued the state on behalf of four couples seeking to marry, arguing that the Wisconsin’s ban on marriage equality violates the couples’ due process and equal protection rights under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Recently Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker began distancing himself from the state’s marriage ban, saying he didn't know if it violated

A draft of the Texas Republican Party's new platform embraces gay conversion therapy, arguing that it is a viable option for "patients who are seeking escape from the homosexual lifestyle." The Texas GOP convention kicks off Thursday, and one of the tasks of delegates is rewriting the party's platform. The current document, adopted in 2012, sharply condemns equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. There are multiple sections dealing with the issue, including language that reads: "We affirm that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society and contributes to the breakdown of the family unit. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country's founders, and shared by the majority of Texans." According to a draft of the new platform obtained by the San Antonio Express-News/Houston Chronicle, that language is gone. It still, however, contains a section criticizing homosexuality: Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable alternative lifestyle, in public policy, nor should family be

It was July 1993. American geneticist Dean Hamer shocked the world when he released a study that suggested the existence of a “gay gene.” The gene, Hamer said, was on the X chromosome and passed on by the mother. Hamer’s findings were controversial because they offered scientific evidence that (gasp!) being gay wasn’t a choice. In the 20 years since the release of that groundbreaking study, others have been conducted that offer contradictory results. Bible thumpers and homophobes alike have often either denied Hamer’s research or mocked it. In 2011, Ann Coulter charmingly said, “As soon as they find the gay gene, guess who the liberal yuppies are gonna start aborting?” Now, the Washington Post reports new research finds that, despite what some naysayers would like to believe, Dean Hamer was right all along. A gay gene does exist. In fact, there are two of them. Maybe — in fact, probably — even more than two. Researchers at the Human Genome Project, an international scientific research group that examines human DNA, conducted a study on several pairs of gay brothers. “Sexual orientation has nothing to do with choice,” Michael Bailey of Northwestern University, who carried out the research, said. “Our findings suggest

A list of the most gay-friendly cities in the US is out, and the one that took the top spot might not be what you were expecting. Seattle placed first in the US, whereas San Francisco, known for its large gay community and history came in second. The NerdWallet list is based on a number of factors, including the presence of gay community, gay friendly laws and indexes, and LGBT safety and tolerance. The overall score for each city was calculated using the percentage of households with same-sex partners, using the US Census Bureau American Community Survey, the 2013 Municipal Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign, and the number of sexual-orientation related hate crimes divided by 100,000 people from FBI crime statistics. The list describes the city: “Seattle is home to the highest percentage of same-sex households of all major cities in the U.S. and gay marriage is legal in the state of Washington. Furthermore, the city has an equality index of 100 and a relatively low rate of sexual

Fans are using the hashtag, #LuckyToBe, to express who they are and why that identity makes them lucky. If you grew up in the US, it is pretty likely you loved eating those Lucky Charms. It might have also occurred to you, with all those colors, shapes and rainbows, that might have been the queerest way to start your day as a kid. And now, you’ve been proven right. The cereal, best known for its leprechaun mascot, is running a new campaign for Pride month. They are asking fans to use the hashtag, #LuckyToBe, to express who they are and why that identity makes them lucky. ‘We don't all look the same, believe the same things, or love the same people,’ they say in the campaign video. ‘And that's a good thing. It makes our world more interesting. Special. Beautiful. Magical.’ GLAAD is also promoting the campaign, with the group’s vice president of communications and programs Rich Ferraro saying he was ‘excited to see a brand like

Support a world where every athlete can be #ProudToPlay.  ICYMI: YouTube’s current spotlight is #ProudToPlay, featuring LGBT athletes like Jason Collins, Brittney Griner and Neymar Jr. Check it out from the rainbow soccer ball next to the YouTube logo!  

Popular YouTube lesbian vlogger Arielle Scarcella is back with a slightly different video this week that takes a look at what the Bible really has to say about same-sex relationships. In "7 Bible Quotes In Support Of Same Sex Relationships," Scarcella is joined by openly gay and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activist Matthew Vines for some expert perspective. Vines, who recently released his book God and the Gay Christian, is perhaps best known for the viral YouTube video "The Gay Debate: The Bible and Homosexuality." "Sexual orientation is a pretty new concept," Vines notes in the above video. "Christians in the past tended to see same-sex behavior as a vice of excess like gluttony or drunkenness, not as a sexual orientation that can be expressed in loving, committed ways. So Christians don't have to reject their faith's tradition in order to accept same-sex relationships." Check out the video above. (Courtesy of HuffPost.com)

