Mary Ritchie, a Massachusetts State Police trooper, has been married for almost five years and has two children. But when she files her federal income tax return, she's not allowed to check the "married filing jointly" box. That's because Ritchie and her spouse, Kathleen Bush, are a gay couple, and the federal Defense of Marriage Act makes them ineligible to file joint tax returns. Now Ritchie, Bush and more than a dozen others are suing the federal government, claiming the act discriminates against gay couples and is unconstitutional because it denies them access to federal benefits that other married couples receive, such as pensions and health insurance. Plaintiffs also include Dean Hara, the widower of former U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds, the first openly gay member of the House of Representatives. ...more

March 3, 2009

A new poll shows that a majority of Floridians favor allowing same-sex couples to adopt children but don't favor gay marriage or civil unions. The poll also found support for the Bright Futures scholarship program and for a $1 boost in the cigarette tax. ...more

January 23, 2009

In 1996, as a freshman member of the House of Representatives, I wrote the Defense of Marriage Act, better known by its shorthand acronym, DOMA, than its legal title. ...more

January 11, 2009

The sponsors of Proposition 8 asked the California Supreme Court on Friday to nullify the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who exchanged vows before voters approved the ballot initiative that outlawed gay unions. ...more

December 19, 2008

Miami Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman ruled today that there was no rational basis for prohibiting gays from adopting children. The ruling will allow 47-year-old Martin Gill to adopt two young brothers he has cared for as foster children since 2004. ...more

November 25, 2008

The marijuana reform movement won two prized victories Tuesday, with Massachusetts voters decriminalizing possession of small amounts of the drug and Michigan joining 12 other states in allowing use of pot for medical purposes. Key ballot measures elsewhere addressed same-sex marriage and abortion. ...more

November 5, 2008

Gay couples from across California and the nation are feverishly tying the knot ahead of Election Day to avoid missing out if voters approve a ballot initiative aimed at banning same-sex marriage. ...more

October 14, 2008

Connecticut's Supreme Court ruled Friday that gay couples have the right to marry, making the state the third behind Massachusetts and California to legalize such unions through the courts. ...more

October 10, 2008

Joy Spring and Carla Barbano spent the day before their wedding the way many brides do: relaxing and primping at a spa. ...more

August 1, 2008

Cuba's gay community celebrated unprecedented openness - and political alliances - with a government-backed campaign against homophobia Saturday. ...more

May 18, 2008