Across the United States, millions of seniors are getting ready to walk across the stage in graduation ceremonies. This time can bittersweet for transgender students. Two instances of transgender students, in different parts of the country, have reminded us that schools can often fail to support transgender students and treat them with respect.
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05/21/12
On top of suddenly losing his partner of six years, Shane Bitney Crone was forced to suffer even more because his relationship wasn't legally recognized in the eyes of the law. Shane created a YouTube video with the hope that other couples won't have to go through what he did. The video has been viewed more than 2.4 million times.
05/18/12
Gaining the most media this week was President Barack Obama’s historic, public endorsement of marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples, and the citation of his Christian faith as a reason for his support. Faith leaders from all denominations weighed in on his speech, including Jewish groups, Unitarian Universalist churches, and many other Christian branches.
05/17/12
Following an incredibly exploitative piece in the New York Times about the death of transgender woman Lorena Escalera in a fire this past weekend, and the newspaper’s subsequent refusal to acknowledge the true problems with their story, transgender advocates and allies have generated a powerful response asserting the immense hurt felt by so many over this coverage.
05/16/12
Five years ago today, Sean Kennedy was the victim of a brutal anti-gay hate crime that brought his life to an untimely end. He was just 20 years old. Today Sean’s memory lives on through the tireless work and indomitable spirit of his mother Elke.
05/16/12
Dominic Sheahan-Stahl, a third-generation alumnus of Sacred Heart Academy, in Pleasant Hills, Michigan, was invited last fall to be the keynote speaker for the graduation class of 2012, which includes his brother Willi.
05/15/12
In response to criticism from the LGBT community and allies over its coverage of a fire that killed a transgender woman this weekend, the New York Times released a statement that reveals a lack of understanding of how serious this problem is.
05/14/12
Following a press conference on Monday, May 14, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I) signed an executive order that will recognize the marriages of same-sex couples performed outside Rhode Island, in jurisdictions where marriage equality is legal. Chafee is the first governor in the country to sign such an executive order.
05/09/12
Yesterday, residents of North Carolina voted in favor of Amendment One, a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban any form of marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples as well as not recognize unions other than married couples.
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03/11/13
Zach Wahls was a 19-year-old University of Iowa freshman in 2011, when he spoke to a state judiciary committee about full marriage equality. His words went viral and drew national attention.
03/11/13
Nebraska lawmakers plan to bring gay rights issues back into the forefront with three proposals seeking to extend rights to employees and families.
03/11/13
Christine Quinn, the out speaker of the New York City Council, officially announced her bid to be the city's next mayor.
03/11/13
Two public hearings are planned this week on legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota.
03/11/13
There was a strong show of support at Roseville Galleria on Saturday for a gay couple asked to leave the mall recently because they had been holding hands and kissing.
03/11/13
Maria Valente and Andrea Bond were married in Massachusetts four years ago by a justice of the peace. The East Providence women insist they are just like any other couple raising three children.
03/11/13
The Illinois Republican Party’s central committee backed off an attempt to fire party chairman Pat Brady on Saturday, amid concern that ousting him because of his support for gay marriage could damage GOP efforts to appeal to more moderate voters.
03/08/13
A bill adding attacks on transgender persons to a list of hate crimes and stiffening the penalty for offenders was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee today.