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May 17, 2013
LA pride honors allies and servants of the West Coast gay community

USA's first openly gay congressman and an 11-year-old transgender girl are among the award winners honored in this year's pride parade

Los Angeles Pride has announced 2013’s honor award winners and Grand Marshal for this year’s pride march.

Straight allies of the LA gay community have been honoured along with several LGBT organisations for their community service, pride organizers Christopher Street West told GSN.

Among the honourees are a Super Bowl champion, USA’s first openly gay congressman and an 11-year-old transgender girl who fought for identity in school.

May 2, 2013
Jason Collins: the great black hope

Now NBA giant Jason Collins has come out as gay, Reverend Irene Monroe looks at what it will mean for sports fans and gay African Americans

The professional sports world has been waiting for a Jason Collins moment – a gay athlete currently playing in a major league to come out publicly. What you may not know is that the subtext is that it was hoped the moment would star an African American male.

The African American community, let alone the sports world, desperately needed an openly gay, current, male, professional player.

April 15, 2013
Anti-gay Republican delegation to attend Thatcher’s funeral

Marsha Blackburn, John Boehner, George Holding and Michele Bachmann form an anti-gay Republican delegation attending Lady Thatcher’s funeral

Four anti-gay Republican politicians form a delegation that will attend Lady Thatcher’s funeral on Wednesday (17 April).

The delegation is lead by two anti-gay Republican members of the US Congress.

John Boehner, the speaker of the House of Representatives, who is a staunch opponent of gay marriage.

As well as Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, who spearheaded an attempt to overturn marriage equality in Washington, D.C. and co-chaired the committee that drafted the 2012 national Republican platform, considered the most antigay in history.

April 3, 2013
Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert links gay marriage to bestiality

Texan makes the suggestion during argument against gun control

Louie Gohmert, a congressman from Texas, compared gay marriage to bestiality during a conference call about gun control laws.

In audio that surfaced this week, Gohmert made the remark while he was participating in a conference call with a new group called Tea Party Unity in February.

During the call, he began talking about 'some wonderful, caring Democrats' who he said had suggested that 'surely you could agree to limit the number of rounds in a magazine, couldn't you?' And they ased, 'How would that be problematic?'

March 31, 2013
Arizona congressman with gay son still against same sex marriage

Arizona Congressman Matt Salmon isn't changing his opposition to marriage equality even though his son is gay

Congressman Matt Salmon probably represents a large number of US parents. The politician loves his son, who is gay, but doesn't support marriage equality.

In an interview with 3TV News, the Arizonan Republican explained  while his child is very important to him, he's not in favor of same sex marriage.

March 21, 2013
Feminism turns people gay, warns Brazil’s human rights boss

Marco Feliciano, Brazil’s human rights boss, claimed that if women achieve gender equality, the traditional family will collapse and society will ‘become gay’

Marco Feliciano, Brazil’s human rights boss, warned that gender equality could undermine women’s roles as mothers and turn society ‘gay’.

Congressman Feliciano, the newly elected chair of Brazil’s House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights and Minorities (CDHM), was quoted yesterday (20 March) in O Globo, as making this statement in a recently published book.

March 5, 2013
Republicans try to ban gay marriage in the army

A new bill by members of the Republican party attempts to ban same-sex marriage in military bases

Republican congressman, Tim Huelskamp is introducing the 'Military Religious Freedom Protection Act', a bill which aims to ban on gay marriages on military bases.

On the surface the bill appears to 'protect' military chaplains, 'ensuring' that they cannot be penalized if their religious beliefs are not pro-gay, however commentators pointed out such provision already exist.

March 2, 2013
Al Qaeda objects to gay politicians and same-sex marriage in the US

The English language mouthpiece of terrorist group Al Qaeda has criticized President Barack Obama’s support for marriage equality as valueless and pointed to openly gay congressman Barney Frank as a symbol of the corrupt American dream

Islamist terror group Al Qaeda has criticized the Obama Administration for its support for marriage equality and the election of openly gay public officials in the United States.

