equal-rights

Adam Weinstein · 05/20/14 01:59PM

Staff Sgt. Tracy Dice Johnson, a National Guard soldier whose wife, Staff Sgt. Donna Johnson, was killed in Afghanistan in 2012, has learned that she will receive survivor benefits from the VA, the first same-sex spouse to be afforded that privilege.

Politician Blows Pastor's Mind With Powerful Defense of Gay Marriage

Neetzan Zimmerman · 09/05/13 08:53AM

It's not every day that you hear a seasoned politician, much less the leader of a major party, publicly defend same-sex marriage against the dogmatic antagonism of a fundamentalist Christian pastor, especially in the United States.

Dying Man's Husband To Be Deported

Remy Stern · 08/21/11 02:09PM

Seven years ago in Massachusetts, Bradford Wells married his long-time partner, Anthony John Makk. They have now been together for 19 years. Sometime this week — by Thursday at the latest — Anthony John Makk will be forcibly removed from the country. He is Australian, and the government has denied him permanent residency. Which it can do, because the federal government doesn't recognize same-sex marriage.

Obama Endorses 'Respect for Marriage' Act

Jim Newell · 07/19/11 02:40PM

White House press secretary Jay Carney broke a bit of news in today's briefing: President Obama publicly supports the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal all three sections of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. Not really shocking, since he's been against DOMA since his earliest days on the campaign trail, but this endorsement of the actual repeal bill will help draw attention to the Senate hearing on it that's scheduled for tomorrow.

Three New York Dems Say They Will Back Gay Marriage

Remy Stern · 06/13/11 03:16PM

Three key New York Democrats in the state Senate reportedly said Monday that they will support marriage equality legislation, an important reversal for Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who is pushing to bring the measure up for a vote by the end of the week.

Massachusetts Voters Reject Female Topless Equality

Hamilton Nolan · 11/03/10 04:03PM

Regarding the other ballot measure you were all wondering about: voters in the 3rd Berkshire District in Pittsfield, Massachusetts rejected a proposal to allow women to walk around topless in public. Their reasoning, though, was odd.