KOAA.com

Tagged News

• Boy Scout vote today dealing with openly gay scouts

  May 23, 2013 3:52 AM

  The Boy Scouts of America is holding an important vote this morning. At issue is whether to allow openly gay scouts. More than 1,400 scout leaders from across the country will vote in a secret ballot. They will not be voting to lift the ban on gay scout leaders. The... more »

• Minnesota closer to same sex marriage rights

  May 13, 2013 3:10 AM

  Minnesota's Senate will take up the issue of same sex marriage today. Last week the House passed the bill by a resounding vote. Now, the Senate will get its chance to debate and vote on the bill. This is the last step in adding the state to the growing list... more »

• Gay marriage now legal in Rhode Island

  May 3, 2013 4:00 AM

  Gay marriage is now legal in the state of Rhode Island. That state became the tenth in the nation yesterday to legalize same sex marriages. The governor addressed a large crowd of supporters of the bill in front of the state house, thanking the many individuals who worked to... more »

• Gay Rights Activists: Civil Unions Step Forward, Not Equal Yet Play Video

  March 14, 2013 9:25 AM

  It was seven years ago Colorado voters banned gay marriage, and now civil unions are becoming law. Gay rights activists are calling it a step toward equality, however there are still distinct lines between civil unions and marriage. "We had our own wedding in 2010, so at that point... more »

• Focus on the Family, LGBT members speak on Boy Scout gay ban Play Video

  February 6, 2013 12:43 AM

  The national debate over the Boys Scouts of America considering a major policy change to allow openly gay leaders and scouts is heating up. On Tuesday, scouts and their families in Texas delivered a petition with more than a million signatures urging an end to the ban. They called... more »

• State Patrol forced to address anti-gay culture after former patrol captain admits he's gay

  July 18, 2012 8:18 AM

  DENVER (AP) - The Colorado State Patrol has been ordered to change its policies after an administrative law judge found the patrol fostered an anti-gay culture. The changes were ordered after a former patrol captain admitted he was gay during a polygraph exam. The judge says the questioning was out... more »

• Civil union bill still alive

  May 8, 2012 7:45 PM

  A civil union bill passed the House Appropriations Committee by a 7 to 6 vote this afternoon. It has one more hurdle -- the Republican controlled House. It will have to be ratified by midnight, or die before it gets to the Governor. There is speculation there won't be... more »

• Colorado closer to legalizing civil unions Play Video

  May 4, 2012 9:28 PM

  Colorado is one step closer to legalizing civil unions for same sex couples. Earlier tonight the House finance committee gave Senate Bill 2 approval: the second of three hurdles before the bill reaches the full House for a vote. The bill would grant same sex couples inheritance rights, parental... more »

• Gay & Lesbian Fund closing Colorado Springs office

  October 15, 2011 9:52 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - The Gill Foundation is closing the Colorado Springs office of its Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado and laying off the nine employees there by the end of the year. The Denver-based Gill Foundation, founded by Quark computer software program creator Tim Gill, operates... more »

• Senators who led fight to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" celebrate repeal

  September 20, 2011 1:49 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Senators who led the fight in Congress to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military are celebrating repeal of the nearly 18-year-old law, calling it an historic accomplishment. A half-dozen lawmakers marked the occasion at a Capitol Hill news conference Tuesday. They were... more »

• Farm buses defaced with racial and anti-gay slurs

  September 18, 2011 9:08 AM

  WELLINGTON, Colo. (AP) - Vandals have painted swastikas and anti-gay slurs on three converted school buses at a northern Colorado organic farm. The Fort Collins Coloradoan reports the vandalism occurred between Sept. 7 and Sept. 9 at Grant Family Farms in Wellington. The Larimer County Sheriff's Department says... more »

• New battles over lifting gay troop ban

  September 1, 2011 6:03 AM

  SAN DIEGO (AP) - The military's ban on openly gay troops will be lifted within weeks, but that's no guarantee the law cannot be re-enacted someday. That's why a Republican gay rights organization that sued the Obama administration to stop enforcement of the policy says it plans to ask... more »

• PrideFest 2011-- the coming of age

  July 17, 2011 1:07 AM

  PrideFest kicked off its two day celebration in Acacia Park in Colorado Springs today with Family Fun Day. There was face painting and games for the kids and shopping and live music for all to enjoy. The event turned twenty one this year, and as New York became the... more »

• Assault sparks outrage in GLBT community

  July 4, 2011 7:38 PM

  The fallout continues after a weekend attack at a Colorado Springs restaurant that landed 2 men in the hospital, one a Fort Carson soldier, seemingly all based on the fact that they're gay. We spoke to Charles Irwin, the Executive Director of the Colorado Springs Pride Center. He tells us... more »

• Fallout continues after possible hate crime

  July 4, 2011 5:59 PM

  Leaders in the GLBT community are warning not to fight hate with hate after a possible hate crime attack sparked outrage amongst the community. "There's a lot of sadness. There's a lot of fear. But there's a lot of anger too." explains Charles Irwin, the Executive Director of the... more »

