A gay U.S. Army veteran in Pasadena has filed a suit against the federal government for denying military benefits to her wife. In her suit, Cooper-Harris says that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is still denying benefits to same-sex couples that it offers to heterosexual couples in violation of her constitutional rights, according to City News Service. more ›

America's favorite ginger Conan O'Brien will personally perform a same-sex wedding during tonight's show on TBS. Airing from NYC, the event marks the first same-sex wedding on late night television. Please note: The wedding is not a comedy bit. It's a "real, legally binding, same-sex marriage between our show's costume designer, Scott Cronick, and his partner, David Gorshein," explains Conan during last night's mention of the upcoming nuptials. more ›

A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel of judges ruled today that enforcement of Prop 8, which banned gay marriage in California, will continue until at least December. Federal District Judge Vaughn Walker set Prop 8 to expire on Wednesday, meaning same sex marriages could be performed beginning at 5 p.m. if the higher court did not block them. And indeed, they did step in, but agreeing to quickly push the case through the next step, which is a technical one. more ›

At a march and rally yesterday, U.S. Representative Linda Sanchez announced that she would be authoring legislation to provide equal Social Security benefits for same-sex couples. more ›

The next big date in all things Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, will be January 11th, 2010. In this morning's hearing about the case, backers of Prop 8 desired a 2010 summer date, but proponents of striking the ban down wanted it much earlier. U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker denied three gay rights group the ability to join the lawsuit, as well as a anti-gay marriage group's request, too. However, he did allow the City of San Francisco to join, but only to assess the impacts to local governments, explained the Associated Press. Expert witnesses will be designated by October 2nd with discovery concluding on November 30th. The pretrial conference will be on December 16th followed by the designation of rebuttal expert witnesses on December 31st, said the Mercury News. more ›

It's just after 10 a.m. and case against the unconstitutionality of Prop 8, which banned gay marriage in California, is being heard for the second time in a federal district court in San Francisco. Before the first hearing in July, Judge Vaughn R. Walker said "given that serious questions are raised in these proceedings ... the court is inclined to proceed directly and expeditiously to the merits of plaintiffs' claims. ... The just, speedy and inexpensive determination of these issues would appear to call for proceeding promptly to trial.” more ›

As this week marked the bittersweet one-year anniversary of legal gay marriage in California, two political leaders made big moves in the advancement of gay rights. In California, Governor Schwarzenegger on Tuesday decided not to defend the constitutionality of Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage, in a federal court case. Disappointing traditional marriage advocates, he said it will be up to the courts to decide because the case "presents important constitutional questions that require and warrant judicial determination." more ›

Is New England the new California? New Hampshire became the sixth state, the fifth in New England, to legalize gay marriage today. After months of back and forth revisions, the legislature approved it this morning following by Governor John Lynch approval this afternoon when he signed it into law. more ›

About 3,000 people descended upon on Fresno Saturday for the Meet in the Middle 4 Equality to protest Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California and was upheld by the state Supreme Court last week. First, a group marched 14.5-miles from Selma to Fresno's city hall followed by a rally with speakers including Charlize Theron, T.R. Knight, Eric McCormack, Cleve Jones, Rick Jacobs, Robin McGehee and Robin Tyler. more ›

Hundreds of people marched over 14 miles from Selma to Fresno this morning kicking off the Meet in the Middle 4 Equality rally in downtown Fresno. Police were expecting 3,000 to 5,000 people to descend upon the city's city hall, but the number of people who have shown up is currently unknown. Notable names attending to speak include Charlize Theron, Eric McCormick from Will and Grace and T.R. Knight from Grey's Anatomy. more ›

Last night's large Day of Decision protest and march went peacefully through nearly six and half miles of West Hollywood and Los Angeles streets. There was lots of frustration, but also chants of encouragement, statements written in yellow chalk on the sidewalks and streets and people to meet. more ›

In an e-mail yesterday from Protect Marriage, the official Yes on Prop 8 group, they are not too worried concerned about the 18,000 gay couples whose were marriages untouched in the state Supreme Court's ruling. Why? Cause, apparently, a lot of gays will divorce, they say: "if California goes as Massachusetts did after legalizing gay marriage, a substantial portion of the still-recognized gay marriages will be dissolved by divorce within a few years." Jeeezzz. more ›

Two top attorneys who argued Bush v. Gore on opposite sides have now joined forces to strike down Prop 8 in federal court, filing for a preliminary injunction against same-sex marriage ban until the case is resolved, which would immediately reinstate the right for all Californians to marry. Theodore B. Olson and David will officially announce their case tomorrow morning in downtown, according to the American Foundation for Equal Rights. more ›

One of the first protests of many in the Los Angeles area today took place at the East Los Angeles Recorder Office on Cesar Chavez Avenue. Around 100 people, who would have preferred to be celebrating, were prepared with Repeal Prop 8 in 2010 signs. They chanted in front of news cameras while a few couples waited in line to get marriage proposals, an exercise in purposeful futility. After being denied, the couples refused to leave saying they would wait until gay marriage is legal in California. Eventually, they left shortly after 3 p.m. more ›

Speaking from Sacramento today as he works with legislators on our failed state budget (they want to take money away from cities), gay marriage supporter and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villariagosa addressed today's Prop 8 ruling in a statement. more ›

