LGBT Issues

Mark Carson Was One of 5 Anti-Gay Attacks in Manhattan This Month Alone

On Friday night, Mark Carson was walking with a male friend in the West Village when three men started following them. "Look at these faggots," one said, before taking out a revolver and shooting Carson in the face, according to charges filed Sunday. The 32-year-old was pronounced dead shortly there ... More >>

Activists to Hold a Non-Quinn Affiliated March for Mark Carson Outside St. Vincent's Hospital

Expressing the LGBTQ community's grief and outrage following the hateful murder of Mark Carson in the West Village on Friday, several LGBTQ groups are co-sponsoring a rally held at the LGBT Community Center tonight. Speaker Christine Quinn jumped on the rally as well--and the Facebook page for the e ... More >>

Rightbloggers Enter "Conversation" on Jason Collins, Are Pissed No One Wants to Talk to Them

Last week NBA player Jason Collins came out as gay -- spectacularly, in the pages of Sports Illustrated. He did so not because he had been arrested in a men's room or outed by a news site, but because, as he told SI, he wanted to "start the conversation" that would make it easier for young gay athle ... More >>

Jeremy Irons: "Could a Father Not Marry His Son?"

Oscar winner Jeremy Irons might have a reversal of fortune after his remarks on gay marriage, which are accepting yet questioning yet ironic yet Irons-ic. Irons said he doesn't have a strong feeling about gay marriage either way. But then he added that it's fantastic because "living with another an ... More >>

Rightbloggers Take Cover as Gay Marriage Reigns Supreme

Last week the Supreme Court heard a couple of gay marriage cases and, with so many politicians and even some conservatives running to grab the rainbow flag, it seemed as if a corner on the contentious issue had been turned. How went the rightbloggers? Most continued to -- paraphrasing Buckley -- s ... More >>

Another Big Day for Same-Sex Marriage as the Supreme Court Hears Arguments on DOMA

Following yesterday's hearing on California's Proposition 8 (whose decision will likely fall into the hands of swing vote Justice Anthony Kennedy), another case is coming through the Supreme Court this morning. The justices are hearing arguments on the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Mar ... More >>

AG Eric Schneiderman Thinks SCOTUS Should/Will Strike Down DOMA

Today, the Supreme Court will begin hearings on the cases pending constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act and Prop 8. It is the first legal step in a process that will end in June, when the Nine is expected to release its opinion to the public - one that could have drastic effects on the ri ... More >>

Supreme Court Hears Arguments Against California's Same-Sex Marriage Ban, Punts

At approximately 10:15 this morning, the U.S. Supreme Court started hearing arguments on Proposition 8, the 2008 California initiative that banned same-sex marriage in the state. It was the court's first major hearing of gay rights in 10 years, and will be followed by consideration of the Defense of ... More >>

White House Files Voluntary Amicus Brief, Demands SCOTUS Overturn Prop 8

Nothing like a Presidential push to get the ball rolling. Yesterday was the deadline for parties to file amicus curae briefs -- or "Here's what we think you should do" memos -- to the Supreme Court before the Nine hears the arguments facing DOMA and Prop 8 at the end of March. And, in this past wee ... More >>

When Your Boyfriend Becomes Your Ex-Girlfriend: A Nightlife Star Tells All

LGBTQ Reactions to President Obama's Second Inaugural Address

Toward the end of his second inaugural speech today, President Obama said that, "our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law ... More >>

[UPDATE]: Prop 8 and DOMA Head To The Supreme Court

UPDATE: According to the New York Times, the Supreme Court agreed this afternoon to decide on the constitutionality of the Proposition 8 appeal and the Defense of Marriage Act.It is, arguably, the most significant social battle in America's courts since Roe v. Wade or even Brown v. the Board of Educ ... More >>

Dear Ohio Parents: Here's What Prez Romney Would Do To Your Gay Sons

It's even worse than you think. He's not only against gay marriage, he's against civil unions. He doesn't believe in gay parenting.

Andrew Cuomo Actually Acknowledges Idiot Rabbi's Gay Marriage/Hurricane Rant

Every time a natural disaster destroys entire communities, a handful of religious idiots blame it on gay people and the politicians who defend their civil rights. Hurricane Sandy is no exception.In most cases, however, the moronic ramblings of fringe lunatics are routinely ignored by elected officia ... More >>

Chris Kluwe Takes a Stand

The Vikings punter is prying open America's last closet: major league sports

DOMA Unconstitutional, Rules New York Appeals Court. But It's Not Dead -- Yet

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York ruled today that parts of the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) are unconstitutional because they discriminate against same-sex couples.But don't get your hopes up just yet -- the issue of DOMA's constitutionality will li ... More >>

Question One

Should Health Insurance Providers Pay For Sex-Change Operations?