Lesbian twin pop duo Tegan and Sara have opened up about their childhood, in a video for the It Got Better campaign. The identical twins, from Calgary, Canada, have been writing music since age 15, and are vocal LGBT activists. Sara said: “I can remember the transition from gender and being different, to knowing there was something about my girl friends that I liked more than my boy friends. “We knew adults who were gay, it wasn’t completely ground-breaking for us, to be a teenager and be gay, we didn’t really know anyone. “I had a girlfriend who was spending all her time at my place. My mother started to ask questions, and finally she just was like ‘are you dating?’ “I was really surprised by her reaction – she was really disappointed, incredibly uncomfortable and didn’t want my girlfriend over any more. We had heated arguments, she really struggled.” Tegan added: “That affects you as a gay person when the person who’s supposed to be

LGBT rights just got another big push from the president himself. The White House on Friday issued a proclamation by President Barack Obama calling on Americans to eliminate prejudice “everywhere it exists,” declaring June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. “As progress spreads from State to State, as justice is delivered in the courtroom, and as more of our fellow Americans are treated with dignity and respect – our Nation becomes not only more accepting, but more equal as well,” the proclamation begins. Obama writes that although the gay rights movement saw a massive victory this month last year with Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, giving gay couples married in states where it’s legal the same federal benefits that straight couples receive, full equality is not yet here. “Despite this progress, LGBT workers in too many States can be fired just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity; I continue to call on the Congress

[caption id="attachment_1776" align="aligncenter" width="625"] Governor Tom Corbett salutes as a Boy Scout raises the American flag while the National Anthem is played on Monday, May 26, 2014. Nabil K. Mark/Centre Daily Times / MCT[/caption] NEW YORK CITY — While Republicans aren’t likely to join the fight for marriage equality en masse, the past week has shown that a growing core of the party is done fighting. Since Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett announced last Thursday that he would not be appealing a ruling striking down his state’s ban on same-sex couples’ marriages, two key Republican voices have signaled that Corbett is right and the fight is over. The next day, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker — one of the Republicans often discussed as a potential 2016 presidential nominee — essentially ceded the issue to federal judges. “Any federal judge has got to look at that law not only with respect to the state’s constitution but what it means in terms of the U.S. Constitution, as well. Again, I’m

Today, loving, committed same-sex couples all across Illinois are able to legally wed. Several county clerks will offer special hours today for couples to obtain their marriage licenses. Governor Pat Quinn signed marriage equality into law in November, making Illinois at the time the seventeenth state to provide for same-sex couples to marry. The marriage equality landscape is rapidly changing as federal courts continue to rule in favor of the rights of same-sex couples. Currently, marriage equality is the law of the land in 19 states and Washington, DC. (Courtesy of HRC.org)  

[caption id="attachment_1768" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Maya Angelou in 2008. Credit Tim Sloan/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images[/caption] Maya Angelou, the memoirist and poet whose landmark book of 1969, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” — which describes in lyrical, unsparing prose her childhood in the Jim Crow South — was among the first autobiographies by a 20th-century black woman to reach a wide general readership, died on Wednesday in her home. She was 86 and lived in Winston-Salem, N.C. Her death was confirmed by her longtime literary agent, Helen Brann. No immediate cause of death had been determined, but Ms. Brann said Ms. Angelou had been in frail health for some time and had had heart problems. As well known as she was for her memoirs, which eventually filled six volumes, Ms. Angelou very likely received her widest exposure on a chilly January day in 1993, when she delivered the inaugural poem, “On the Pulse of Morning,” at the swearing-in of Bill Clinton, the

Batten down the hatches, shore up your tech equipment, and get ready for things to spin sideways!  Mercury Retrograde in Cancer is coming in for a landing!  It happens on June 7 but you’ll already be seeing it in action by June 1. And it’s in effect for the whole month. What’s it all about? Mercury is the planet associated with communication, transportation, and, in this day and age, computers and technology. When it goes into its retrograde cycle, things are more likely to slip or glitch. This doesn’t have to be a big problem, but for some folks, it could be. It’s not the greatest energy for starting new things, like a new job, new living situation, or even a new girlfriend! It’s also a time when it’s harder to rely on technology, which is why some astrologers will tell you not to have elective surgery or buy new equipment during these periods. Schedules get messed up, stuff breaks

