LGBT News

USA Today reports: Florence Henderson, the wholesome actress who went from Broadway star to television icon when she became Carol Brady, the ever-cheerful mom residing over “The Brady Bunch,” has died. She was 82. She died surrounded by family and friends, her manager, Kayla Pressman, said in a statement late Thursday. Millions loved, and kept on loving, the innocent sitcom …

Her family is one of NOM’s most massive contributors. The Detroit News reports: President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he intends to appoint West Michigan GOP mega donor and philanthropist Betsy DeVos to be his education secretary, putting an ardent supporter of school choice in charge of the nation’s education policy. DeVos, 58, is seen as a national leader in …

Paging One Million Moms. Gay Star News reports: Confectionary brand Hershey’s features gay husbands in its latest ‘Say It With A Kiss’ advertising campaign advert. The adorable advert features husbands Josh and Matt Noble, who live in New York City. The couple recently moved Josh’s mother into their home so they could help support her. “She and my father spent …

The Huffington Post reports: He claimed he supported LGBTQ rights on the campaign trail, but President-elect Donald Trump just tapped one of the most anti-gay politicians in Washington to be the nation’s next top lawyer. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), whom Trump announced last week as his choice for U.S. attorney general, has consistently opposed pro-LGBTQ legislation throughout his 20 years …

The victim’s building has a rainbow “Love Trumps Hate” sign in the front window. CBS News reports: City police are investigating some type of an explosion in Center City that left a man injured on Tuesday morning. Police confirm they were investigating a suspicious package on Pine Street when the explosion occurred, reports CBS Philadelphia. Philly police officials tell CBS …

The Guardian reports: African states have failed to halt the work of the first UN independent investigator appointed to help protect gay and transgender people worldwide from violence and discrimination. The 47-member UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, created the position in June and in September appointed Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand, who has a three-year mandate to investigate abuses …

The Charlotte Observer reports: In a coordinated public appeal, Rep. Tricia Cotham Monday joined Democratic lawmakers across the state in calling on Gov. Pat McCrory to concede the gubernatorial election. “I understand it’s hard to lose,” she said outside the Mecklenburg County board of elections. “McCrory needs to be a statesman and do what the voters wanted and concede this …

The Jerusalem Post reports: Two complaints of incitement have been filed to the police against Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Shlomo Amar for comments he has made calling men and women from the LGBT community “a cult of abomination,” and stating that they are liable to the death penalty according to Jewish law. Amar’s comments created a fierce political backlash from …

Don’t expect to see anything like this next year. Via press release from Secretary of State John Kerry: On Transgender Day of Remembrance, the United States solemnly honors the memory of the many transgender individuals who lost their lives to senseless acts of violence. Transgender persons around the world are targeted by rising levels of violence fueled by hatred and …

Via Raw Story: The booing of Vice President-elect Mike Pence at a Friday night performance of the hit Broadway musical ‘Hamilton’ immediately became talk show fodder the same evening, with CNN host Don Lemon patiently explaining to an agitated Kayleigh McEnany the animus gay people feel towards the former Indiana governor. After panelist Angela Rye reminded McEnany that the show’s …

The Indianapolis Star reports: Conservatives overcame the first hurdle in their lawsuit that aims to overturn the “fix” to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act and four city ordinances that protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination. In an order issued Wednesday, Hamilton Superior Judge Steven R. Nation rejected claims from the cities of Indianapolis, Carmel, Bloomington and Columbus …

The Charlotte Observer reports: Gov. Pat McCrory’s campaign announced late Thursday that 50 more election complaints have been filed – bringing the total number of counties with contested election results to 52 of the state’s 100 counties, including Mecklenburg. The latest complaints say ballots were cast by people who were dead, were convicted felons or had already voted. “With each …

Note that two of this year’s honorees, De Niro and Springsteen, are among the loudest Trump critics. CBS News reports: The White House on Wednesday announced the recipients of the Presidential Medal Of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The prestigious accolade is given to people “who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the …

Agence France-Press reports: Canada’s attorney general announced Tuesday a move to repeal legislation used to effectively prosecute gay youths who engage in anal sex, calling it “discriminatory.” Section 159 of the Criminal Code makes anal sex involving youths who are above the age of consent but not yet 18 punishable by up to 10 years in prison. It was quashed …

The Charlotte Observer reports: Durham County Board of Elections Chairman Bill Brian said Tuesday that officials have seen no evidence supporting questions raised about the accuracy of more than 94,000 votes that were counted manually on election night. “We have seen no evidence to that effect,” Brian said during a Tuesday morning press conference. “Mr. Stark may have some, but …

Ben Winslow reports for Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate: In a hearing filled with uncertainty and a little emotion, a former state lawmaker under consideration to be a judge apologized for past bills that appeared to target the LGBT community. In reality, former Rep. Kraig Powell told the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee, he was trying to help in the …

Texas GOP state Sen. Bob Hall today introduced a bill that would nullify all local LGBT rights ordinances across the state and block any municipality from enacting new protections. The New Civil Rights Movement reports: Hall’s bill is the first anti-LGBT measure filed in advance of next year’s Texas Legislature, which convenes in January. Today marks the first day of …

We’re betting Supreme Court Justice Ted Cruz would have a problem with this. ABC News reports: Republican President-elect Donald Trump said he’s “fine” with same-sex marriage as the law of the land, calling the issue “settled” by the Supreme Court. The comments – in his first television interview since winning the presidency – sharply contrast with his party’s orthodoxy, his …

Orlando’s ABC affiliate reports: More than 150,000 people gathered in downtown Orlando Saturday for the 12th annual Come Out with Pride festival, the first since the Pulse nightclub massacre five months ago. The event, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, began at noon and featured an afternoon parade through Thornton Park. Pulse employees and relatives of the slain served as parade …

Credit largely goes to Buddhism. ABC News reports: Taiwan could become the first Asian country to pass same-sex marriage laws. Taiwanese parliamentarians have begun work on three bills in support of marriage equality, one of which is already listed for review and could be passed within months. President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s first female head of state, said as recently as …