Get Ready for the Protest Starting February 19, Long Beach has been selected by Westboro Baptist Church, a Kansas based group to conduct anti-gay and anti-Semetic protests at different locations according to their Web site, www.godhatesfags.com. The group is targeting; Ragga Muffins Festival aka “Bob Fest”at the Long Beach Convention Center, the Alpert Jewish Community Center [...] [...more]
The Palm Center today shared its analysis of President Obama’s likely options as he is expected to address the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law and policy during Wednesday night’s State of the Union Address. The analysis appears below. “President Obama has the opportunity to announce the end of one of the most notorious policies of federal [...] [...more]
In a last minute decision, the US Supreme Court has issues a temporary order to block the Video Coverage of the Prop 8 Trial after the conservative Prop 8 supporters filed an appeal on Saturday. The Prop 8 supporters who had filed the appeal to block the streaming video coverage of the trial had expressed [...] [...more]
The federal trial over the unconstitutionality of Proposition 8 will begin Monday, January 11 with an opening statement by attorney Theodore Olson, who with David Boies is leading the legal team assembled by the American Foundation for Equal Rights to litigate the case, Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Opening statements will be followed by testimony from Kris [...] [...more]
“On World AIDS Day, we remember, we reflect, and we recommit to ending HIV/AIDS. This year’s theme — ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’ — is a call to action, a sign of the continued urgency of this moral challenge, and a reminder that HIV/AIDS has not disappeared. The fight to end this [...] [...more]
As Congress turns to address the estate tax before it is repealed at the end of the year, a new study announced today shows that same-sex couples who are affected by the estate tax are assessed an average of $3.3 million more in taxes upon the death of a spouse than similarly-situated different-sexed married couples. [...] [...more]
In a historic step forward for equality, the City of Long Beach passed a new ordinance Tuesday night that will direct the City of Long Beach to enter into contracts with companies and vendors that offer equal benefit packages for both straight and gay employees. This new ordinance will require companies and vendors that do business [...] [...more]
A step forward, a step back and a wait and see for equality were the results of LGBT elections around the country. Same sex marriage and civil unions were up for a vote in Maine and Washington while voters in Houston, Texas decided whether they would elect their first openly gay mayor. Results and [...] [...more]
Gavin Newsom announced this afternoon via an email to his supporters that he is officially withdrawing from the race for California Governor. Newsom who was Political Grand Marshal of the 2009 Long Beach Gay Pride Parade has been campaigning since early this year and had attracted a large number of supporters in the LGBT community [...] [...more]
President Obama signed the Hate Crimes Prevention Act today that will make it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill which passed the senate with a vote of 69-29 is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay teenager who died after being kidnapped and severely beaten in [...] [...more]