PORTLAND, Ore. — A federal judge on Monday struck down Oregon's voter-approved ban on gay marriage, saying it is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Michael McShane said the ban unconstitutionally discriminates against same-sex couples and ordered the state not to enforce it. State officials earlier refused to defend the constitutional ban in court. McShane joined judges in seven other states who have struck down gay marriage bans, though appeals are underway. Oregon state officials have said they'd be prepared to carry out same-sex marriages almost immediately, and couples lined up outside the county clerk's office in Portland in anticipation of McShane's decision. Laurie Brown and Julie Engbloom arrived early Monday at the Multnomah County Building to form the line for marriage licenses. The two have been a couple for 10 years. Engbloom proposed in April, when they celebrated their anniversary by climbing Smith Rock in Central Oregon. "We always knew we wanted to spend our whole life together," Brown said. "This opportunity has come, it feels

May brings some steadiness back into the picture, after a wild and wooly April. But last month’s Solar and Lunar Eclipses and the Grand Cardinal Cross are still packing a punch.  This means we will continue to see fateful events unfold, both personally, and globally, at an accelerated pace. The Taurus Sun will help keep our feet on the ground, which is always a great idea during volatile years like 2014.  Jupiter and Saturn in harmony provide some forward momentum, which many of us could really use about now.  Take advantage of every moment of it, as June is Mercury Retrograde time again.   Venus, the planet of Love, goes into the Warrior Sign Aries mid-month, and starts picking fights with Mars, Uranus, and Pluto. This could throw some relationships onto the rocks, but only if they were already questionable. The current planetary vibrations are not making it easy for people to put up with limiting situations. Venus in Aries will likely

  NEW YORK – Actress and comedian Lea DeLaria will host the reception for the five winning couples of the American Civil Liberties Union’s "My Big Gay (Il)legal Wedding” contest at 54 Below in New York City on May 19, 2014. “I’m honored to host this wedding reception and celebrate the love between the five same-sex couples who won the ‘Big Gay (Il)legal Wedding’ contest,” said DeLaria “But we also want to highlight the inequality they face just because these Americans live in a state that does not yet recognize same-sex marriage.” Attendees of the wedding reception will include allies and proponents of the ACLU’s Out for Freedom campaign as well as the winners of the "Wedding Crashers Sweepstakes.”  Supporters can visit weddings.aclu.org to sign the wedding guestbook and enter for the chance to win one of five VIP trips to NYC to "crash" the marquee "My Big Gay (Il)legal Wedding” reception. The guestbooks, calling for the freedom to marry, will be delivered to

The actress and filmmaker quietly tied the knot with her girlfriend Alexandra Hedison over the weekend, a rep for Foster confirmed to CNN. According to E! Online, which first reported the news, Foster and Hedison had been dating for almost a year. The entertainment site took note of the relationship last September after photos surfaced of Foster spending time with Hedison, a photographer/actress and an ex-girlfriend of Ellen DeGeneres. No other details are yet available about Hedison and Foster's nuptials, although we won't hold our breath: Foster is notoriously private about her personal life. At the 2013 Golden Globes, she declined to give a "big coming out speech" as she accepted her Cecil B. DeMille award, saying that she'd already come out to those close to her. "I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago, back in the stone age," Foster said. "If you had been a public figure from the time that you were a toddler, if you had to fight for a

2014 will be the first time any married gay couple has ever filed federal taxes together in the United States. It’s been a decade since Massachusetts became the first state to start granting marriage licenses, and some states have previously accepted joint returns for state taxes. But until the Supreme Court struck down the federal prohibition against gay marriage in The United States v. Windsor last summer, the Internal Revenue Service didn’t recognize joint returns for married same-sex couples. For some, this April’s tax season will be a time to celebrate the progress of the gay-rights movement. But for most couples, it will be also be a huge headache. In gay-marriage recognition states, “thanks to the Windsor decision, doing tax returns for same-sex married couples is much easier now,” said Joan Zawaski, an accountant in California who is also in a same-sex marriage. “Married is married, we just file joint returns just like other folks. But in non-recognition states, it’s back like the battle

Brendan Eich, the newly named CEO of the software firm Mozilla Corporation, resigned from the post after sparking ire among gay rights activists and supportive members of the tech industry for his opposition to same-sex marriage. Since being appointed to run the company most famous for the Firefox browser last week, many, including two former Mozilla developers and the dating site OKCupid have publicly condemned the software development firm for appointing a known supporter of the anti-gay laws to the top spot, urging people online to try a different browser instead. Eich's politics came to light after news re-emerged of a $1,000 donation he made in support of California's Proposition 8 in 2008. After trying to bat away concerns about Eich's ideology without relieving him of his duties, the company explained the decision to remove him in a blog post on Thursday: We didn’t act like you’d expect Mozilla to act. We didn’t move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We’re sorry. We must do better. Brendan Eich has

