LGBT News

The lawyer for family of the married gay man who fell to his death from his cruise ship balcony now says that the man jumped as an “act of protest” after being called a “pedophile” by crew members. A newly released video shows the late man saying, “I have a husband. I am not a pedophile.” In earlier news accounts …

Sen. Brian Schatz, Rep. Charles Rangel, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand have written a Veteran’s Day column for USA Today in which they the promote the bill (introduced earlier this year) that would correct the records of gay veterans expelled for their homosexuality. They write: Congress’s repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was a watershed moment that ended institutionalized discrimination unjustly …

Pink News reports: Selling poppers in the UK could land you in jail for seven years, according to new legislation being enacted by the Government. Home Office Minister Mike Penning has reportedly said he is insistent that amyl nitrates, widely used in the British LGBTI community, must come under new legislation that bans ‘legal highs’. Lawmakers are banning the drug …

Today’s news out of Ireland reminded to tell you that the Panti Bliss documentary, The Queen Of Ireland, which is now playing there, will open on Friday in Northern Ireland, where a gay couple married in England yesterday filed suit over their “devalued” relationship status, which became a mere civil partnership once they crossed the border to return home. The …

Done and done! The Irish Independent reports: In a brief ceremony Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Tanaiste Joan Burton officially enacted the historic Marriage Act before a crowd of hundreds. The legislation allows for same-sex weddings from Monday, and was made possible after Ireland became the first country in the world earlier this year to vote for same-sex marriage in …

JMG reader Sean points us to this cheeky billboard for the gay hook-up app Hornet. The billboard reportedly went up yesterday across from the Milwaukee Theater, tonight’s GOP debate venue. Hornet claims to have seven million users worldwide. First I’m hearing about them.

Out Magazine has named President Obama its “Ally Of The Year” in their annual Out 100 issue. They write: The 44th President of the United States is our Ally of the Year—a president who came to office on a wave of euphoria, appeared to lose momentum halfway through, and has since rallied, helping us secure marriage equality, among other landmark …

The family of a married Brazilian gay man says it will sue Royal Caribbean after the man fell into the ocean from his cruise ship balcony. His body has not yet been recovered. Cruise officials say the man jumped after their security team responded to a domestic dispute in his cabin, but the family’s attorney claims the fall was an …

The anonymous author of the vile “Drop The T” petition has conducted an interview with the right wing site The Federalist in which he claims to be a liberal. The petition has drawn support from infamous homocons like Breitbart columnist Milo Yiannopoulos. From the interview: Based on comments I’ve seen at various forums around the net, I’m certain that it …

As many of you surely know, for the last few years Kathleen Perrin at Equality Case Files has provided this site and other LGBT news outlets with virtually instantaneous reporting on breaking legal developments critical to advancing our movement. DOMA, state marriage rulings, gay adoption, ex-gay torture bans, court recordings, Kim Davis, Obergefell – you name it and Equality Case …

Gallup estimates that nearly 100,000 same-sex weddings have taken place since the Obergefell ruling, pushing the total number of Americans in a same-sex marriage to nearly one million. They report: The practical legal impact of the Obergefell decision was to invalidate laws in 13 states that did not recognize same-sex marriages. Since then, the percentage of same-sex married couples increased …

Yesterday Ukraine’s Parliament voted down gay employment protections, which are a requirement for visa-free travel among the EU nations that belong to the Schengen zone. Agence France-Presse reports: President Petro Poroshenko said in a nationally televised address late Wednesday that his crisis-torn nation — it’s economy battered and the pro-Russian separatist east out of Kiev’s control — faced “an extremely …

Yesterday Ben Carson told reporter Jorge Ramos that trans people “make everybody uncomfortable” so they should be forced to use trans-only bathrooms. Via Fusion: Questioned about Houston voters’ rejection of a law banning LGBT discrimination this week, Carson said: “How about we have a transgender bathroom?” “It is not fair for them to make everybody else uncomfortable,” Carson said of …

From Salt Lake City’s CBS affiliate: The LDS church has clarified to its leaders that being in a same-sex marriage is considered a form of apostasy. The update came to what is known as Handbook #1, which is used as a guide for administering in the church, and is only available to LDS bishops and stake presidents. A screen shot …

Just a few days ago retired pro boxer Yusaf Mack declared that he is bisexual and was “fully conscious” during the filming of a gay porn video – and not drugged by an unknown person as he’d earlier claimed. Mack’s coming out as bisexual was generally well-received. Today, however, he tells Philadelphia’s Fox affiliate that he is actually gay. The …

Today the Elton John AIDS Foundation announced a partnership with the federal government which will increase access to HIV medications in African nations which are historically anti-gay. Speaking to CNBC, Elton claimed that Queen Elizabeth could repeal anti-gay legislation in Commonwealth nations “with one wave of her hand.” CNBC reports: John added: “These laws come from … the Commonwealth. These …

The Los Angeles Times reports: A California initiative that would require actors in adult films to wear condoms in sex scenes has qualified for the November 2016 ballot, officials said Wednesday. The measure was proposed by Michael Weinstein, president of the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation, who said it is needed to provide statewide rules modeled on those adopted by …

The local Catholic Church is very unhappy. The Associated Press reports: In a historic decision, Colombia’s constitutional court opened the door Wednesday for same-sex couples to legally adopt children in the conservative South American nation. In the 6-2 ruling, the court said adoption agencies can’t discriminate against gay, lesbian and transsexual couples during an adoption process. Colombia’s Roman Catholic Church …

The Human Rights Campaign has requested an “emergency meeting” with the NFL. From the letter sent to Commissioner Roger Goodell from HRC head Chad Griffin: With Houston slated to host Super Bowl LI in 2017, we are writing to request an emergency meeting about the urgent need for a nondiscrimination ordinance in this city that will ensure the thousands of …

In 2008 Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter issued an executive order establishing the Mayor’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs. Since that order could be undone by a future mayor, yesterday voters approved a referendum item permanently establishing the office in the city’s charter. The Philly Voice reports: The office is responsible for working on policies that aid the …