Yesterday, the group Transgender Legal Defense & Education announced that an insurance company has agreed to a settlement that will require it to pay for a sex-change operation for a transgender person.Ida Hammer, 34, was born a man but has been living as a woman for the past several years. Acco ... More >>

Two Gay-Friendly GOPers In Primary Trouble; Homophobes Claim Victory

We're sad to report that two of the four Republican state lawmakers who voted in favor last year of Governor Andrew Cuomo's gay marriage bill might not be headed back to Albany following yesterday's primary -- and "traditional marriage" advocates see this as a big victory.When the Legislature passed ... More >>

Scientology's Homophobia: Even the Church's Token Gay Guy Was Disgusted

One of Scientology's enduring mysteries is that it has attracted Hollywood stars when it has such a reputation for homophobia. The sexual orientation of its top celebrities is always a matter of popular speculation, and even those with the barest understanding of Scientology seem to know that if cel ... More >>

Gay Activists Join to Make One Last Plea to Stop Demolition of "Gay Commune" 186 Spring Street

Earlier today, around 40 gay activists and onlookers including State Senator Tom Duanes and City Councilmember Danny Dromm gathered in SoHo today in front of 186 Spring Street, the site of a nearly 200-year-old house that they argued played a major role in gay rights and AIDS activists history in th ... More >>

"Access: Use It to Give Voice to the Voiceless (and Hell to the Powerful)," An Address to the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association

Video courtesy of James Schmitz/Inner City Media. On Friday, August 3, the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association named me NLGJA Journalist of the Year 2012. The above video shows CNN's Miguel Marquez presenting the award to me in Las Vegas before I addressed NLGJA's annual gala with my acc ... More >>

Kirk Cameron Would Prefer To Remain An Ignorant Homophobe Than Meet With Gay NJ Teen

Former "Growing Pains" star Kirk Cameron's douchebaggery apparently knows no bounds -- after saying in March that homosexuality was "unnatural and destructive," he has now declined an invitation from a gay New Jersey teen who wanted to sit down with the former "Mike Seaver" and politely explain that ... More >>

The Skinny With Patrik-Ian Polk, the Gay Filmmaking Love Child of Spike Lee and Tyler Perry

Before meeting the director of The Skinny for lunch recently, I had seen Patrik-Ian Polk refer to himself on his Twitter profile as "The gay Tyler Perry. Shut up." But I'd also heard of him referred to as the gay Spike Lee. So which is it, I inquired when we met, especially since many people consi ... More >>

Edith Windsor, Octogenarian Lesbian Widow: Take My DOMA Case to the Supreme Court!

Edith Windsor, the octogenarian lesbian widow who successfully sued the federal government for over chariging her $363,000 in estate taxes, wants to take her case to the Supreme Court. According to a press release from the New York Civil Liberties Union, which is representing Windsor along with the ... More >>

Rep. Barney Frank Breaks Down the Same-Sex Marriage Barrier in Congress

In 1981, as the booming gay culture was being hit with the AIDS epidemic and a rising conservative culture in Washington, Barney Frank, a young Democrat from Massachusetts, entered Congress. Six years later, he became the first elected official on the Hill to voluntarily tell the public about his ho ... More >>

The Columnist: Joseph Alsop's Fabulous Gay Life As A 'House Faggot'

The Voice's Michael Feingold already reviewed The Columnist, in which John Lithgow brilliantly portrays columnist Joseph Alsop in David Auburn's new play on Broadway. But, we wanted to share a few thoughts about our experience watching it this weekend, in light of other things we've been writing abo ... More >>

BREAKING: League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Passes Same-Sex Marriage Equality Resolution

Another Saturday, another national group of brown people proves Toure right by being homophobic passes a same-sex marriage equality resolution. LULAC, the League of United Latino American Citizens, passed a resolution at their annual convention today in suport of equal marriage rights for same-sex ... More >>

Chuck Norris Wants Boy Scouts To Stay Anti-Gay! Lesbian Ex-Den Mother Fights Back!

A righteous vigilante onscreen and off, Chuck Norris is determined to keep openly gay people out of the Boy Scouts while propping up his imaginary gun and tracking down just who's trying to undo that bit of wacko wisdom. But a feisty lesbian is fighting back! This release says it all: "Chuck Nor ... More >>

It's the First Anniversary of the Marriage Equality Act Passing and the Weather is Perfect: Happy Pride Sunday!

One year ago today, we had the chance to travel to Albany for our first and only day of reporting there. As days of political reporting go, it did not disappoint. On arrival, the halls were filled with passionate protesters: those demanding that gay and lesbian people not be allowed to "sully" the ... More >>

Rightbloggers Have Another Miserable Pride Week

Hope you folks had a good Pride week. Rightbloggers didn't, much. For one thing, last week anti-same-sex-marriage heavyweight David Blankenhorn finally gave up the fight. And with more states (and President Obama!) on the SSM bandwagon, rightbloggers' traditional hatred of homosexuals looks like les ... More >>

La Raza Endorses Gay Marriage, Joining the NAACP, President Obama, a Majority of Americans, and Even Prop 8 Defenders!

