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Emerging Muslim movement embraces gay marriages

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Omar Akersim prays regularly and observes the dawn-to-dusk Ramadan fast. He is also openly gay. Akersim, 26, is part of a small but growing number of American Muslims challenging the...

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Watermark readers respond hot and cold to Teresa Jacobs’ statement on...

Our latest interview with Orange County mayor Teresa Jacobs – where she finally confirmed that she is in support of marriage equality – sparked some polarized readers comments. For some of you, the...

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Election results sobering for LGBT rights movement

Massachusetts became the first state to elect an openly gay attorney general, while the gay candidate in Maine’s gubernatorial race narrowly lost his chance to make history. Nationally, gay-rights...

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Idaho’s gay and lesbian activists claim progress on bill

BOISE, Idaho (AP) – Idaho’s gay and lesbian activists lined up 22 hours of testimony in their effort to have anti-discrimination laws amended to include them in housing and employment protections. And...

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The latest developments on religious objection laws

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has urged lawmakers to send a bill to his desk by the end of the week to clarify the intent of a new religious objections law that critics fear could allow...

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Arkansas cities push against laws deemed anti-gay

Little Rock, Ark. (AP) – After the state faced widespread backlash over measures critics cast as anti-gay, several Arkansas cities worried about the economic fallout are challenging the new laws by...

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Leesburg, Greenacres leaders pass anti-discrimination laws within their cities

Florida cities Leesburg and Greenacres have passed LGBT civil rights ordinances for their communities expanding the number of towns with laws protecting sexual orientation to eleven. Leesburg City...

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Bill proposed to Florida House would end conversion therapy in minors

Florida House Representative David Richardson (Miami Beach-D) filed HB137, a bill that would prohibit gay conversion therapy for minors. The proposed bill would prevent “persons who are licensed to...

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Uprisings: October 8 – 21

It shouldn’t be a political banner for the requisite public waving in front of a coming election – a disturbed gunman follows in the footsteps of all of all of the disturbed gunmen before him and...

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Mormon leader criticizes Kim Davis on her handling of license issue

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – The Mormon Church staked a deeper claim to middle ground in American society, advocating for compromises between protecting religious liberties and prohibiting discrimination, and...

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Portugal’s president blocks laws on same-sex adoption, abortion

LISBON, Portugal (AP) – Portugal’s president has vetoed bills recently passed by Parliament that granted full adoption rights to same-sex couples and removed abortion restrictions. President Anibal...

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Florida Senate approves Pastor Protection Act

The anti-gay and unnecessary Pastor Protection Act is headed to Governor Rick Scott. Florida’s Senate voted in favor of  HB43 23-15 on March 3, as the end of the 2016 legislative session nears. Sen....

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North Carolina bathroom law could be settled in Virginia

Richmond (AP) – The fate of North Carolina’s new law aimed at restricting restroom use by transgender people could be determined in Virginia, where a school board has ordered a teenager to stay out of...

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Uprisings: The gloves are off

Nobody expects the presidential politics of stuffy Red-Rover games in the dank hue of late-night union halls under the auspices of a “caucus” to be absolutely civil, just as nobody expects the debate...

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Ted Cruz supports North Carolina trans bathroom restrictions

WASHINGTON (AP) – Texas Sen. Ted Cruz says he supports the ability of North Carolina lawmakers to pass a law restricting bathroom access for gay and transgender people. Cruz said April 14 during taping...

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New law in Hawaii means insurance companies can’t discriminate against...

Honolulu (AP) – Insurance companies would not be allowed to discriminate against transgender patients under a bill passed by the Hawaii Legislature. The bill passed April 26 by the House of...

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Badges of Courage: Local authorities across Central Florida and Tampa Bay aim...

The Orlando Police Department Headquarters is tucked away inconspicuously on the Amway side of I-4. The “Ultimate Improvement Project” construction blocks most of the adjacent parking, leaving the...

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North Carolina GOP eases into session before facing Democratic governor

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)- North Carolina Republican legislators handed out chairmen’s gavels and filed bills on Wednesday, easing into a new work year that is likely to feature clashes with the state’s...

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Brazil Supreme Court criminalizes homophobia, transphobia

The majority of the Brazilian Supreme Court on May 28 voted to equate homophobia and transphobia to the crime of racism. The voting has not ended and will continue on June 5, but May 28’s historic...

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Uprisings: October 8 – 21

It shouldn’t be a political banner for the requisite public waving in front of a coming election – a disturbed gunman follows in the footsteps of all of all of the disturbed gunmen before him and...

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