As society opens to more tolerance and understanding toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals, people are talking more about issues that have been shrouded in silence until recently. Transgender individuals are currently forbidden to serve in all branches of the U.S. military. An estimated 15,500 transgender people serve in silence despite the formal […]

California Republicans voted overwhelmingly to grant a charter to the state chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative advocacy group that supports gay rights. The 861-293 outcome surprised some, satisfied others, and annoyed the right wing of the most conservative GOP loyalists. In Washington, the national chapter of Log Cabin Republicans won one and […]

A life coach in New York City brings his personal experiences with coming out to helping his clients understand life changes and putting themselves in harmony with their beliefs. A gay man who has overcome an eating disorder observes that gay men deal with anorexia and bulimia at higher rates than men in general, and […]

A blogger asks friends and strangers alike: “Please do not ask non-straight people when they first knew they were gay or bisexual.” It seems that many straight people consider those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) as “different.” Since many people think of gay individuals as somehow aberrant or out of the […]

A celebrity chef native to Florida throws a big Florida gay wedding party when the decision to lift the gay marriage ban in the state is announced. Chef Art Smith gathered together a few famous chef friends, a drag queen DJ, and an ocean of orchids in Miami Beach for the wedding celebration of a […]

Duke Nelson and his husband Steve Nelson leaped into foster parenting immediately after they decided it was for them. Duke recalls that, “We received our foster care license Friday at noon, and at 3 p.m., they told us we had been selected for an emergency placement. The kids were at our house at 5 p.m.!” […]

Two different stories each reflect the deep courage that comes with being true to one’s own identity, regardless of social pressures to blend in and not alienate potential friends and allies by coming out. From a college swimmer who came out to his team to a country singer in Nashville who defended attacks from a […]

Leaders of two world mega-churches eased away from some harsh former opinions their respective religious organizations have held on LGBT issues. Pope Francis refines the Catholic position, as reflected in a document of the findings of a religious scholarly group he convened in October 2014, called the synod on family affairs. The paper that resulted […]

A religious and LGBT support group gathers in Harlem to discuss the struggles and joys of being gay and faithful. Leading an open public forum titled “Ain’t no Hurt Like a Gospel Hurt,” the group hosts discussion leading toward healing and understanding. While many in the LGBT community have felt shunned and hurt by guilt […]

As the Supreme Court prepares to consider whether states must license and recognize same-sex marriage, the U.S. military takes substantial steps in changing LGBT rights in the military. Due partly to prior Supreme Court decisions, including the Windsor case that struck down parts of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) in 2011, as well as the […]