LGBT News

The Independent reports: A Russian same-sex couple who had their marriage recognized after finding an apparent legal loophole have been charged with “intentional damage to passports or negligence”. Eugene Wojciechowski and Paul Stotzko tied the knot in Denmark on 4 January and returned home to Russia, where their documents were stamped and approved, despite same-sex marriage being illegal in the …

Salt Lake City’s CBS affiliate reports: Josh and Lolly Weed, viewed as proof, and used as an example, that a gay man and a straight woman can make a successful Mormon marriage, have announced their divorce. And in the same blog post where they announce their divorce, they offered an apology to the LGBTQ community. “Today, we need to let …

Courthouse News reports: A federal judge dismissed a 14-count lawsuit against Grindr on Thursday, finding that that the hook-up app for gay men is not liable for the malicious harassment wrought by an ex-boyfriend’s fake profile. U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni dismissed with prejudice all claims but one for copyright infringement, which she dismissed without prejudice. Matthew Herrick blamed Grinder …

Via press release: GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced the findings of its fourth annual Accelerating Acceptance report, a national survey among more than 2,100 U.S. adults conducted on GLAAD’s behalf by The Harris Poll. The results were announced during a panel discussion hosted by GLAAD and The Ariadne Getty …

Rolling Stone reports: At an emotional New York press conference Wednesday, Elton John announced that he will retire from the road after a lengthy farewell tour. “I’m not going to be touring anymore,” he told moderator Anderson Cooper at New York’s Gotham Hall. “I’m not going to be touring and traveling the world. My priorities have changed. I have young …

The BBC reports: A neo-Nazi’s plan to attack people with a machete at a gay pride event was foiled after he told people about it on Facebook, a court heard. Police were tipped off about Ethan Stables’ plan to attack the New Empire pub in Barrow, Leeds Crown Court heard. The 20-year-old from Barrow denies preparing an act of terrorism …

The Cincinnati Business Courier reports: Procter & Gamble Co. revealed today that U.S. freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, who is expected to compete in the Olympic Winter Games in South Korea, will be a brand ambassador for Head & Shoulders shampoo. Regarded as the first openly gay action-sports athlete, Kenworthy will be featured in the “Shoulders of Greatness” advertising campaign for …

Bob Smith’s partner Michael Zam writes on Facebook: It’s with great sadness, but also a lifetime of happy memories that I’m writing to share that my beloved Bob Smith passed away this morning at age 59 after a remarkable 12-year battle with ALS. He was the funniest and most optimistic person I’ve ever known, as well as the most committed …

NBC News reports: A FedEx delivery arrived at Helen Grace James’ door on Wednesday. It was a message from the U.S. Air Force. She called two of her closest friends to come be with her before she opened it, and they arrived 20 minutes later. Once she opened it, she received the good news: The military had upgraded her discharge …

The Belfast Telegraph reports: Three senior unionists who were involved in establishing power-sharing at Stormont 20 years ago have called for a referendum on issues currently causing deadlock in the talks. These include whether there should be a stand-alone Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland, same-sex marriage laws and our abortion laws. Former Ukip MLA David McNarry, ex-Ulster Unionist chairman …

The Global Post reports: A man charged with first-degree murder in the presumed deaths of two men who vanished from Toronto’s gay village last year was remanded into custody following a brief court appearance on Friday. Bruce McArthur, a 66-year-old Toronto man, was arrested and charged Thursday as part of an investigation into the disappearance of Selim Esen and Andrew …

ABC News reports: The Trump administration announced on Thursday a new division within the Department of Health and Human Services devoted to “conscience and religious freedom.” Social conservatives and religious liberty leaders have anticipated conscience and religious freedom protections to come out of HHS, and the work of the new division, which will fall under the purview of the Office …

Via press release: In celebration of their 40 year anniversary, the Log Cabin Republicans recently received a letter from President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Despite recent actions stripping LGBTQ Americans of their rights, President Trump proclaimed that LGBTQ Americans are “equal under our Constitution” and that his administration would “work to ensure that all Americans live in …

The Washington Post reports: She might be more familiar with democracy, but top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi is soon going to show her expertise on a certain kind of monarchy: The California congresswoman is slated to appear as a guest judge on RuPaul’s drag-queen competition show “Drag Race All Stars.” Yep, the former House speaker will be sizing up the …

Mass Live reports: Pamphlets on sin and Satan were incorrectly sent to a gay couple who had ordered wedding programs, and the flyers were meant for someone else, Vistaprint says. The company, the target of a federal lawsuit filed in Massachusetts, updated a statement issued late Wednesday in which the company said it was investigating the matter. “What we have …

Coconuts Jakarta reports: Indonesia’s IT Ministry says it has filed a request to Google to block around 70 LGBT social networking apps from being available to download in the country through the Google Play Store. IT Minister Rudiantara confirmed today that the ministry is unable to block the apps themselves as they are all available under Google’s platform. One of …

Daniel Reynolds reports at The Advocate: The signed note, dated December 21, 2017, and printed on White House stationery, also addressed gay and racial equality. “We are a Nation founded on the undeniable truth that all of us are created equal. We are equal in the eyes of our Creator. We are equal under the law. And we are all …

USA Today reports: Adam Rippon, the 2016 U.S. men’s figure skating champion who is believed to be the first openly gay U.S. Winter Olympian, criticized the White House’s selection of Vice President Mike Pence to lead the 2018 U.S. Olympic delegation to South Korea in a phone interview with USA TODAY Sports Tuesday night. “You mean Mike Pence, the same …

Politico reports: The Trump administration is poised to overhaul the HHS civil rights office as part of a broader plan to protect health workers who don’t want to perform abortions, treat transgender patients seeking to transition or provide other services for which they have religious or moral objections. Under a proposed rule — which has been closely guarded at HHS …

The New York Daily News reports: A gay couple is suing a printing company for sending them pamphlets about weakness of the flesh and “temptation” instead of the colorful customized wedding programs they ordered. On the eve of their wedding day, Stephen Heasley and Andrew Borg, an Australian couple who were married last year in Pennsylvania, opened a package from …