Homosexuality

Support for same-sex civil unions is on the rise with nearly three in five Americans currently favoring it.

A new Pew Research Center survey shows 57 percent of Americans favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into civil unions, or legal agreements that would give them many of the same rights as married couples.

Last year 54 percent favored it, and six years ago only 45 percent supported it. more >>

The House voted Thursday in favor of expanding hate crimes protection to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The bill was attached to the 2010 Defense Authorization bill.

In a 281 to 146 vote, the House approved a measure that conservatives say was sneaked into a must-pass defense policy bill.

"The inclusion of 'thought crimes' legislation in what is otherwise a bipartisan bill for troop funding is an absolute disgrace," said Rep. Tom Price of Georgia, head of the GOP conservative caucus, according to The Associated Press. more >>

Social conservatives are calling upon Christians in California to rally against a bill that – if passed – would pressure schools into honoring the late Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in a major city.

 With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger expected to either sign or veto S.B. 572, the “Harvey Milk Day” bill, by the end of Sunday, conservatives are specifically urging concerned Californians to call into the governor’s office, noting that slain politician is far from the role model that some make him out to be.

“Milk engaged in adult-child homosexual sex and, according to his biographer, ‘had a penchant for young waifs with substance abuse problems,’” noted Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families. more >>

Bishops in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America requested more time to review ministry policy revisions that will formally open the ordination process to practicing homosexuals.

The changes were discussed at a Conference of Bishops meeting that ended Tuesday, but the synod bishops, the presiding bishop and secretary want another opportunity to look over the updated language before it's made permanent.

The ministry policy revisions were voted on in August at the Churchwide Assembly. The ELCA's chief legislative body approved a resolution allowing gays and lesbians in "life-long, monogamous, same gender relationships" to be ordained. more >>

A married gay couple's divorce case has made Texas another battleground for marriage.

Though the couple, who married in Massachusetts, is simply seeking a divorce, their case became politicized with same-sex marriage advocates and opponents entering the debate.

National attention was drawn to what was a personal issue when a Dallas judge ruled last week to agree to hear the divorce case. District Judge Tena Callahan further declared the state marriage amendment and the state's Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. The ban violates the federal constitutional right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, she ruled. more >>