GLEH Housing for Gay and Lesbian Seniors

Mexican federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that they will try to overturn Mexico City’s gay marriage law, which allows same-sex couples to adopt children, on the grounds it violates the constitution. The Mexico City law, approved in December and due to take effect in March, is the first of its kind in Latin America.

When Helena Bushong was elected chair of Illinois Gender Advocates late last year, her reaction was one of appropriate excitement. Her election was inevitably overshadowed, however, by what was to occur only weeks later. Bushong became the first transgender woman of color -- and only the second trans person -- ever invited to an official White House strategy meeting.

The only witnesses called by the backers of California's same-sex marriage ban in the federal court case examining whether the measure is unconstitutional both testified this week that the anti-gay law, known as Proposition 8, discriminates against gays and lesbians.

As a candidate for president, Barack Obama told the country's leading gay rights group, the Human Rights Campaign, "America is ready to get rid of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. All that is required is leadership." Now he is about to decide whether he will make good on his promise to end what he called a "policy of discrimination."

As the health care bill winds its way through Congress, sparking passions, heated debate and countless news stories, I have been struck by the dearth of discussion about a looming health care crisis: In 2011, the first of 78 million baby boomers will start turning 65. We, as a nation, are utterly unprepared for this rapidly approaching "silver tsunami."

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom became the latest Democratic official to take a noticeably public swipe at President Barack Obama for inaction on gay rights. The California Democrat -- who told the New York Times's Maureen Dowd that his political future was so fuzzy he could, in a couple years, end up "as the clerk of a wine store" -- called Obama's slow walking on support for gay marriage "fundamentally inexcusable."

On Wednesday, the NOH8 campaign protesting California's Proposition 8 announced a new high-profile Republican supporter: John McCain's wife, Cindy McCain. NOH8 is a photo project in which subjects are photographed wearing white, against a white background, with their mouths taped shut and "NOH8" painted on their faces.

Paula Basta, 53, is inducted into the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame for her long-term work in improving the lives of senior citizens, especially LGBT senior citizens, and promoting women’s and LGBT rights. Photo: ISRAEL WRIGHT

The Alliance for Full Acceptance (AFFA), a local non-profit organization composed of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual residents of the Charleston area uniting to eliminate prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity, is also the local sponsor of Operation Shoebox, which is a national project that sends shoeboxes full of gifts and necessities like snacks, toiletries, magazines, cd’s & dvd’s and clothing to troops and military staff serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Orignally started in 2003, the project has since shipped literally hundreds of thousands of packages overseas.

The state's most populous county is poised to follow the capital city next week in passing new protections for gay and transgender residents. The Salt Lake County Council on Tuesday will consider a pair of statutes that offer protections against discrimination based on sexual preference and gender identity in the areas of housing and employment.