In the latest issue of the group’s English language mouthpiece, Inspire, an infographic attacks the US for ‘standing on no values,’ quoting President Barack Obama as saying, ‘My stance is still evolving … I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.’

February 27, 2013
Freshman gay congressman wants Obama to get involved in Prop. 8 case

California's Mark Takano asks for Justice Department to file brief as they did in DOMA case

Openly gay congressman Mark Takano has only been in office for less than two months but he's already showing that he's not afraid to speak up when it comes to LGBT equality.

The freshman from California is asking President Barack Obama to get involved in the upcoming Supreme Court case challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8 which bans gay marriage in Takano's state.

February 14, 2013
US Congressman: Obama seeks to destroy the family and reward gays

Republican Congressman Tim Huselskamp alleged that Obama's 'radical agenda' is to have gay marriage destroy the family, and 'selectively reward' homosexual behavior

Republican Congressman Tim Huselskamp said that Obama is introducing gay marriage to destroy the family, and laws banning discrimination against gays 'selectively' 'rewards' homosexual behavior.

January 4, 2013
Barney Frank wants to become first gay male US Senator

Former congressman from Massachusetts has confirmed his desire to fill John Kerry's seat on temporary basis

Barney Frank had his last day as a congressman this week but he's eyeing a return to the US capitol as a senator.

If current Massachusetts Senator John Kerry is nominated and confirmed, as is expected, to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will need to appoint someone to Kerry's seat for approximately three months until a special election can be held.

Frank, the first openly gay member of the House, wants the appointment.

December 31, 2012
Gay congressman Barney Frank uses last day in office to protest defense secretary candidate

Says Chuck Hagel 'voted consistently against fairness for LGBT people'

On his last day as a US congressman, Barney Frank blasted former senator Chuck Hagal who President Barack Obama is considering nominating to be the next secretary of defense.

Frank, the first openly gay person to ever serve in the congress, has not forgotten Hagel's words from 1998 when a gay man, James Hormel, was nominated by then-President Bill Clinton to be US Ambassador to Luxembourg.

December 24, 2012
Will gay US congressman Barney Frank become a senator?

He does not rule out temporarily replacing John Kerry if Massachusetts senator is appointed Secretary of State

Barney Frank, the first openly gay congressman in US history, does not rule out temporaily replacing John Kerry as the senator from Massachusetts should Kerry be appointed secretary of state.

Kerry's current Senate term does not end until 2014 so should he vacate the office, his replacement would be chosen by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Kerry, Frank and Patrick are all Democrats.

December 20, 2012
Barney Frank calls Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia 'a flat out bigot'

Gay congressman unhappy anti-gay judge will help decide California's Propsition 8 case next year

In his final days as a US congressman, Barney Frank is slamming Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia for his anti-gay views and remarks.

During a lecture at Princeton University earlier this month, Scalia answered a student's question about his position on sodomy laws and the judge equated his moral opposition to homosexuality to his moral opposition to murder.

December 17, 2012
Gay US Congressman Barney Frank hires agent for his life after Congress

'I’m hoping to get paid well to do what I do now for nothing'

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.

November 8, 2012
Gay Republican sheriff Paul Babeu reelected in Arizona's Pinal County

Messy split from an ex-boyfriend had ended his campaign for US Congress

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.

November 7, 2012
Anti-gay Todd Akin loses Missouri senate race

Controversial Republican who said women rarely get pregnant from ‘legitimate rape’ loses election

Anti-gay and anti-abortion congressman Todd Akin has lost his bid to become Senator of Missouri.

Democrat incumbent Senator Claire McCaskill defeated Akin’s attempt to be elected in the mid-western state.

When asked if women who are raped should be allowed to have abortions during a radio interview in August, Akin said victims of what he called ‘legitimate rape’ rarely get pregnant. He apologized for the comments afterwards saying that he ‘misspoke’.

