A Texas court recently nullified the marriage of a transgendered woman and thus denied her $600,000 in death benefits in the bizarre case surrounding a deceased firefighter who was allegedly tricked into marrying a man before his death.

The District Court of Wharton County last week upheld the 2010 ruling stating that deceased firefighter Capt. Thomas Araguz "was not married on July 4, 2010, the date of his death." The summary judgment continues, "It is further declared that any purported marriage between the decedent and Nikki Araguz prior to decedent's death was void as a matter of law."

The decision was made based on the fact that Nikki Araguz was born Justin Purdue, and the state of Texas does not allow same-sex couples to lawfully wed. more >>

On Tuesday, President Obama declared June as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) month. Obama has issued similar proclamations in prior years by issuing the proclamation each year he has been in office.

Obama wasn’t the first president to issue a proclamation recognizing the LGBT community. Former President Bill Clinton issued the first one in June of 1999.

The proclamation reads in part, “The story of America’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union. It is a story about the struggle to realize the great American promise that all people can live with dignity and fairness under the law.” more >>

A couple of months ago, I posted a question about an ethical dilemma for a minister. When it comes to the subject of gender, he’s a complementarian, and his wife is an egalitarian. He wants to know how their disagreement on this issue shapes whether he should serve as pastor. You gave your thoughts on the issue, and here are mine.

While I mulled over your question, I wanted to check myself for any ideological filters that might skew my answer. So I imagined an alternative universe in which I am an egalitarian, convinced that the Scripture is gender-neutral on the matter of who should serve as a pastor. In this scenario, your wife is the minister, and you’re a complementarian pastor’s husband. What would I say to her?

Of course, in this universe, I’m a convinced complementarian. I believe the Bible teaches both the equality of the sexes and distinct aspects for the two in some aspects of church and home leadership. My answer, I think, in both situations would be the same. more >>

According to a new study, U.S. adults estimate that 25 percent of Americans are gay or lesbian.

The study, conducted by Gallup from May 5 to 8 this year, found that 52 percent of Americans estimate that at least one in five Americans are gay or lesbian.

When the participants were asked what percentage of Americans today they believe are gay or lesbian, both men and women believe that about 25 percent are homosexual. And those with lower incomes, those less educated, women and young adults give the highest estimate. more >>

Do young people care about traditional marriage?

Focus on the Family CEO Jim Daly recently conceded to World Magazine that evangelicals are losing the fight for traditional marriage in the polls with young Americans in their 20s and 30s. Gay rights advocates who have sponsored some of those polls agree. However, young conservatives are asking other adults not to count them out of the national debate on conservative values.

Young Republican National Federation Chairwoman Lisa Stickan says membership in their group is growing nationwide ahead of the 2012 election and states that within the YRNF, there is a "groundswell" of support for traditional marriage. more >>

Governor Bill Haslam signed into law the Equal Access to Intrastate Commerce Act on Monday, reversing an ordinance passed by the Nashville/Davidson County Metro Council on April 5 of this year requiring contractors with the city to agree to follow the government’s rules barring discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgendered people.

The Haslam administration recently completed their first legislative session in the governor’s first term. A former mayor of Knoxville, Tenn., and executive with Pilot Oil Corporation, his family’s business, Haslam initially expressed concerns about telling local governments what to do.

In a statement issued by Haslam’s spokesman, David Smith said, “Ultimately, the governor felt the Metro ordinance went farther than federal law in regulating business policies.” more >>