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has always been a supporter of gay marriage, but his duty is to uphold today's ruling. However, he believes that someday gay couples will get the right to marry in California. Here's what he said in a statement today: "While I believe that one day either the people or courts will recognize gay marriage, as governor of California I will uphold the decision of the California Supreme Court. Regarding the 18,000 marriages that took place prior to Proposition 8's passage, the court made the right decision in keeping them intact. I also want to encourage all those responding to today's court decision to do so peacefully and lawfully.'' more ›

Stop8.org founder and contributor to LAist's sister site to the north, SFist, Matt Baume put together this nice video. To him, it's not all that bad... here's to continuing the positive conversation for ultimate change. more ›

After this morning's ruling that gay marriage will remain illegal in California, things outside the California Supreme Court in San Francisco started to get a little out of hand. Locally, the LAPD announced logistics to the media about tonight's permitted protest in Hollywood. They advised reporters of media staging areas, the route and what to do if the march is declared as an unlawful assembly. more ›

A long awaited decision announced at 10 a.m. on Prop 8 and 18,000 already-married couples proved mostly a loss for the gay community. In a 6-1 vote, the California Supreme Court ruled that Prop 8 was indeed an amendment and therefore remains law, meaning gay marriage in the state is illegal. However, as expected by many, the 18,000 couples who married during the Rainbow Window last year will remain legally married (the full ruling is embedded below). more ›

At 10 a.m., the California Supreme Court will announce their decision on Prop 8, a ballot initiative that banned gay marriage last November. Two questions will be answered: will Prop 8 be upheld or struck down and if the former, what is the fate of the 18,000 couples already married in the "Rainbow Window," between at three outcomes more ›

A state senate bill that would allow gay couples to enter into a domestic partnership is making its way through the Nevada legislature. After passing through the Senate, the state's Assembly followed suit, but only after some amendments, last Friday. It now goes back to the Senate for approval, but even if passed, Gov. Jim Gibbons has already said he would use his vetoing power. Meanwhile, back in California, the state Supreme Court still deliberates over Prop 8 as the decision deadline approaches. Rulings are are only announced on Thursdays and Mondays with a advance notice the day preceding. Last Friday, an erroneous rumor began on Twitter saying a decision had been made. more ›

Miss California Carrie Prejean, 21, has been quite the hot topic lately. She was practically an unknown until she said this about gay marriage: "I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised." more ›

Just a quick update from this morning. After the Maine legislature approved gay marriage, Governor John Baldacci, who was thought to be undecided on the issue, signed the bill into law. "I have read many of the notes and letters sent to my office, and I have weighed my decision carefully," he said in a statement. "I did not come to this decision lightly or in haste." Meanwhile, the California Supreme Court this morning posted their notice for a ruling tomorrow, but it is not Prop 8, therefore, the wait continues. more ›

Today the state of Maine Legislature gave their approval of gay marriage. Although there were enough votes to pass the measure, there were not enough to override the "undecided" Gov. John Baldacci, who has 10 days to take action on the bill, if he chooses to veto. However, if he signs it into law, Maine would join Massachusetts, Iowa, Connecticut and Vermont. more ›

Proposition 8 proponents filed a lawsuit today seeking to nullify 18,000 gay marriages that took place between June and November this year. The brief filed with the court was co-written by Pepperdine's law school dean Kenneth Star, who also was the former independent counsel that investigated President Bill Clinton. "Proposition 8's brevity is matched by its clarity. There are no conditional clauses, exceptions, exemptions or exclusions," it read. more ›

Marjorie Christoffersen, who was the most popular person at the 77-year-old restaurant, reportedly resigned Saturday after coming under fire for a $100 donation to support banning gay marriage in Califiornia. For her, she was going with what her Mormon leaders were saying even though her restaurant had been a gay friendly hang for years. El Coyote became one of the centerpieces of the boycott debate over where the line should be drawn on employee/management donations political causes. A protest was held outside the restaurant (see photos here) and many vowed never to eat thre again. more ›

The California Supreme Court agreed yesterday to consider Prop 8 opponents' arguments on the validity of the proposition that banned gay marriage in California on November 4th (court motion in PDF here). However, the justices denied a stay that would have let county clerks resume issuing marriage license to gay couples until the case finished. more ›

When it was found that the CEO of Cinemark Theatres donated $9,999 to support Prop 8, talks of boycotting Sundance came up because the only movie theatre used in Park City, Utah is one owned by the company. But Sundance isn't budging and many opponents of Prop 8 agree. "As a nonprofit organization devoted to supporting artists, we very much appreciate and are sensitive to the larger issue at hand and respect the rights of individuals to express themselves," Sundance said in a statement via Variety. "It is our hope that people will embrace the festival for its commitment to diversity, not avoid it." more ›

It seems Saturday's National Prop 8 protest in all 50 states was a tipping point. Not the same tipping point that beget large passionate protests and rallies on a daily basis outside the Mormon Temple in Westwood, but the type of tipping point where people are done protesting and now starting to put the pieces back together, plan for the next move and wait (but yes, protests are still going to happen no matter what). more ›

“People have a right to participate in the electoral process without fear of intimidation or harassment,” Meg Waters of the Yes On 8 headquarters in Orange County told WeHo News in an investigation of the campaign's claim that their civil rights were violated. To that, Executive director of UCLA’s Williams Institute, Harvard-educated attorney Brad Sears said "They do like to play the victim. The right to participate without fear is not a right that’s recognized by any state constitution, and certainly not in the United States’ Constitution. The right to vote is a recognized right, but it isn’t people who voted being targeted, but those who gave money.” Both the FBI and US District Attorney's Office said they have received no reports about said civil rights violations. more ›