Yahoo! News: Gay & Lesbian Issues
Lesbian U.S. deserter to get new Canada hearing (Reuters)
Reuters - A Canadian court ordered a new refugee hearing on Friday for a U.S. Army deserter who claimed she would face persecution because of her homosexuality if returned to the United States.
NY court: Married gay couples entitled to benefits (AP)
AP - New York's top court ruled Thursday that gay couples legally married elsewhere are entitled to some government benefits, boosting stalled legislative efforts to legalize same-sex marriage.
NY court OKs out-of-state gay marriage benefits (Reuters)
Reuters - New York state's top court ruled on Thursday that public officials have the authority to recognize out-of-state gay marriages and pushed state lawmakers to decide whether to legalize same-sex marriage.
Philippine gay group fights to contest elections (AP)
AP - A Philippine gay rights group is waging a legal battle to be allowed to run in next year's polls after the Elections Commission ruled it cannot register as a political party on grounds that it advocates immorality.
Gay couple hopes wedding sets precedent in Argentina (Reuters)
Reuters - Two Argentine men who will soon wed in Latin America's first legal same-sex marriage hope it will pave the way for other homosexual couples in Argentina to marry.
DC board won't allow gay marriage ban on ballot (AP)
AP - A measure to let voters decide whether to ban same-sex marriages in D.C. cannot go on the ballot because it would violate a city human rights law, the Board of Elections and Ethics ruled Tuesday.
Gay couples blast federal Defense of Marriage Act (AP)
AP - Gay married couples suing the government over a federal law that doesn't recognize same-sex unions say there is "no legitimate or plausible" reason for having a federal definition of marriage that excludes gay couples.
NH radio host, blogger's gay Dem attack condemned (AP)
AP - A conservative Republican radio host, blogger and self-described citizen journalist is apologizing for calling New Hampshire's Democratic Party chairman derogatory gay names — comments his party and a leading gay activist are condemning.
California gay marriage campaign kicks off (Reuters)
Reuters - Gay marriage advocates on Monday launched a campaign to try to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban, hoping to become the first U.S. state to convince voters to approve gay people's right to wed.
Buenos Aires grants first marriage license to gays (AP)
AP - Two men were granted a marriage license in Argentina's capital on Monday, breaking ground in a country and region where laws ban gay marriage.
Buenos Aires okays gay marriage in Latin America first (AFP)
AFP - An Argentine judge paved the way for gay marriage when she granted a homosexual couple permission to marry in a first for Latin America, the world's biggest Catholic region.
Lawmakers defy church pressure on DC gay marriage (AP)
AP - The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington wants the city to change its proposal to legalize same-sex marriages to exempt the church from the law, but so far city council members aren't budging.
Argentine judge allows gay wedding in legal first (Reuters)
Reuters - An Argentine judge has granted a homosexual couple permission to get married, setting a precedent that could pave the way for the Catholic country to become the first in Latin America to allow same-sex marriage.
RI gov opens door to domestic partnerships (AP)
AP - Gov. Don Carcieri (kuh-CHEHR'-ee), a gay marriage opponent, has opened the door slightly to the limited recognition of same-sex relationships in Rhode Island.
Church could stop Washington aid over gay marriage law (AFP)
AFP - The Catholic church has warned it will stop joint aid projects with Washington's authorities if the city passes a proposed law to legalize gay marriage.
Ian McKellen takes act to film, TV -- and gay rights (Reuters)
Reuters - Venerable English stage actor Ian McKellen has played all the great parts from Hamlet to Richard III, but in the twilight of his career, he is finding new roles in mainstream film and TV -- and as a gay icon.
Salt Lake OKs gay rights laws with Mormon backing (AP)
AP - The Mormon church for the first time has announced its support of gay rights legislation, an endorsement that helped gain unanimous approval for Salt Lake city laws banning discrimination against gays in housing and employment.
NY assembly postpones gay marriage vote (AFP)
AFP - New York's state assembly on Tuesday put off a tentatively planned vote on a bill that would allow same-sex marriage, but could revisit the controversial issue next week.
Australian territory becomes first to legalise gay unions (AFP)
AFP - An Australian territory became the first to legalise civil partnership ceremonies for same-sex couples, in a move supporters hoped would spark national momentum.
NY Senate fails to put gay marriage to vote (AP)
AP - After weeks of uncertainty and pleas for action by Gov. David Paterson, New York's Senate failed to vote on a bill legalizing same-sex marriage during a special session Tuesday.
