Is it a Staph infection?

The legal system giveth and the legal system taketh away. But it's the place where we've been fighting and winning battles.

Articles

Big win in Maine
Non-discrimination laws now enacted in all New England states

Tenofovir as a party drug?
New trend among HIV-negative men worries health officials

A shocking 'diagnosis' in Florida
Florida patient given literature calling homosexuality “sinful” at doctor’s Ofoice

Bills might limit LGBT healthcare
Do healthcare workers have the right to refuse to treat LGBT patients?

Police chief accused of denying gay man CPR
The American Civil Liberties Union sued on behalf of his mother.

A win for NYC's transgenders
New York City is now at the forefront of efforts to redefine gender.

A Shocking Story
When a healthcare provider says 'no' to treating a gay patient...

New Jersey approves civil unions
Move isn't called 'marriage' but allows many legal protections for gay couples

Gay marriage in New York?
Gov. Eliot Spitzer will introduce a bill in the coming weeks to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.

New Hampshire approves civil unions
State joins New Jersey, Vermont and Connecticut in approving civil unions for gay couples.

Gay marriage in California?
The state assembly has voted to allow gay couples to marry in California.

Gay couple faces legal tragedy
Gay man's family refuses his partner of 25 years visitation rights during his illness.

Maryland says 'no' to gay marriage
Gay rights leaders still call right to marry 'inevitable' in Maryland...

Anti-gay measure defeated in Oregon
Oregonians not interested in repealing anti-discrimination laws

Frank on ENDA: "My country doesn't hate me"
The House Education and Labor Committee approved historic legislation to end workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation...

New Jersey gets tough on hate crimes
The bill historically unequivocally includes transgender people.

Signing On The Dotted Line…
Getting your legal paperwork in order can help guide your loved ones to carry out your wishes

Activists Smuggle AIDS Drugs into Mexico
Millions of dollars worth of antiretroviral medication is smuggled illegally across the U.S.-Mexico border each year. The "mercy smugglers" view their actions as the only effective way to bring Mexicans with HIV and AIDS life-saving drugs.

Ruling Keeps Transgender Child Away from Parents
A juvenile court on September 12th rebuffed the appeal of parents who fought to bring their transgender child home from protective custody.

Judge: Don’t Ban Gay-Positive Books for Kids
A federal judge in Wichita Falls, Texas struck down a local ordinance that required the relocation of two gay-positive children’s books from the children’s section to the adult section of city’s public library.

Gag Order Issued in Transgender Child Custody Case
The parents fighting for the release of their transgender child from protective custody were ordered by a juvenile court judge to keep quiet about the case.

Man Blames Surname for His Shooting of Gay Bar Patrons
After his arrest, Ronald Edward Gay cited his last name as an impetus for the shooting, which killed one and wounded six others.

Union of Slain Gay Man Calls on Congress to Pass Hate Crimes Legislation
The 740,000-strong Communications Workers of America (CWA) union called on Congress to pass pending hates crimes legislation that covers acts of violence based on sexual orientation, gender or disability.

Christian Coalition Targets Gays and Lesbians in Miami
In a plot to strip gays and lesbians of protection under local law, the anti-gay group put an "unconscionable" spin on the Matthew Shepard murder.

Transsexual Student Wins Court's Support
A judge has ruled that a school may not prohibit a biological male who gender identifies as female from wearing girls clothes in school.

Bringing Up Baby
Are you considering adoption?

Bill Would Target Illegal Net Pharmacies
Lawmakers introduced a bill in the US Senate that would pose tough penalties on Internet pharmacies that illegally sell prescription drugs to US consumers.

Employees Who Need A Day Off Feign Illness
Have you ever rolled out of bed and decided that going to work just wasn’t in the day’s plans? You're not alone.

Boy Scouts Official Comes Out, Gets Canned
A high-ranking Boys Scouts official who oversaw 249 Scout units along the central coast of California was fired for disclosing he was gay.

Man Arrested for Smuggling Steroids Is A Real Pill
A man was arrested at San Francisco International Airport for allegedly taping 14,000 steroid pills to his body in an attempt to smuggle them through customs.

New Site Offers Support to Gays and Lesbians Who Adopt
Considering adoption, or have you adopted already?

Christian Coalition Puts Anti-Gay Measure on Miami Ballot
The referendum, if passed, will strip Miami-Dade county of the part of its Human Rights Ordinance that bars discrimination against gays and lesbians.

California School Sued for Banning Gay Books
"We all know why these books have been banned," said Martha Matthews, attorney for the Southern California chapter of the ACLU.

TV Movie Chronicles Lesbian Custody Battle
Based on a true story, Lifetime is airing a television movie, starring Brooke Shields, that recounts a lesbian's struggle for custody of her daughter.

