May 15 2012 9:47 AM ET
Jay-Z Talks Obama, Marriage Equality Support
Jay-Z has thrown his support behind President Obama’s marriage equality stance, CNN Political Ticker reports. In a CNN interview, the hip-hop mogul said of the issue: "I've always thought it as something that was still, um, holding the country back. What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. That's their business.” “It’s is no different than discriminating against blacks. It's discrimination plain and simple,” Jay-Z said.
May 15 2012 9:06 AM ET
Civil Unions Bill Fails in Colorado
Yet another attempt to pass civil unions in Colorado has failed, and apparently not because the legislation lacked the requisite votes. During a special legislative session called by Gov. John Hickenlooper, the GOP-controlled House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee voted 5-4 along party lines against the bill, which prevented a full House vote.
May 14 2012 7:22 PM ET
Obama Courts Gays, Latinos at Ricky Martin's Fundraiser
“We have never gone wrong when we expanded rights and responsibilities for everybody,” said Obama. “That doesn't weaken families, that strengthens families."
May 14 2012 6:45 PM ET
Rhode Island Governor Makes Big Change on Marriage
Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee spoke at a statehouse ceremony today and declared that the state will recognize all same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, according to the Associated Press, directing state agencies to essentially treat same-sex married couples the same as heterosexual ones.
May 14 2012 6:02 PM ET
Congresswoman Puts Chief of Staff on Leave for Disparaging Gay Colleague
May 14 2012 3:22 PM ET
Arizona Sheriff Wants to Bridge Chasm Between Gays and Republicans
Pinal County, Ariz., sheriff Paul Babeu was outed earlier this year, after some allegations from a former boyfriend insinuating that Babeu, a conservative Republican, had made unethical decisions in his personal and professional life. While the investigation continues (Babeu says that he welcomes it because it will exonerate him), the sheriff has called off his campaign for Congress.
May 14 2012 2:49 PM ET
Republican Congressman Says OK to Fire Gays
James Lankford, a Republican representative from Oklahoma, believes a person should be able to be fired for his or her sexual orientation, according to Think Progress.
May 14 2012 2:20 PM ET
Sen. Rand Paul Condemned for Laughing at Obama's Religion
Sen. Rand Paul's joke last week that he didn't think President Obama's views "could get any gayer" didn't have Republicans laughing during the Sunday shows. Party chairman Reince Priebus told NBC's David Gregory on Meet the Press that he didn't want to see others following Paul's example. Then he went on to say the party as a whole supports amending the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
May 14 2012 1:41 PM ET
Chris Hughes Goes Big in Donation to Marriage Fight in Maine
Facebook cofounder Chris Hughes, who was criticized for not donating to fight Amendment One in North Carolina, has pledged $100,000 in Maine. Hughes and his fiancé, Sean Eldridge, who is a senior adviser for Freedom to Marry, are offering it as a matching gift, which means other, small donors will have to step up during the next four weeks if the full amount is to be paid.
May 14 2012 1:16 PM ET
Gallup: There's a 'New Normal' for Americans on Gay Issues
Gallup is calling acceptance of same-sex couples "the new normal" for Americans, based on its latest polling.
