The ThinkProgress team is off this week, but the Pride is here to keep you updated on LGBT stories until we resume our full posting schedule after New Year’s.
- Wisconsin domestic partnerships ruled constitutional. A Wisconsin appeals court has ruled that the state’s same-sex domestic partnership law does not violate the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, upholding a lower court’s decision.
- Transgender prisoner awarded legal fees in fight for surgery. U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf has approved a request for Massachusetts to reimburse the lawyers of transgender inmate Michelle Kosilek $724,000 for fighting for her right to doctor-prescribed gender-reassignment surgery. (Catch up on Kosilek’s story here.)
- Fort Bragg Military Spouses group still refuses to accept lesbian wife. A meeting with the leadership of Fort Bragg proved to serve as only another delay tactic to prevent Ashley Broadway from participating in the Officers’ Spouses group because her spouse is of the same-sex. (See our past coverage here and here.)
- Anti-trans Miss USA contestant owes $5 million for defamation. In June, Miss Pennsylvania USA, Sheena Monnin, gave up her crown in protest that transgender contestants were allowed to participate in the Miss USA pageant. Afterwards, she claimed the contest was rigged, so Donald Trump sued her for defamation. An arbitrator has ruled that she must pay $5 million for her remarks.
- A senior Roman Catholic Bishop in the UK will use his Christmas sermon to compare marriage equality advocates to Hitler and Stalin.
- The Ninth Circuit has ruled that San Diego is not violating the law by offering low-cost rental space to the Boy Scouts of America, despite the organization’s discriminatory policies against gays and atheists.
- Virginia Commonwealth University is standing by the firing of volleyball coach James Finley, though he claims it was only because he is gay.
- “Kate Kane,” the lesbian blogger at Patrick Henry College, plans to come out next year to prove to the college’s founder, Michael Farris, that there really are gay students there.
- In Illinois, 250 religious leaders have come out in support of marriage equality.
- The Dallas City Council may bring forth two LGBT equality resolutions, but the mayor won’t support them.
- A North Carolina business that faced retribution for opposing the state’s constitutional ban on recognizing same-sex unions now says business is booming.
- Maggie Gallagher’s new “Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund” will help defend Jewish ex-gay ministry JONAH against the lawsuit from previous clients.
- Mark Regnerus, author of the fraudulent study attacking same-sex parenting, now claims a connection between watching pornography and supporting marriage equality.
- An Australian study found that lesbians are more likely than straight women to be depressed and drink to excess because of family rejection during the coming out process.
- Oregon Health & Science University is extending transgender health benefits to employees.
- A Virginia church claims it can cure homosexuality through equine therapy — yes, stroking horses.
- Boca Raton City Council unanimously appointed 17-year-old Tyler Morris to the city’s community relations board for the openly gay teen’s advocacy for a nondiscrimination provision.
- An Italian judge has ruled that calling someone “pro-gay” can be considered defamation.
- The 1984 Oscar-winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk has been designated to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
- Good Morning America weather anchor Sam Champion married his partner Rubem Robierb on Friday. (Watch when he came out and announced his engagement in October.)
- The Ali Forney Center is highlight the stories of LGBT homeless youth this month. Watch Jackson’s story:
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Katie Herzig
