Gay/Lesbian News

Concierge Travel, the largest gay-owned and operated travel agency and tour operator in the state of Texas, announced details on its first all-gay Europe cruise.

The Rio Carnival has come alive with more than two million revellers in outlandish costumes staging a mammoth, frenzied samba-driven street festival in the city centre. Drawing the huge crowds on Saturday, a day after legendary King Momo declared the Carnival officially open, was the Cordao da Bola Preta - one of Rio's oldest and most popular blocos street parties. While the eagerly awaited highlight of the Carnival, the parades of elaborately decorated fantasy floats and scantily dressed women in the Sambadrome, attract mainly the wealthy and foreign tourists, blocos are for all.

RIO DE JANEIRO — It took Dutch tourist Adriaan little time after landing in Rio to pick out his favorite spot during Carnival, the five-day party that officially ended Wednesday. A 35-year-old graphic designer, he found his niche at the gay meeting point on Ipanema beach, where palm fronds and rainbow flags wave in the balmy ocean breeze, and tanned, well-muscled young men strut about in swim suits that reveal more than they conceal. Conversation failed to distract the tall, blond visitor from his careful perusal of the bathers rinsing off salt water at an open-air shower in a ritual that was equal parts bathing and public display of bodies toned to perfection.

A federal judge in California Wednesday night struck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act as applied to a federal employee who sought benefits for her same-sex spouse.

US District Court Judge Jeffrey White has ruled that part of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White ruled Wednesday that because the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutionally discriminates against same-sex married couples, the government's refusal to furnish health insurance to Karen Golinski's wife is unjustified.

Jose Orozco, 34, has been identified as the ex-boyfriend of Arizona Sheriff Babeu. In an exclusive interview with CNN Mr Orozco details his relationship and fears of his ex-lover. (See complete interviews after the jump) The national media has exploited the story as is the norm. One can also say that the "spin" by the sheriff's defenders are running on eight cylinders in an effort to make the sheriff as the victim. We're inclined to give deference to the victim in this case. Let's us look at this from our angle - It is no secret that gay mature males are sometimes attracted to persons who are illegal (In the USA or any country). This can easily be explained as a power relationship. The nationals have all the power and when they become disinterested or the illegal does not do what they want or more interesting fresh-meat enters the scene the lover is pushed aside and sometimes threatened with deportation or worse. It happens all too often we seldom if ever discuss it within the community but we know it exists just as equally in the heterosexual community..

Senior prelates in both the Catholic Church and the Church of England recently announced that they would be teaming up with the Coalition for Marriage to fight the legalization of same-sex marriage in England, the UK newspaper the Tablet reported.

Chris Christie recently vetoed a bill that would legalize gay marriage in New Jersey, claiming, "an issue of this magnitude and importance, which requires a constitutional amendment, should be left to the people of New Jersey to decide." This "toss it to the voters" mentality may be the latest in his political bag of tricks, but majority vs. minority right disputes are nothing new in American Politics. Historic trends show that when given the opportunity, the majority will always preserve its own self-interest over the rights of a minority. The Governor should ask himself: did history teach us nothing?

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is poised to sign so-called "conscience clause" legislation protecting faith-based adoption agencies that deny placements based on religious beliefs such as opposition to homosexuality, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

Authorities have announced plans to set up Serbia's first shelter to protect gays and lesbians from harassment in this conservative Balkan country.

Tennessee is introducing a "Don't Say Gay" bill, which would prohibit schools from discussing homosexuality until kids reach high school.

Okay, deep breath here as we confront yet another insidious threat to our great Republic.

A Colorado Mesa University running back was arrested for allegedly assaulting a lesbian outside of a bar in Grand Junction, Colo.

Teenage boys sitting on each other's laps, exchanging back rubs and dolling out hugs: This was the sight that researcher Mark McCormack found when he went to a British high school to research masculinity.

A split Baltimore County Council approved a controversial transgender anti-discrimination bill Tuesday night by a 5-2 vote.

The bill, sponsored by Councilman Tom Quirk, a Catonsville Democrat, prohibits discrimination against transgender individuals seeking housing, financing or employment.

A New Jersey judge has reinstated a previously dismissed portion of a lawsuit from gay couples seeking to have the state recognize same-sex marriage.

A killer who was told he would never be released from jail after being convicted of torturing gay men to death almost 20 years ago has died in prison.