World :Top Stories from LGBTQ Nation for 07/23/2014‏

Updates from LGBTQ Nation The Nation's Most Followed Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer News Source Own a business, or provide a service? Get listed in our Business / Service Directory. In the 07/23/2014 edition: Md. now offers transition-related care to transgender state employees Federal judge strikes down Colo. gay marriage ban, orders temporary stay Arguments set in challenge to Alaska same-sex marriage ban Rubio: Gay marriage advocates often show ‘intolerance’ toward opponents Takano introduces bill to close Social Security, Medicare LGBT loopholes Wis. AG tells appeals court same-sex marriage isn’t a fundamental right Colo. judge again refuses to stop Boulder same-sex marriages N.Y. agencies collecting data on gender identity to improve LGBT services Marriage Equality USA: Interview with Edith Windsor (Part 2) Report: Marriage equality would add $181 million, new jobs to Texas economy UPDATE: Fla. appeals court won’t lift stay in same-sex marriage case Federal judge in La. same-sex marriage case says no more arguments needed - A ruling on Louisiana's gay marriage ban could come at any time GLAAD film industry report card reveals lack of LGBT visibility Gays are possessed by ‘putrid smelling’ demons that even pigs won’t tolerate Nathan Lane: Gay actors shouldn’t have a monopoly on gay roles Saudi man gets 3 years in prison, 450 lashes for meeting men via Twitter Md. now offers transition-related care to transgender state employees Jul 23, 2014 05:00 pm ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland has become only the third state in the nation to provide insurance coverage for transition-related care. The policy change, which went into effect July 1 but was only announced publicly this week, means that any state employee, retiree, or dependent will be able to access mental health services, hormone therapy, and a range of ... Read in browser »   Federal judge strikes down Colo. gay marriage ban, orders temporary stay Jul 23, 2014 04:05 pm DENVER -- A federal judge in Denver has declared Colorado's gay marriage ban unconstitutional, but he issued a temporary stay of the ruling to give the state a chance to appeal. Judge Raymond P. Moore's ruling Wednesday was in response to a lawsuit filed July 1 by six gay couples who asked the court for an injunction ordering that the state's ban no longer be enforced. Read in browser »   Arguments set in challenge to Alaska same-sex marriage ban Jul 23, 2014 02:00 pm JUNEAU, Alaska -- Arguments are scheduled for October in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Alaska's ban on same-sex marriage. Five same-sex couples, four married outside of Alaska and one unmarried couple, sued to overturn the ban in May. Alaska voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1998 defining marriage as between one man and one woman. Read in browser »   Rubio: Gay marriage advocates often show ‘intolerance’ toward opponents Jul 23, 2014 12:00 pm WASHINGTON -- Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida says supporters of same-sex marriage often show "intolerance" toward people like him who support heterosexual marriages. Rubio on Wednesday also told an audience at Catholic University that those who support abortion rights ignore the rights of "the unborn." Read in browser »   Takano introduces bill to close Social Security, Medicare LGBT loopholes Jul 23, 2014 11:30 am WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) on Tuesday introduced the Social Security and Medicare Parity Act in the U.S. House, a bill to close loopholes in the Social Security Act and guarantee that all married couples, including same-sex couples, receive the Social Security and Medicare spouse and survivor benefits that they have earned. Read in browser »   Wis. AG tells appeals court same-sex marriage isn’t a fundamental right Jul 23, 2014 11:00 am MILWAUKEE -- Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen says the U.S. constitution's equal protection clause doesn't apply in cases involving sexual orientation and there's no fundamental right for same-sex couples to marry. Van Hollen made his arguments in a brief filed Wednesday with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. Read in browser »   Colo. judge again refuses to stop Boulder same-sex marriages Jul 23, 2014 10:30 am BOULDER, Colo. -- A Colorado state judge has again refused to stop Boulder's clerk from issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. In an order issued Wednesday and included in the file of a pending federal lawsuit on same-sex marriage, Boulder District Judge Andrew Hartman denied Attorney General John Suthers’ request to put his previous ruling in favor of clerk Hillary Hall