Congress is preparing to vote on a bill that would extend benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees after passage in committees from both houses. Wisconsin Representative Tammy Baldwin's Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009 (DPBO) is quickly wending its way through Capitol Hill.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has backed down from threats that it was prepared to walk away from providing thousands of people in the District of Columbia with social services if lawmakers approve a gay marriage bill. The bill received its second and final approval from city leaders on Tuesday, but Congressional approval is still needed before the bill becomes law.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said this week that his government is working to secure marriage-like rights for gay and lesbian couples throughout Europe, especially in eastern Europe, the AFP reported.

Brown spoke to gay glossy 'Attitude' about the plan.

New York Governor David Paterson signed an executive order Wednesday protecting transgender state employees from workplace discrimination.

Flanked by gay rights activists, Paterson signed the order at a press event at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in Greenwich Village.

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the nation's most vociferous opponent of gay marriage, has vowed to overturn a gay marriage bill approved Tuesday by District of Columbia lawmakers.

In an 11 to 2 vote, city leaders agreed to approve Council member David Catania's gay marriage bill. Catania, an Independent, is one of two openly gay members on the council.

Lawmakers in the District of Columbia have approved a gay marriage bill.

Passage of Council member David Catania's gay marriage bill came as little surprise. Today's vote mirrored a December 1 first reading of the bill where only two members disagreed with its passage: Yvette Alexander and Marion Barry, the District's former mayor. The remaining 11 members voted in favor of the...]]>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NY+Governor+Paterson+To+Protect+Transgender+State+Employees-a01612091043

New York Governor David Paterson is expected to sign an executive order protecting transgender state employees from discrimination on Wednesday.

A group with direct knowledge of the governor's plans, the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF), called the order an important step.

Pope Benedict says he is opposed to “unjust discrimination” against gay men and lesbians.

In a statement read Thursday – Human Rights Day – at the United Nations, a representative of the Holy Father told a human rights panel that he was opposed to “violations of human rights against homosexual persons.”