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May 21, 2012
Why Barney Frank will not be inviting President Obama to his gay wedding

Explains the congressman: 'It would ruin the party to have the Secret Service'

Barney Frank, the first openly gay member of the US House of Representatives, is getting married this summer but he will not be inviting the first president in history to endorse same-sex marriage to the ceremony.

The Massachusetts congressman is marrying his longtime partner Jim Ready and explains to C-SPAN why President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama did not make the guest list.

May 19, 2012
The NAACP announces support of marriage equality

The NAACP follows Presidnet Obama's lead and supports same sex marriage

President Barack Obama's marriage rights annoucment is having a ripple effect with black politicians and organizations. The oldest civil rights oganization in the US, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said today (19 May) that its board of directors voted to support marriage equality.

May 16, 2012
Wanda Sykes calls Mitt Romney 'the Forrest Gump of candidates'

Lesbian comic also describes herself as "over the moon' over President Obama's support of gay marriage

Wanda Sykes dropped by NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno Tuesday [15 May] and the lesbian comic wasted no time in weighing in on the differences between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney on gay marriage.

Of Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee poised to face Romney in the November election, Sykes characterized the gay marriage foe as willing to say anything in order to get votes.

May 15, 2012
IDV is first Italian party to say 'yes' to gay marriage

Italia dei Valori party has launched a campaign following US president Barack Obama's support for gay marriage

For the first time in history, an Italian party has said ‘yes’ to same-sex marriage.

The move came from Antonio Di Pietro, leader of Italia dei Valori (Italy of Values), early this morning (15 May).

His stance has been relaunched on the IDV’s website by gay activist and member of regional party of Emilia-Romagna for IDV party, Franco Grillini.

Grillini said: ‘Our party has been the first in Italy to follow US president Barack Obama. We invite other Italian parties to support gay marriage. You don’t have to be shy, you have to say yes.’

May 14, 2012
Cuban President's daughter leads gay rights march

Mariela Castro urges Barack Obama to put his words of support for gay marriage into action

Cuba's first daughter Mariela Castro led a gay rights march in Havana on Saturday (12 May), reaffirming her support for gay marriage.

During the parade held to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) on 17 May, Castro again hinted that her country would soon legalize same-sex unions and applauded US President Barack Obama's historic backing of gay marriage.

However, the prominent LGBT activist and sexologist urged Obama to put his words into action.

May 14, 2012
Thousands of Aussies rally for same-sex marriage

Rallies in seven cities urge PM to change her mind about gay marriage

Thousands of Australians in seven cities across the country joined rallies on Saturday to call for Prime Minister Julia Gillard to join US President Barack Obama in supporting gay marriage.

One thousand marched in Sydney chanting ‘gay, straight, left, right, marriage is a civil right’ and Magda Szubanski addressed a crowd of 2,000 in Melbourne.

May 12, 2012
North Carolina governor worried how gay marriage vote makes the state look

North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue thinks Amendment One vote will tarnish state's reputation

North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue thinks this week's Amendment One vote has damaged the state's reputation.

May 12, 2012
TV's The Golden Girls were well ahead of the curve on gay marriage

Watch as Blanche has an epiphany about her gay brother during kitchen table chat with Sophia

If The Golden Girls were on today, Sophia Petrillo would probably have a few things to say, in her funny feisty way, about US President Barack Obama's embrace of gay marriage.

Sophia, played by the late Estelle Getty, was already a gay marriage supporter in this episode of the classic NBC sitcom that ran from 1985-92.

One of her roommates, the narcissistic Southern belle Blanche Devereaux, is fretting because her brother is going to marry another man.

May 11, 2012
Cuban President's daughter backs gay marriage again

Mariela Castro, the daughter of Cuba's president, applauded Obama's message in support of gay marriage.
 

Cuba's first daughter Mariela Castro has once again voiced her support for legalizing gay marriage.

As early as January 2012, Castro revealed she backed policies by the Cuban government to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Her latest comments follow US President Barack Obama's message supporting gay marriage, making him the first sitting president in US history to do so.

May 11, 2012
Obama raises just shy of $15 million at George Clooney's house

President talks to star-studded crowd about gay marriage shift: 'The truth is it was a logical extension of what America is supposed to be'

President Barack Obama raised just shy of $15 million on Thursday (10 June) at a star-studded dinner at actor George Clooney's Los Angeles home.

At the event, Obama made his first public remarks about his public endorsement of gay marriage since his original comments in an interview with ABC News.

May 11, 2012
President Obama's support of gay marriage quickly leads to spike in fundraising and enthusiasm

High-profile Hollywood and LGBT names prepare to boost campaign coffers

US President Barack Obama will be having dinner at George Clooney's home in Los Angeles tonight (10 May) at a star-studded event that is expected to raise $15 million for his reelection campaign.

With his public support of gay marriage this week, Obama arrives a hero to an energized political base that includes Hollywood heavy-hitters like Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Rob Reiner and Glee creator Ryan Murphy, among others.

May 11, 2012
President Obama's support of gay marriage quickly leads to spike in fundraising and enthusiasm

High-profile Hollywood and LGBT names prepare to boost campaign coffers

US President Barack Obama will be having dinner at George Clooney's home in Los Angeles tonight (10 May) at a star-studded event that is expected to raise $15 million for his reelection campaign.

With his public support of gay marriage this week, Obama arrives a hero to an energized political base that includes Hollywood heavy-hitters like Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Rob Reiner and Glee creator Ryan Murphy, among others.