on hold. Read in browser »   N.Y. agencies collecting data on gender identity to improve LGBT services Jul 23, 2014 10:00 am ALBANY, N.Y. -- State agencies have begun adding gender identity to their data collection, part of an effort Gov. Andrew Cuomo said will help the state better meet the needs of LGBT New Yorkers. A new report Wednesday identified eight agencies, including the Department of Health, collecting or updating their data systems to gather those demographics. Read in browser »   Marriage Equality USA: Interview with Edith Windsor (Part 2) Jul 23, 2014 09:30 am Just over one year ago, Windsor v. United States became one of the most important court cases for the LGBT community. Since then, every one of more than a dozen court cases striking down same-sex marriage bans has used the Windsor decision at the core of their legal decision. In part two of Marriage Equality USA's three-part interview with plaintiff Edie Windsor, ... Read in browser »   Report: Marriage equality would add $181 million, new jobs to Texas economy Jul 23, 2014 09:30 am Extending marriage to same-sex couples in Texas would generate an estimated $181.6 million in spending to the state’s economy and generate over 1,500 new jobs over three years, according to a new study. Researchers at the Williams Institute, an independent think tank at UCLA’s School of Law, estimates that — based on 2010 U.S. Census data — 46,401 same-sex couples... Read in browser »   UPDATE: Fla. appeals court won’t lift stay in same-sex marriage case Jul 23, 2014 09:00 am MIAMI -- A Florida appeals court will not overturn a judge's order that is blocking a Florida Keys gay couple from getting married. The Miami-based 3rd District Court of Appeal on Wednesday refused to invalidate a Monroe County judge's decision preventing a wedding for Aaron Huntsman and William Lee Jones and other gay couples... Read in browser »   Federal judge in La. same-sex marriage case says no more arguments needed - A ruling on Louisiana's gay marriage ban could come at any time Jul 23, 2014 08:00 am NEW ORLEANS -- A federal judge in Louisiana says he doesn't need to hear any more arguments in the case of a same-sex couple challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage, and has signaled he is prepared to rule the ban's constitutionality. U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman heard arguments in June regarding Louisiana's refusal to recognize the unions ... Read in browser »   GLAAD film industry report card reveals lack of LGBT visibility Jul 23, 2014 07:00 am LOS ANGELES -- In its second annual report card on LGBT representation in motion pictures, media advocacy group GLAAD gives the film industry a mostly failing grade. GLAAD’s Studio Responsibility Index (SRI), a report that maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of LGBT people in films released by the seven largest motion picture studios during the ... Read in browser »   Gays are possessed by ‘putrid smelling’ demons that even pigs won’t tolerate Jul 23, 2014 06:00 am Bert Farias, founder of Holy Fire Ministries, had a piece published on Charisma Magazine’s website Tuesday in which he begged gay people to “please do not get upset with me” for trying to tell them “the raw, naked truth about homosexuality,” promising that if they will just listen to him, they “will see that I am actually trying to help you.” Read in browser »   Nathan Lane: Gay actors shouldn’t have a monopoly on gay roles Jul 22, 2014 10:00 pm BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Gay actors shouldn't have a monopoly on gay roles, award-winning stage and screen actor Nathan Lane said. Lane, who is gay and has played both straight and gay characters, was asked the question at a TV critics' meeting Tuesday. He was there to discuss PBS' presentation of the Broadway play "The Nance," in which he stars.... Read in browser »   Saudi man gets 3 years in prison, 450 lashes for meeting men via Twitter Jul 22, 2014 09:30 pm MEDINA, Saudi Arabia – A criminal court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a 24-year-old man to three years in jail and 450 lashes for trying to arrange a date with another man via Twitter. According to the daily Aarabic newspaper Al-Watan, the court found the unidentified man guilty of “promoting the vice and practice of homosexuality.” Read in browser »   Recent Articles: Attorney asks judge to bypass trial and issue ruling in N.D. gay marriage case Federal judge likely to strike down Colo. gay marriage ban, but considering stay Ind. plaintiffs object to full-court hearing on same-sex marriage ruling Exxon Mobil to follow new LGBT anti-bias rules for federal contractors MSU gets anonymous $1 million gift to expand LGBT center’s programs BRON : LGBTQ NATION