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The father of slain gay college student Matthew Shepard said this week he is disturbed by legislation in Tennessee that would ban public schools from teaching about gay issues.

Dennis Shepard spoke at a Nashville news conference and said the proposal, dubbed the “Don't Say Gay” bill, is an example of legislation that could be harmful to gays.

Advocates for legalizing same-sex couples marriage in Maine have announced plans for a citizens initiative. Petitions containing more than 105,000 signatures from voters who want the issue on the November ballot were delivered to the secretary of state’s office on Jan. 26.

A University of Wisconsin student alleged that an athletic department official grabbed his crotch at an alcohol-fueled party during the football team's trip to the Rose Bowl, according to an independent report released by the school on Jan. 24.

According to AP, the report says the student alleges former senior associate athletic director John Chadima put his hand down the student's pants at the end of a party in Chadima's suite at a Los Angeles hotel on Dec. 31.

More than 35,000 people have signed a petition calling on defense contractor DynCorp International to protect LGBT employees.

The Change.org petition drive follows news of a settlement of a discrimination complaint. An ex-employee received a $150,000 out-of-court settlement in the case but DynCorp has not amended its workplace policies to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank plans to marry partner Jim Ready.

Frank spokesman Harry Gural said the wedding will be in Frank’s home state of Massachusetts, but that no date had been set.

The Los Angeles Police Department does not have to pay $2 million for firing a traffic cop who made unsubstantiated sexual harassment charges against a male supervisor, reports Courthouse News Service.

Officer Richard Joaquin said he refused to go on a date with Sgt. James Sands, so Sands retaliated against him in 2005.


Thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights advocates are gathering in Baltimore through Jan. 29 to strategize and organize in critical election year.

The Creating Change conference is the nation's largest annual gathering of LGBT civil rights activists.

A Utah couple has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a school district that claims it failed to protect their son from years of bullying, hazing and false sex assault allegations that led to his suicide.

The federal lawsuit filed on behalf of Bradd and Edna Hancock seeks unspecified financial damages against North Sanpete School District, according to AP.

New Mexico state Rep. David Chavez this week introduced legislation to define marriage in the state as the union of a man and a woman and to deny recognition of legal same-sex marriages from other states.

The measure also would refuse recognition of civil unions and partnerships from other states.

A push is on to repeal federal marijuana prohibition in 2012 – before the two main sponsors of the legislation exit Congress.

U.S. Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Ron Paul, R-Texas, will not be running for re-election in November. Frank has decided to pursue other interests and Paul is campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination.

Newt Gingrich has a large lead in Minnesota, according to the latest numbers from Public Policy Polling.

The latest poll showed Gingrich with 36 percent of the vote, Mitt Romney with 18 percent, Rick Santorum with 17 percent and Ron Paul with 13 percent.

A former investigator with the city of Los Angeles claims Atlanta police rejected his job application solely because he has HIV, a decision he said breaks the law and perpetuates stereotypes about people with the virus. 

AP reported that the Atlanta police argue hiring the man poses a threat to the health and safety of the public, setting up a legal fight that is being followed closely by gay rights groups and police agencies.