May 11, 2012
Twitterati turn on Bristol Palin for Obama bashing

Twitter followers slam Dancing With The Stars contestant for attacking US President Barack Obama's historic support of gay marriage

Former Dancing With The Stars contestant Bristol Palin faced a backlash on Twitter after slamming US President Barack Obama's support for gay marriage.

May 10, 2012
Nate Berkus explains his partnership with retailer Target which made anti-gay donations

'I chose to focus on the corporate character it took for Target to apologize for the effects of their decision'

Openly-gay daytime lifestyle show host Nate Berkus is defending a partnership he has entered in with the Target retail chain

Target ran afoul with the LGBT community for donating to the political group MN Forward, a Political Action Committee that supported anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer during the 2010 election season.

May 10, 2012
Obama says Biden's gay marriage comments sped things up

President said Biden 'probably got out a little bit over his skis, but out of generosity of spirit'

Many wondered whether Vice President Joe Biden's comments in favor of gay marriage during a weekend television interview was part of a larger calculated effort on part of the President Barack Obama's administration.

May 10, 2012
Thousands sign gay marriage 'thank you' card to Obama

A card signed by up to 100,000 people will be delivered to US President Barack Obama thanking him for public support of gay marriage

Gay rights campaigners hope to collect 100,000 signatures for a card thanking US President Barack Obama for supporting gay marriage.

More than 50,000 people from around the world have already signed the card, which LGBT rights group AllOut.org will deliver to the White House in Washington DC tomorrow (11 May).

May 9, 2012
North Carolina votes for anti-gay Amendment One

South-eastern state bans gay marriages and civil unions in its constitution

North Carolina has voted for Amendment One, a change to the state’s constitution that bans civil unions and same-sex marriages.

The south-eastern American state voted Tuesday (8 May) to outlaw same-sex unions, which were already prohibited.

Supporters pushed for the constitutional amendment, stating there was a need for protection against any further legal challenges.

As the writing of the legislation is vague, it is unknown whether the amendment will also outstrip the rights of unmarried co-habiting straight couples.

May 9, 2012
President Barack Obama makes history, comes out in favor of gay marriage

Becomes first sitting US president to support marriage equality

President Barack Obama made history Wednesday (9 May) by becoming the first sitting US President to support same-sex marriage.

'I've always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly,' Obama said in an interview with ABC News. '... It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples be able to get married.'

May 8, 2012
Bullied gay teen brandishes stun gun at school

Darnell 'Dynasty' Young of Indiana faces expulsion for using weapon in self-defense
 

Darnell Young's mother gave him a stun gun for protection at school in Indiana, USA after months of bullying.

Now, Young faces expulsion for firing the stun gun in the air when he was surrounded and taunted by fellow students on campus last month.

Young's mother Chelisa Grimes said in a CNN interview yesterday: 'I do not promote violence- not at all- but what is a parent to do when she has done everything that she felt was supposed to do? I did feel like there was nothing else left for me to do, but protect my child.'

May 8, 2012
Will & Grace creators slam President Obama on gay marriage

Groundbreaking sitcom credited by Vice President Joe Biden as helping to change America's attitudes about same-sex unions

When Vice President Joe Biden said on NBC's Meet the Press this week that he supports gay marriage, the men who created the sitcom Will & Grace were thrilled that he gave their show some of the credit for helping to educate the American public.

'I think Will & Grace probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has done so far,' Biden said.

May 8, 2012
Will & Grace creators slam President Obama on gay marriage

Groundbreaking sitcom credited by Vice President Joe Biden as helping to change America's attitudes about same-sex unions

When Vice President Joe Biden said on NBC's Meet the Press this week that he supports gay marriage, the men who created the sitcom Will & Grace were thrilled that he gave their show some of the credit for helping to educate the American public.

'I think Will & Grace probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has done so far,' Biden said.

May 7, 2012
First Joe Biden, now Arne Duncan publicly supports gay marriage

US Education Secretary second administration in two days to express personal view different from President Obama

As President Barack Obama continues officially 'evolving' on the issue of gay marriage, a second member of his administration has come out and publicly supported marriage equality.

A day after Vice President Joe Biden told NBC's Meet the Press that he is 'absolutely comfortable' with gay people getting married, Education Secretary Arne Duncan did the same when asked about the topic during an appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Monday (7 May).

May 7, 2012
First Joe Biden, now Arne Duncan publicly supports gay marriage

US Education Secretary second administration in two days to express personal view different from President Obama

As President Barack Obama continues officially 'evolving' on the issue of gay marriage, a second member of his administration has come out and publicly supported marriage equality.

A day after Vice President Joe Biden told NBC's Meet the Press that he is 'absolutely comfortable' with gay people getting married, Education Secretary Arne Duncan did the same when asked about the topic during an appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Monday (7 May).

May 7, 2012
Will & Grace stars react to Joe Biden's gay marriage remarks

US Vice President said sitcom had 'probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything'

US Vice President Joe Biden has made headlines by saying on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday (6 May) that he supports gay marriage.

What hasn't gotten as much attention is that Biden gave credit to the sitcom Will & Grace for the shifting views of an increasing number of Americans who now favor same-sex unions.

May 5, 2012
Obama starts campaign with DADT mention

President Obama officially opens his reelection bid

Today President Barack Obama officially started his reelection campaign. In his stump speech, given at Ohio State University, the incumbent made sure to point out that 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was repealed on his watch.