BOOK REVIEW: Planning is Key to Financial Health
Gays and lesbians -- who lack the legal protection married heterosexuals enjoy -- must plan ahead or risk losing control over their financial and physical health.

Signatures on Anti-Gay Miami Petition "Show Fraud"
An ongoing review of the signatures that appear on an anti-gay petition uncovered "blatant evidence of fraud" and prompted an investigation by local law enforcement.

Celebrate National Freedom to Marry Day
Always a bridesmaid but never a bride? Not for long.

Hospital Shutout on Queer As Folk
This weeks episode of Queer as Folk tells a familiar tale of how invisible LGBT families can be in hospitals, courts and other institutions.

Anti-Violence Advocates Contest FBI Hate Crime Stats
Anti-violence advocates say there were 38 percent more anti-gay hate crimes in 1999 than the FBI reported.

BOOK REVIEW: The Lowdown on Lobbying
"There is no mystery or awe to the federal legislative process."

America’s Gay Sex Explosion
It's gay-okay in the U.S.A.

Conference to Address Transgender Issues
GenderPAC, a national advocacy organization for transgender equality, announced it will hold its first annual National Conference on Gender.

Let Us Decide: Healthcare Proxies and Living Wills
Here's some information that helps define what healthcare proxies and living wills are and how they may help your family. Take the quiz at the end!

BOOK REVIEW: Somebody's Watching Me
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

Bush Budget Puts AIDS Services in Jeopardy
President George W. Bush's budget does not include any increased funding for the Ryan White CARE Act.

Bush Appoints Gay Republican as AIDS Czar
Evertz, a Roman Catholic and the head of the Wisconsin Log Cabin Republicans, will become President Bush’s first gay appointee.

Anti-LGBT Violence in U.S. Up 8 Percent
In all, 2,151 separate incidents were reported in 2000, up from 1,992 incidents the previous year.

Homophobia Causes Gay Youth to "Shut Down"
Many gays and lesbians must "sit out" adolescence because they do not feel comfortable or safe enough to be themselves.

Spielberg Says Bye-Bye to Boy Scouts
The Oscar-winning director called the Scouts’ ban on openly gay members "a real shame."

Health Messages Fail to Reach Male Sex Workers
It is difficult to target male sex workers with safer-sex messages and health services, because many of them work independent of brothels or parlors.

Most Parents Accept Lesbians and Gays, Survey Says
Parents who think America’s increasing acceptance of gay people is a good thing outnumber parents who don’t, two-to-one.

Brazil to Mandate Safer-Sex Messages in Porno Flicks
The Brazilian government is poised to pass a law that would require all pornographic film companies to include a public service announcement to promote condom use for sexual intercourse.

Picking the Right Health Insurance
Don't wait for an illness or accident to choose a health insurance plan.

New Site Educates School Staff about LGB Health Issues
The American Psychological Association launched a new Web site to help educate school counselors, nurses, social workers and psychologists about the health needs -- and risks -- of LGB youth.

Medical Marijuana is Illegal, Rules U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to advocates of medical marijuana on May 14, ruling that ill patients are no exception to a federal law that makes marijuana illegal.

BOOK REVIEW: It Takes A Village
Chances are, you’ve heard the saying: "It takes a village to raise a child." And nowhere is this adage more evident than in our own community.

Canada to License Growers of Medical Marijuana
The Canadian government is poised to pass legislation that would allow it to license marijuana growers by the end of July.

Report Highlights Worldwide Violence Against LGBT People
Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders throughout the world are regularly victimized by communities and governments who view them as "threatening [to] social order."

NY AIDS Agency Sues Landlord Over Eviction
The Hispanic AIDS Forum claims its former landlord refused to renew the agency's lease because of prejudice against its transgender clients.

Indian Police Jail HIV Prevention Workers
Police in India raided the offices of two HIV prevention organizations on July 7, confiscating safer-sex materials and arresting staff members, according to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

Generic Prozac Coming Soon
On August 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave several drug makers the go-ahead to market generic forms of the popular antidepressant, Prozac.

BOOK REVIEW: Private Lives, Public Conflicts: The Gay Rights Battle in the U.S.
What’s the single most effective way to secure gay rights in America? Here's a hint: it's not marches, demonstrations or cultural activities.

High School Seniors Support Gay Rights
"On average, the class of 2001 holds liberal, pro-gay opinions. They are much more liberal on gay matters than adults."

Fund Established for LG Survivors of Terrorist Attacks
More than $140,000 was donated to the September 11 Gay and Lesbian Family Fund, the Empire State Pride Agenda and the Stonewall Community Foundation announced on September 13.

Gay Adoption Supported by Pediatric Group
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a new policy statement in support of gay and lesbian adoption rights on February 4, 2002.