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The latest news from local authors

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AFER Releases New Marriage Equality Map

AFER has released a new map and a list detailing the current marriage equality initiatives going on around the US. AFER reports: After the historic Supreme Court victories in June that paved the way for marriage equality in California and for all legally married couples to receive federal benefits, there is renewed energy from coast […]

Porterville Mayor, Removed From Office For LGBT Proclamation

The City Council of Porterville, California, removed Mayor Virginia Gurrola from office this week, allegedly due to her declaration that June be regarded as LGBT Pride Month in the town. The governing body also removed Vice Mayor Pete McCracken from his position, placing city council members Cameron Hamilton and Brian Ward in the mayor and

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The Things We Share: A Catholic’s Case for Marriage

There’s this guy I know in Manhattan. Call him Jim. Jim Watson. We’re friends, I guess. We used to be friends, anyway–grabbing a hamburger together near Gramercy Park, from time to time, or meeting out on the Stuyvesant Town Oval on a summer afternoon to play some folk and bluegrass with the guitar strummers, mandolin

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Federal Judge Strikes Down Ban on Veterans Benefits for Same-Sex Couples

Just a few days ago, we reported that same-sex military couples would be banned receiving veterans benefits by Title 38. Well, a federal judge just struck that down. Buzz Feed reports: A federal judge in California on Thursday found that, as with the ban on federal recognition of same-sex couples’ marriages, federal veterans’ benefits laws

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Bakery That Discriminated Against Lesbian Couple Closes

Remember that bakery in Oregon that refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple a few months ago? Well, they’re closing their storefront. Gay Star News reports: Sweet Cakes by Melissa owner, who had cited religious reasons for refusing to make the cake, wrote on their Facebook page over the weekend that they were

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Federal Court Upholds California’s Ban on Conversion Therapy

California’s new ban on conversion therapy – where they try to make gay kids straight – has been upheld by a federal appeals court. LGBTQ Nation reports: A federal appeals court sided with California on Thursday and upheld the first law in the nation banning a psychological treatment that seeks to turn gay youth straight.In

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Analysis of the IRS Decision on Marriage Equality

We’ve got a couple follow-up stories this morning on the ramifications of the IRS decision to treat all legally married same-sex couples the same, regardless of where they live. First off, from the Business Insider, a look at what the new rules will mean for the federal budget: Over the long term, this decision will increase

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Some Churches Changing Bylaws To Explicitiy Ban Same-Sex Marriages

In an effort to insulate themselves against so far nonexistent lawsuits, some churches are making changes to their bylaws. ABC News reports: Worried they could be sued by gay couples, some churches are changing their bylaws to reflect their view that the Bible allows only marriage between one man and one woman. Although there have

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Final word on Prop 8

Today Marriage Equality USA celebrates the California Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the Proposition 8 proponents’ last ditch effort to deny loving, committed same-sex couples the freedom to marry in California. “Today’s ruling means that two Supreme Courts, the United States Supreme Court and the California Supreme Court, agree that all loving, committed couples should have the freedom

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Social Security to Limit Payments to Couples in Marriage Equality States

The Social Security Administration is limiting payment of claims for same-sex married couples currently to those couples who were married in a state the allows same-sex couples to marry and are “domiciled,” or live, in a state that recognizes same-sex couples’ marriages. The decision means claims from same-sex couples married where such couples can legally