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The country did a complete 180 on a once-divisive issue starting 20 years ago

The vast majority of Americans opposed same-sex marriage on May 17, 2004, when the first same-sex couples took their vows after a court decision in Massachusetts. Well, times have changed.

Judy Shepard, Nancy Pelosi, and queer scientist Jane Rigby among Medal of Freedom honorees

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor.

20 Years Ago Today Massachusetts Made History by Ruling in Favor of Marriage Equality

The ruling from the state's Supreme Judicial Court made Massachusetts the first in the nation with equal marriage rights.

John Kerry Races the Clock in 'The Final Year'

With an election looming, the former secretary of State faces down the climate crisis in this exclusive clip from The Final Year, a new documentary out January 19.

WATCH: John Kerry Notes Gay Rights Progress in Senate

Kerry was one of only 14 U.S. senators who voted against DOMA in 1996. Now, as he leaves the Senate to become secretary of State, the body has its first openly gay member.

Op-ed: John Kerry Needs to Do the Right Thing in Egypt

Promoting an economic summit in a nation jailing LGBT people is not living up to the self-stated ideals of the State Department.

John Kerry Condemns New Law on Phone Call With Uganda President

Secretary of State John Kerry hopped on the phone with Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni.

John Kerry Confirms Same-Sex Couples Now Eligible for Visas

The secretary of state announced that his department will begin treating married same-sex binational couples the same as opposite-sex couples immediately.

Kerry, Quigley Amp Up Effort to End Gay Blood Ban

Lawmakers John Kerry and Mike Quigley are amping up their effort to end the ban on gay men donating blood.

State Department Apologizes for 1950s Anti-LGBT Witch Hunt

John Kerry issued an apology after the Human Rights Campaign lobbied the secretary of State.

WATCH Barney Frank Wants to Be a Senator

The former Congressman said he'd now consider a temporary appointment to the U.S. Senate to fill Sen. John Kerry's seat.

New Nigeria Law Imprisons Gays Who Marry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he is deeply concerned over Nigeria's new law, which punishes public declarations of same-sex relationships.

PHOTOS: The Entire World Shows Its Pride With IDAHOT

President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry issued statements, the president of Costa Rica raised a pride flag, but most importantly millions of people worldwide stood in solidarity.

How the Lavender Scare Created a Gay Work of Art

Secretary of State John Kerry just apologized for the department's 20th-century purge of LGBT employees. Now a new opera brings the lamentable Lavender Scare to life.

The Next Mass. Senator Isn’t Barney Frank

Barney Frank fans were disappointed today when Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick appointed someone to the Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State John Kerry and it wasn't the longtime gay activist.

Kerry's plan for gay America

An estimated 4 million gay and lesbian voters could determine the outcome of perhaps the closest presidential race in U.S. history. In an exclusive interview, John Kerry makes his case for the gay vote

Slain Lesbian Soldier Ciara Durkin Remembered

An estimated 2,000 mourners, including Sen. John Kerry and Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, filled St. John the Baptist Church in Quincy, Mass., on Saturday for the funeral mass for lesbian Army Spc. Ciara Durkin, a 30-year-old Army National Guard corporal who was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in Afghanistan.

The Advocate's Big Four Report: Ohio

The Advocate continues its coverage of four swing states this week with Ohio, the state that could well decide the 2008 election ... and the state that John Kerry lost by a scant 119,000 votes in 2004. This story is the first of four pieces focusing on the state's political dynamics, LGBT concerns, and how it all will play out on Election Day.