• More same-sex couples in Colorado

  June 30, 2011 4:45 AM

  DENVER (AP) - The U.S. Census Bureau says the number of same-sex households in Colorado jumped by about 60 percent in the past decade. Now, more than one in five gay couples in the state are raising children. The data released Thursday puts Colorado in line with other states... more »

• Civil union bill in for long debate

  March 23, 2011 12:06 PM

  DENVER (AP) - A same-sex civil unions bill expected before the Colorado Senate has both sides ready for a long debate. The measure has already cleared a committee and was scheduled for debate by the full chamber Wednesday. Both sides expected a long floor debate, though legislators could delay... more »

• Civil union bill heads to committee in Colo. Senate

  March 6, 2011 10:21 PM

  The Colorado State Senate is going to tackle civil unions. State Senate Bill 172 would give any couple who enters into a civil union specific legal benefits, protections, and responsibilities. The bill goes before the judiciary committee Monday. "The goal is to make sure gay couples get treated the... more »

• Police say gay encounter may have led to murder

  February 28, 2011 6:37 PM

  New details are emerging about the murder of a Pueblo man and the suspicious death of a teenager the same day. Police believe the cases are connected--and the murder tied to a secret world of gay sexual encounters. Pedro Solis-Astorga, 45, was shot and beaten to death, according to... more »

• New Life Church heroine says she's gay

  February 25, 2011 7:16 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - A former police officer who shot a man who opened fire at her church in Colorado Springs has come out as gay. The Gazette reports that Jeanne Assam said she was told by New Life Church officials that she was no longer welcome after... more »

• Homosexual groups & advocates grimace at two recent local church issues

  January 20, 2011 12:43 AM

  Homosexuals and their faith-based advocates in Colorado Springs are upset at two news-worthy revelations in the past week, and they say both aim to undermine their legitimacy in society, culture, and religion. Early last week, Outreach, Inc., a San Diego-based marketing and publishing company that distributes faith-based materials, announced... more »

• Gates: Don't start asking and telling just yet

  December 23, 2010 2:16 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates is warning troops that the law allowing gays to serve openly in the military is not officially in effect yet. Though President Barack Obama has signed the law repealing the "don't ask, dont' tell" policy, the change is not expected to be in... more »

• 2 students withdraw after Rutgers suicide

  October 29, 2010 8:20 AM

  NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) - Two Rutgers University freshmen, accused of secretly broadcasting a classmate's sexual encounter online, have withdrawn from the school. The classmate later committed suicide. Attorney Steven Altman says that means Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei will not face university disciplinary hearings. Altman, who represents... more »

• Gay marriage notices denied

  October 24, 2010 8:29 AM

  CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire's largest newspaper is defending its decision to refuse to publish marriage notices for gay couples. New Hampshire is one of five states to have legalized gay marriage. Two men getting married in Portsmouth on Saturday wanted to publish a marriage notice in the... more »

• People don purple to speak out against homophobic bullying

  October 21, 2010 12:35 AM

  You've probably seen the groups on Facebook encouraging others to wear purple to make a stand against homophobic bullying. Eric Attard, the director of the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center says bullying is a very real problem in our community. "There's absolutely a presence of bullying based off... more »

• Defense Secretary: court should not set policy on gays

  October 13, 2010 10:56 AM

  Defense Secretary Robert Gates says abruptly ending the military's Don't ask, don't tell policy would have "enormous consequences" for the troops. A day after a federal judge ordered the Pentagon to cease enforcement of its policy barring gays from openly serving in the military, Gates told reporters that the... more »

• Change in "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy fails in Senate

  September 21, 2010 7:15 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A Clinton administration official is assailing the Senate for failing to advance legislation that would have allowed gays to serve openly in the military. Former White House adviser Richard Socarides called today 's development in the Senate "a political train wreck." Senate Republicans blocked an effort... more »

• Focus says gay groups pushing school agendas

  August 30, 2010 8:48 AM

  The Colorado Springs-based Christian group Focus on the Family is accusing national gay advocacy groups of using bullying-prevention initiatives at schools to introduce the viewpoint that homosexuality is normal. Focus on the Family education expert Candi Cushman told The Denver Post that the Christian group supports bullying prevention but... more »

• Gay rights group protests Target gift to conservative candidate

  August 16, 2010 6:22 PM

  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A national gay rights group says Target Corp. has decided against giving money to gay-friendly causes to quiet the uproar over a $150,000 donation that helped support a conservative candidate. Human Rights Campaign spokesman Fred Sainz said Monday that Target made its decision after two tentative... more »

• Federal ruling on same-sex marriage expected today

  August 4, 2010 9:57 AM

  Round one in a landmark case involving gay marriage is expected to end today when a federal judge issues his ruling on California's voter-approved same-sex marriage ban. Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker has reached a decision on whether to uphold or overturn the voter-approved ban known as Proposition... more »

• Supreme Court rules on Christian campus group

  June 28, 2010 2:30 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The acting chancellor and dean of a California law school is praising a Supreme Court decision, saying it validates the school's policy of "equity and fairness." An ideologically split court ruled, 5-4, that the University of California's Hastings College of the Law can legally deny recognition... more »

