There have been further calls in the United States for men who have sex with men to get vaccinated against bacterial meningitis, also known as meningococcal disease, after a series of deaths from the disease in gay men.

This Thursday, 28 March, at 9am in the US District Court, Washington DC, gay Army Lieutenant Dan Choi, stands trial for past protests against the since repealed anti-gay military policy ‘Don't Ask Don't Tell’ (DADT).

If convicted he faces six month imprisonment.

In 2010 Choi was dismissed from the US Army National Guard after coming out as gay on the Rachel Maddow TV show.

He was then billed by the US Defense Department for $2,500 for failing to fulfill his military contract, which he is refusing to pay.

Mass pro gay marriage rallies are to be held in all 50 US states and over 160 cities from tomorrow (23 March), ahead of the Supreme Court hearings to overturn two bans on marriage equality.

Next week, on 26 and 27 March the US Supreme Court will begin hearings concerning the freedom of same-sex couples to marry, which the rallies intend to highlight.

As the US Supreme Court is inside listening to oral arguments in cases challenging the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8, activists plan to be outside making a statement in the court of public opinion.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, United for Marriage and a coalition of other LGBT grassroots organizations, will rally outside the court in Washington DC on 26 and 27 March, the days oral arguments in the cases will be given.

You might not have heard of Rehoboth Beach. It’s a small coastal community that’s part of the rapidly growing Delaware Beaches area – easily reached from Washington DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia – making it a popular resort town during the summer.

It’s also home to Team Rehoboth Beach, the LGBT multi-sports organization.

As part of our continuing series to document the LGBT sports clubs around the world, we spoke with Bill McManus from Team Rehoboth Beach to find out more.

For decades, the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) has languished in the US C0ngress.

But Iowa Senator Tom Harkin on Tuesday (12 February) promised at least a vote for that ENDA, which would establish protections nationally to prevent employers from discriminating against an employee because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Harkin made the pledge at an event held at the Center for American Progress in Washington DC saying that ENDA 'will move this year.'

Barney Frank, the first openly gay man in history to serve in the US Congress, will not be returning to Washington DC as a senator.

Frank had hoped to be appointed, on an interim basis, to the seat vacated this week by Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. But the state's governor, Deval Patric, instead appointed his former chief of staff William 'Mo' Cowan.

As Barney Frank's days as an elected official come to and, the first openly gay member of the US House of Representatives has hired an agent.

The outspoken Frank, 71, has been one of the more colorful personalities in Washington DC over the past three decades and a frequent guests on network and cable political shows.

Sally Field guests on Oprah's Next Chapter Sunday (2 December) and talks to host Oprah Winfrey about being the mother of a gay son.

The acclaimed actress, winner of two Oscars and three Emmys, received the Human Rights Campaign's Ally for Equality Award last month in Washington DC and was introduced by her gay son, Sam Greisman.

Paul Babeu had originally hoped that on election day he would be celebrating a victory that was going to send him to Washington DC as a congressman from Arizona.

Instead, he was merely happy to be keeping the job he's had since 2008: sheriff of the state's Pinal County. He overcame publicity from a messy split from an ex-boyfriend that resulted in his coming out publicly and dropping out of the congressional race to run for sheriff again.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Emmy nominated this year for his role on ABC's Modern Family, delighted the crowd at the Human Rights Campaign dinner on Saturday (6 October) in Washington DC with his spirited little song about marriage equality.

He sang: 'These are the states with marriage equality: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont.'

Then he added: 'Second verse, same as the first.'

But after repeating the verse, he was able to add, with great flourish: 'Washington DC -eeeeeeeeeeeeeee.'

Hollywood actress Sally Field made an impassioned speech about her gay son as she accepted the Human Rights Campaign's Ally for Equality Award on Saturday (6 October).

During the event in Washington DC, the Steel Magnolias star spoke of her son Sam's coming out 'journey', which he did aged 20, insisting that nature made him gay and it wasn't a choice.

'As his mother, I consider it one of the great privileges of my life to be allowed to be part of it,' Field told the audience.