Happy Pride weekend. Here's some more good news on the marriage beat to share with you this beautiful weekend here in New York. La Raza, the nation's largest Latino civil rights organization, unanimously approved a resolution supporting same-sex marriage equality, the Washington Blade reported excl ... More >>

Pack It In, Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown: the Gay Marriage Debate is Over

When you've lost the likes of Prop 8 proponent David Blankenhorn, Jutice Anthony Kennedy can't be far behind. Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage can't recover from this. Blankenhorn, who once staunchly fought to take gay marriage away from LGBT Californians ... More >>

Will GLAAD Condemn Dan Savage for His "House Faggots" Tweet?

In this week's feature in the Voice Pride Issue "Does 'Gay Inc.' Believe in Free Speech?" we take a long look at GLAAD, the self-described "PR firm for the LGBT community." Since the story was published Tuesday afternoon, a few events have happened as if on cue (one nationally, the others on a muc ... More >>

Selling a Newly Out Armed Forces

The Pentagon makes sure the public supports 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal

Does 'Gay Inc.' Believe in Free Speech?

In the battle over gay rights, dissent during wartime isn't always tolerated

Philadelphia Gay News' Mark Segal Talks About 'Christopher Street Liberation Day,' the Old Village Voice Office, and Love in the White House

There was a small, touching moment while covering President Obama's address to the White House LGBT Pride Month reception that caught our eye: this gay couple holding each other, silently and wordlessly. After the president had finished speaking, we chatted with them. They were Mark Segal, the pub ... More >>

SAGE Shut Down Their Gay Center Room! Controversy!

Here's an anguished email I got from someone who's enjoyed the services of SAGE, the organization for gay elders. (I'll follow it with SAGE's response.) "Picture this: About a month and a half ago, we gay seniors that belong to the gay senior group SAGE at the Gay Community Center on 13th street w ... More >>

Edith Windsor, Octogenarian Widow, Beats Down DOMA (and Gives John Boehner a Piece Of Her Mind)

Pride month has just started, and yet over the course of May and just the first few days of June, the fight for gay marriage has arguably seen more progress in the last four weeks than in any time in history. In fact, if you're a journalist on the gay marriage beat who also writes about other things ... More >>

Gay Inc Takes On Stop and Frisk, the NAACP Goes to the Stonewall Inn, and Other Signs of the "Black/Gay Divide"

So, the promised fallout between blacks and gays continues! Four weeks after President Obama came out for same-sex marriage, today will see one of the most significant signs of a new alliance between traditional race-based civil rights groups and the current wave of LGBT oriented civil rights group ... More >>

Chris Geidner of Metro Weekly on Why Yesterday's Ruling Against DOMA Is The Most Important Gay Marriage Case Right Now

Yesterday saw a major legal blow (perhaps the most significant one yet) to the Defense of Marriage Act, as the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the federal government's definition of "marriage" and "spouse" are unconstitutional as limited to just applying to opposite sex married ... More >>

Obama Finally Loses Support Of A Black Leader Over Gay Marriage, And It's...Farrakhan!

Over the past few weeks, we've been waiting for some fallout -- any fallout -- with black Americans over President Obama's support for same-sex marriage. Instead of the promised backlash, we've mostly heard the sound of crickets (unless you count the sounds of support from a majority of polled black ... More >>

Schools Ignore Gay Bullying at Their Own Peril

An Education in Abuse

The Voice Talks Black Voter Support for Gay Marriage with Michelangelo Signorile on Sirius [AUDIO]

We're approaching, if not looking in the rearview mirror at, a watershed moment in American civil rights history. A majority of the American public now supports marriage equality for same-sex couples. And, despite what detractors have been saying and predicting, this includes black people, too. An ... More >>

How Many Negroes Must Support Gay Marriage Before "Black Homophobia" Stops Getting Overblown?

Here are the three biggest hand-wringing fears/misnomers people have had about gay marriage, even those who support it: 1. This unimportant issue will cost Obama re-election! 2. Marriage equality would have happened by now, if not for those on-the-down low, religious, self-hating, homophobic black ... More >>

Black Pride: Majority of African Americans Support Gay Marriage, Says ABC News. The Voice Speaks to Their Pollster, Gary Langer

Maybe they should have called Barack Obama the homosexual "Black Abe Lincoln." Buried in the polls showing that Obama's same-sex marriage support has had no effect on his own re-election prospects (debunking the myth that his gay support would hurt him) and that it seems to have moved "strong supp ... More >>

The Obama Effect: From the NAACP to 50 Cent, Black Leaders Back Gay Marriage

It's fair to call it the Obama Effect: leaders in the black community, old and young, political and cultural, are coming out of the closet to back same-sex marriage. And they are a motley crew, from the legacy NAACP, to the rapper 50 Cent, who just a couple years ago suggested that if you're a man " ... More >>

Manny Pacquiao's Not As Much Of A Homophobe As 'Examiner' Makes Him Out To Be . "Journalist" Comes Clean

Manny Pacquiao's feeling the heat from the homosexual community over comments he apparently didn't even make.The "journalist" who published an article that attributed a quote from the Bible calling for the death of homosexuals to Pacquiao has since backed off his claim that Pacquiao's the one who re ... More >>