A new burial area reserved for lesbians is opening this weekend in Berlin. Basically, a 400-square-meter section of the existing Lutheran Georgen Parochial cemetery will be set aside for gay women, with space for up to 80, the Associated Press reports. The Safia association, a national group primarily for elderly lesbians, said it created this space as a place “where life and death connect, distinctive forms of cemetery culture can develop and where the lesbian community can live together in the afterlife.” The group has promised to clean up, landscape and maintain the area in return for free use of the space. Dr. Astrid Osterland, a member of Safia, told German newspaper The Local that this effort has “absolutely nothing against men” and that technically, there are no rules prohibiting men (or heterosexual women) from selecting plots in the lesbian section. But, since the whole point is to preserve the bonds of the lesbian community, we assume they really only want lesbians. (Courtesy of Time.com)

The month starts off with a bang, as the Sun in Aries lines up with unpredictable Uranus on April 2. This is rather explosive energy, so we might see some earthquake action or aggressive activities in the news. So, for the first week of this month, the element of “chance” is very high. Keep that in mind if you are trying to accomplish something that requires patience and stability, as those things may be harder to come by!   There’s a Total Lunar Eclipse on April 15 at 25 degrees Libra. Eclipses tend to stir up fateful events, so keep your eyes peeled.  Things happening now could have far-reaching effects in your life. Want to skew that in a good direction? Be conscious, aware, and responsible about your own decisions and reactions. If your birthday that falls near April 15, this will be a year of milestones and change for you. There’s a Solar Eclipse on April 29, 2014 at 8 degrees

The Trans 100 List, honoring transgender trailblazers, is out! The unranked list shines a positive light on underrepresented communities.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court oral arguments in U.S. v. Windsor. Next month, many same-sex married couples will experience the impact of the June 2013 decision and the overturning of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) when they file their taxes as "married" for the first time. Although the reach of this decision extends to all federal recognition of same-sex marriage, Edie Windsor filed her case in New York to contest a $363,000 inheritance tax bill she received following the death of her longtime partner and spouse. Following the Supreme Court' decision in June, the IRS published a revenue ruling providing that all same-sex married couples -- regardless of where they live-- will be considered "married" for federal tax purposes.  This decision will ensure that same-sex surviving spouses, like Edie, will be able to inherit and receive gifts from their spouse free from unfair tax burdens. As a result of this ruling, married couples are required to file

A federal appeals court put weddings on hold while it reviews the state’s request to stop same-sex marriages during its appeal of Friday’s marriage ruling. The move comes after a day in which several counties allowed same-sex couples in Michigan to marry.   (Courtesy of BuzzFeed.com)

MASON, Mich. (AP) — Two women were the first gay couple to marry in Michigan on Saturday, one day after the state's ban on gay marriage, approved by voters in a landslide in 2004, was scratched from the state constitution by a federal judge. Glenna DeJong, 53, and Marsha Caspar, 51, both of Lansing, were married by Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum in Mason just after her office opened at 8 a.m. Saturday. Byrum said it was an honor to marry same-sex couples who have waited too long for this day. "I figured in my lifetime it would happen," Caspar said. "But now, when it happens now, it's just overwhelming. I still can't believe it. I don't think it's hit me yet." DeJong and Caspar have been together for 27 years. DeJong called it a day of "sheer joy," adding that Michigan should not "waste taxpayer dollars and cause more turmoil" by pursuing a stay on gay marriage as Attorney General Bill Schuette

The founder of the “God hates fags” church died late Wednesday night. Update: Westboro Baptist Church posted a statement commenting on his death. [caption id="attachment_1670" align="aligncenter" width="625"] AP Photo/Charlie Riedel[/caption] Rev. Fred Phelps Sr., the founder of the vehemently anti-LGBT Westboro Baptist Church, has died. He was 84. Westboro Baptist Church confirmed Phelps’ death in a an online statement titled, “Fred W. Phelps, Sr. Has Gone The Way of All Flesh, And Has Died on March 19, 2014.” “The world-wide media has been has been [sic] in a frenzy during the last few days, gleefully anticipating the death of my grandfather, Fred Waldron Phelps Sr,” said an unidentified member of the church in the statement. “It has been an unprecedented, hypocritical, vitriolic explosion of words. Do they vainly hope for the death of his body? People die — that is the way of all flesh.” The statement did not include his cause of death. Phelps’ daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, told the Topeka Capital-Journal that Phelps Sr. died late Wednesday night. Over the weekend, Phelps’ estranged

Vernita Gray, a pioneer of marriage equality and longtime LGBT rights activist, has passed away at 65. Her legacy will continue to inspire many.