September 27, 2012
US Congressman Barney Frank speaks out in favor of legalizing marijuana

Outspoken gay politician says he once ate a pot brownie: 'It made me sleepy'

Congressman Barney Frank calls the US ban on marijuana a 'big hypocrisy' and says too much money is being spent on prosecuting people who smoke it.

'Instead of this being a drain on our resources, we could tax it like anything else and use it as a contribution to revenues,' the openly gay politician said in an interview with CNN.

Frank, who is retiring from congress in November, said he himself does not smoke pot but he did have marijuana once - as a snack.

'I did have a brownie once,' he said. 'It made me sleepy.'

September 18, 2012
Gay US congressman Barney Frank slams Mitt Romney over leaked video

Says beleagured Republican presidential nominee's comments 'an attack on the moral character' of many Americans

It's clear that Barney Frank, the first openly gay congressman in US history, is no fan of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney who he has previously referred to as 'myth Romney.'

Now a secretly recorded video which surfaced late Monday (17 September) in which Romney describes nearly half the US electorate as 'dependent on government' because they don't pay federal income taxes has Frank blasting Romney with renewed vigor.

September 12, 2012
Log Cabin Republicans and Barney Frank defend their respective insults

Gay conservatives and gay Democratic congressman continue war of words

Barney Frank, the first openly gay US congressman in history, has not backed off his harsh words for gays who belong to the Log Cabin Republicans.

Last week, Frank drew a strong response from the group's leadership after he labeled them 'Uncle Toms.'

September 9, 2012
Romney endorses anti-gay right-wing extremist for Congress

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has endorsed Steve King, who believes all gays should be closeted

US Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has endorsed an anti-gay right-wing extremist politician for Congress.

Speaking at a rally in one of the most conservative counties in Iowa on Friday (7 September), he said: ‘I’m looking here at Steve King. He needs to be your congressman again. I want him as my partner in Washington!’

King has come under fire for his far right-wing social views, such as believing all gays should be closeted, questioning whether women can get pregnant from rape, and comparing immigrants to dogs.

September 6, 2012
Gay US Congressman Barney Frank slams gay Republicans

'I now understand why they call themselves Log Cabin: their role model is Uncle Tom'

Barney Frank, the first openly gay US congressman in history, has some harsh words for gay people who belong to the group Log Cabin Republicans.

'I now understand why they call themselves Log Cabin: their role model is Uncle Tom,' the famous liberal says in an interview at the Democratic National Convention where he will speak tonight (6 September).

August 31, 2012
Congressman Aaron Schock says it's 'ridiculous and inappropriate' to ask if he is gay

Illinois lawmaker has gained national attention for his chisled physique

Aaron Schock is a handsome US congressman so fit that he has posed for the cover Men's Health magazine, his shirt unbuttoned and washboard abs on full display.

Schock is a Republican who is against gay marriage and voted against the repeal of the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy but it is the 31 year old's physique and sense of  fashion that seems to be fueling speculation about his sexuality.

So at the Republican National Convention this week, gay journalist Michelangelo Signorile asked Schock if he is gay.

July 19, 2012
Republican congressman Steve King attaches anti-gay marriage amendment to defense bill

Seeks to ban same-sex marriages on military bases and military chaplains from participating

Less than a year after the end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell , US Congressman Steve King is trying to get same-sex marriages banned from military bases.

King, a Republican from Iowa, introduced an amendment to the 2013 Defense Appropriations Bill on Thursday (19 July)  that would not only ban the ceremonies, but also prohibit any military chaplain from performing them.

June 8, 2012
Daughter of US House of Rep Democrat Whip Steny Hoyer comes out

Stefany Hoyer Hemmer: 'I just figured this is a good time to lend my name to the cause'

Now that the US House of Representative's Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer has come out in favor of gay marriage, one of his three daughters has come out as a lesbian.

Hoyer is a congressman from Maryland where same-sex marriage was signed into law in March by Gov. Martin O’Malley.