• President Obama extends benefits to gay and lesbian partners

  June 2, 2010 7:31 PM

  President Obama sent a memo Wednesday to departments in the executive branch of government extending benefits to same sex partners of government employees as much as is possible under existing laws. The ruling includes children of same-sex domestic partners. This would cover child care subsidies and child care services.... more »

• White House considers military gay rules again

  May 24, 2010 1:44 PM

  The White House is talking with gay rights activists, lawmakers and Pentagon officials about a push to hasten the repeal of a ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military. The group was meeting Monday at the White House to discuss a faster pace to end the... more »

• Officer won't be fired for working to keep gay ban

  March 31, 2010 10:25 AM

  A high-ranking Army general won't be fired or formally reprimanded after urging troops to lobby against the repeal of a ban on openly gay military service. President Barack Obama supports lifting the ban, and an active attempt tp keep it in place could be considered insubordination. But Lt. Gen. Benjamin... more »

• Judge rules against lesbian teen in prom flap

  March 23, 2010 4:08 PM

  A federal judge says he won't force a Mississippi school district to hold a prom canceled after a lesbian student asked to bring her girlfriend. The American Civil Liberties Union sued in U.S. District Court to force the Itawamba County school district to sponsor the prom and allow Constance... more »

• Gay seniors come out late, start second lifetime

  March 15, 2010 11:12 AM

  Those who work with seniors say they're seeing growth in the number of people in their 60s, 70s and 80s coming out of the closet as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Social scientists have long noted that people are coming out younger and younger. They say there's a similar trend... more »

• Advertisements protest Boulder Catholic school

  March 13, 2010 9:22 AM

  Gay rights groups say they have purchased full-page ads opposing a Boulder Catholic school's decision to eject two children because their parents are a lesbian couple. Roman Catholic gay rights group DignityUSA and other organizations are advertising in Sunday's Camera newspaper in Boulder, saying the school's decision is hurtful and... more »

• Washington weddings begin for same-sex couples

  March 9, 2010 9:16 AM

  It's a day of wedding bells for some gay couples in Washington. Couples who applied for marriage licenses on the first day they were available last week can pick them up Tuesday and tie the knot. Three weddings are planned at the city's Human Rights Campaign office. The advocacy group... more »

• Udall joins effort to end military's gay ban

  March 3, 2010 12:16 PM

  Colorado's senior senator is joining an effort to repeal the military's ban on openly gay service members. Sen. Mark Udall planned to join other Democrats Wednesday in proposing a repeal of a 1993 law banning gay servicemen and women. Top Pentagon officials and the White House have called for an... more »

• Petraeus: Troops may not care if gay ban repealed

  February 21, 2010 11:55 AM

  The U.S. commander overseeing troops in Iraq and Afghanistan says he's not sure that troops in the field care about the sexual orientation of fellow service members. Gen. David Petraeus says he's served alongside gays and lesbians, and what matters are someone's skills and smarts. Petraeus tells NBC's "Meet The... more »

• Don't ask when: Repeal of gay ban won't be soon

  February 14, 2010 9:32 AM

  As promised, the Pentagon has begun examining how the ban on gays serving openly could be eased and then repealed. But a complete repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy is probably years away. The extended time line is about more than giving military leaders time to assess the... more »

• Defense plans to reduce the number of gays dismissed from military

  February 2, 2010 12:21 PM

  Defense Secretary Robert Gates is planning to try to limit the number of gay troops who are dismissed from the military. He's expected to tell a Senate panel of his plans today, while also discussing a one-year effort to decide how to revise the "don't ask, don't tell" policy... more »

• Gates to announce senior-level review on gay ban

  February 2, 2010 9:46 AM

  Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday will announce plans for a yearlong study into how the military would lift a ban on gays from serving openly in the military and the impact it might have on the force. According to U.S. officials, the study will be co-chaired by a senior... more »

• Gay student, senior citizen run for homecoming queen

  October 21, 2009 4:09 PM

  CSU-Pueblo has two diverse candidates running for Homecoming Queen this week. DeMarques Taylor is a 21-year old man. One of Taylor's challengers is Juanita Whitaker, a 60-year old woman. The candidates are getting a lot of attention from student because CSU-Pueblo says it's never had a male student or a... more »

• Elton John wants to adopt Ukrainian toddler

  September 13, 2009 9:48 AM

  Look out, Madonna and Angelina Jolie - pop star Elton John may be joining the ranks of A-list celebrities with adopted children. John and longtime partner David Furnish are interested in trying to adopt a Ukrainian toddler named Lev they met during an orphanage tour there. The singer... more »

• Same-sex unions begin in Vermont

  September 1, 2009 11:39 AM

  Some couples had been waiting so long for gay marriage to become legal they held midnight ceremonies, but officials in Vermont say there hasn't been a rush of applications for licenses. A new state law went into effect today allowing same-sex marriage. That makes the Green Mountain state the fifth... more »