News :: National

Former Boys Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, left, rests her head on her son and current Boy Scout Cruz Burns.

Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Openly Gay Boys

By David Crary and Nomaan Merchant | May 23
The Boy Scouts of America’s National Council has voted to ease a long-standing ban and allow openly gay boys to be accepted as Scouts.

Divya Raghavan

Are College Aid Forms Becoming More Gay Friendly?

By Brandon Ballenger | Thursday May 23, 2013
The 2014-2015 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, best known by its acronym FAFSA, will collect income and other information from a dependent student’s legal parents regardless of their marital status or gender.
Kaitlyn Hunt

Defense Attorney: Charges Not Appropriate in Kaitlyn Hunt Case

By Jason Parsely | Thursday May 23, 2013
Kaitlyn Hunt, the Florida teenager who stands accused of felonious abuse stemming from a same-sex relationship, and her attorney held a press conference on Wednesday to address the continued media scrutiny of a case that has made its way around the world.

Vote on Gay Scouts Comes at Emotional Moment

By David Crary and Nomaan Merchant | Thursday May 23, 2013
The Boy Scouts of America’s national leadership will vote Thursday whether to allow openly gay Scouts in its ranks, a critical and emotionally charged moment for one of the nation’s oldest youth organizations and its millions of members.

Peace Corps to Allow Gay Couples to Serve Together

By Sergio N. Candido | Thursday May 23, 2013
While the Defense of Marriage Act still defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman for federal purposes, the Peace Corps announced it would extend benefits to gay couples to allow them to serve as volunteers together overseas.

Christian Groups Urge Boy Scouts to Keep Anti-Gay Ban

By Jason St. Amand | Wednesday May 22, 2013
Nearly 50 leaders of Christian groups signed a joint letter that urges the Boy Scouts of America to keep its anti-gay policy, which bars openly gay scouts, volunteers and leaders from joining the organization.

Complaint Accuses Exxon Mobil of Anti-Gay Bias

By David Crary | Wednesday May 22, 2013
One after another, major U.S. corporations have updated anti-discrimination policies to protect gay, lesbian and transgender workers, drawing plaudits from gay-rights groups. There’s one prominent exception: Exxon Mobil Corp.

White House to Honor Gay Officials on Harvey Milk Day

By Ryan Dixon | Wednesday May 22, 2013
The White House has released the list of the 10 openly gay officials it plans to honor on May 22 as "Harvey Milk Champions of Change."
Charlie Rogers

Omaha Gay-Rights Group Seeks Return of Donations

Wednesday May 22, 2013
An Omaha gay-rights group is seeking the return of some $1,800 donated to a woman convicted of lying about being attacked by masked men who carved anti-gay slurs into her skin.
Boy Scouts hold signs at the "Save Our Scouts" Prayer Vigil and Rally.

Boy Scout Leaders to Vote on Lifting Gay Ban

Wednesday May 22, 2013
The Boy Scouts of America will convene a two-day meeting of 1,400 local leaders to consider changing its long-standing ban openly gay boys belonging to the scouting movement.
Vice President Joe Biden

Biden: Jewish Leaders Drove Gay Marriage Changes

By Josh Lederman | Wednesday May 22, 2013
Vice President Joe Biden is praising Jewish leaders for helping change American attitudes about gay marriage and other issues.