Judge rules same-sex couple must be repaid after denial of benefits
A judge ruled Wednesday an assistant federal public defender’s spouse must be compensated for health care benefits withheld since July 2008 because the couple are gay. Stephen Reinhardt, a member of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, also reminded the bureaucracy that he decreed nine months ago in the same case that withholding benefits based on sexual orientation violates the U.S. Constitution’s due process guarantee and the circuit’s employment dispute resolution plan for federal public defenders and their staffs. In that Feb. 2 order, Reinhardt directed the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to process Assistant Federal Defender Brad Levenson&

Human Rights Campaign Condemns Brutal Slaying of Gay Teen in Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today condemned the brutal murder of Jorge Steven López, 19, in Cayey, Puerto Rico.  López’s body was discovered on an isolated road, dismembered and burned, last Friday.  Late Monday night, police arrested Juan A. Martinez in connection with the crime.  Puerto Rican media outlets report Martinez confessed to killing López after discovering his female gender presentation did not match his male sex, and that Martínez plans to use a “gay panic/trans panic” defense in court.

Why Gay Adoption Matters in the Florida Governor’s Race
Florida is one of two states that have instituted bans on adoption for LGBT families, sharing the dubious honor with Arkansas. Thankfully, there’s movement in Florida to overturn this out-dated law that not only fosters homophobia, but punishes children by keeping them away from healthy families. First a judge last year in Miami ruled that the ban on gay adoption was illegal. Then came word this week that a candidate for governor in Florida, Alex Sink, supports overturn

New Gay Owned and Operated Cafe Opens in Rhode Island
Looking for a place to grab a quick bite at a good price?  Stop by The Chestnut Street Cafe.   Gay owner/operator Steven Archambault announced the opening of his new cafe, named the Chestnut Street Cafe, located in scenic downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Steven states, ” The downtown area has needed a new place to eat for a very long time.  The downtown area is very eclectic and full of energy, we needed a cafe that could take that energy and turn it into amazing food.” He goes on to explain, “The Chestnut Street Cafe will not only have the cafe classics like rubens, burgers and pancakes, but it will also transcend culinary cafe bord

Gay publications close after bankruptcy
Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) — When Laura Douglas-Brown got to work on Monday, she saw a note on the door. “It is with great regret that we must inform you that effective immediately, the operations of Window Media LLC and United Media LLC have closed down.” It asked employees to return Wednesday, adding, “Please bring boxes and/or containers that will allow you to collect all your personal belongings at one time.” And with that, Douglas-Brown lost her job at Atlanta, Georgia-based Southern Voice — the South’s main newspaper for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities — where she has worked for more than 12 years.