LGBTQ+

A federal appeals court ruled unanimously Thursday that the federal law declaring marriage to be a union solely between a man and a woman discriminates against married same-sex couples by denying them the same benefits afforded to heterosexual couples — a ruling that could set the stage for the Supreme Court to review the issue

A federal appeals court in Boston says the government cannot deny federal benefits to same-sex couples legally married in their home states.

Read more in the Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-court-doma-20120601,0,232338.story

Conservative Andy Pugno is running against Beth Gaines. Their stands are similar, but Pugno says a Bay Area billionaire is trying to buy the election for her.

Read more in the Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pugno-20120531,0,7121324.story

Legislators also move forward bills restricting their acceptance of certain gifts from special interests and regulating the medical marijuana industry.

Read more in the Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-legislature-20120601,0,7241128.story

An appeals court ruled Thursday that the heart of a law that denies a host of federal benefits to gay married couples is unconstitutional.

Read more in the Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/la-naw-doma-053112,0,7656927.story

BOSTON (AP) — A federal appeals court Thursday declared that the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutionally denies federal benefits to married gay couples, a ruling all but certain to wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read more in The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/05/31/us/ap-us-gay-marriage-federal-benefits.html?_r=1&hp

Dharun Ravi, a former Rutgers University student, was sentenced to 30 days in jail by a judge in New Brunswick, N.J. on Monday following his conviction on charges that he had used a webcam to spy on his roommate having sex with another man. Mr. Ravi had faced up to 10 years in prison.

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