National News Notes

Point scholarships available LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Point Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBT students of merit, has opened its 2010 application season. Students who will be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs for the 2010-11 school year…

FBI: Anti-gay crimes up in 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. — According to a new report released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the number of victims of bias-motivated crimes based on sexual orientation increased by 11 percent in 2008. The figures…

Report looks at treatment of gay youth in juvenile court system SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Equity Project, a collaboration of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Legal Services for Children and the National Juvenile Defender Center, has compiled Hidden…

Gay-themed book ok’d for fair NEW YORK, N.Y. — After meeting with media watchdog group The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, powerhouse bookseller Scholastic Inc. has decided to feature an LGBT inclusive book in its spring Scholastic Book Fairs,…

Gay adoption bill introduced WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) has introduced the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (HR 3827) which would codify sexual orientation non-discrimination in foster care placements and adoptions nationwide. According to reports, there are…

Gay man tapped for Ambassador NEW YORK, N.Y. — The White House wants David Huebner to be the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa. If confirmed by the Senate, he will be the first openly…

Compelling data at ENDA hearing WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee held a full committee hearing Sept. 23 on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would bar workplace discrimination, preferential treatment and retaliation on the basis of…

Anti-tobacco effort readied WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Youth Advocacy Coalition has received a $100,000 award from the American Legacy Foundation to create a national tobacco working group targeting LGBT, questioning and intersex young adults ages 18-24, a demographic with…

Youth charity to honor Bea Arthur NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Ali Forney Center (AFC), the nation’s largest agency dedicated to homeless LGBT youth, plans to name a residence in honor of Bea Arthur. A formal announcement will be made…

APA exposes ‘ex-gay’ myth TORONTO — The American Psychological Association adopted a resolution Aug. 5 stating that mental health professionals should avoid telling clients that they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments. The approval, by APA’s…

‘No Excuses’ for inaction WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Human Rights Campaign has launched a national effort called “No Excuses” to lobby Congress on key issues of equality. Timed to take advantage of the congressional summer recess, when members are in…

Congress considers gay bills WASHINGTON, D.C. — A trio of bills seeking to advance the rights of LGBT Americans have been introduced on Capitol Hill and are currently making their way through the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. The…

Coalition pursues policy changes NEW YORK, N.Y. — A coalition of 17 LGBT equality organizations has announced the New Beginning Initiative, designed to push for concrete federal administration policy and regulatory changes benefiting LGBT people and eliminating discrimination from federal…

Court ruling returns foster child CHARLESTON, W.V. — The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia ruled June 5 that a foster child should be returned to her lesbian foster parents, Kathryn Kutil and Cheryl Hess, reversing an anti-gay lower…

N.H. legalizes gay marriage CONCORD, N.H. — On June 3, Gov. John Lynch signed legislation that will give the legal protections of marriage to gay and lesbian couples in New Hampshire. Lynch signed the bill only an hour after the…

D.P. benefits bill before Congress WASHINGTON, D.C. — National gay leaders hailed the introduction of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act in the U.S. Congress earlier this month. The legislation would provide domestic partner benefits for federal employees and…