List your business now!

Case of transgender widow debated on Houston Fox News
YouTube.com, August 19, 2010
Dave Welch of the Houston Area Pastor Council and Cristan Williams of the Transgender Foundation of America debated on Fox News about the case of Nikki Araguz, a transgender widow who was married to a Wharton, Texas firefighter killed while on duty. The family of the fallen firefighter is battling his wife in court, saying her status as a transgender woman makes her inelligible to receive his death benefits. 

White vs. Perry: Comparing the candidates on LGBT issues
Dallas Voice, September 3, 2010
The governor’s race pitting incumbent Rick Perry against former Houston Mayor Bill White is the Texas’ most high profile contest and an important one for the state’s LGBT community.

Equality Texas labels gay marriage ruling 'homophobic'
On Top Magazine, September 2, 2010
"The court's view of same-sex relationships is uninformed, outdated and homophobic – predicating its decision upon the ability to have children naturally – thereby ignoring the thousands of Texas households raising kids with same-sex parents or even single parent households," the group said in a statement.

Court says gay couples can't divorce in Texas
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, September 1, 2010
Gay couples legally married in other states cannot get a divorce in Texas, where same-sex marriage is banned, a state appeals court ruled Tuesday. The 5th Texas Court of Appeals ruled that a Dallas district court judge didn’t have the authority to hear a divorce case involving two Dallas men who married in Massachusetts in 2006.

Texas congresswoman admits she violated rules
Associated Press, August 31, 2010
Texas Democratic Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson admitted that she wrongly steered thousands of dollars in college scholarships from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to her own relatives and the children of a staff member but said she did so unintentionally.

Gov. Rick Perry links job creation, gay marriage
Dallas Voice, August 30, 2010
The Texas Tribune’s Ross Ramsey, who followed Gov. Rick Perry during a day of campaigning last week, reports that the incumbent is still willing to gay-bait, only now he’s picking his spots. "There is still a land of opportunity, friends — it’s called Texas," Perry said. "We’re creating more jobs than any other state in the nation. … Would you rather live in a state like this, or in a state where a man can marry a man?" said Perry.

Texas Congressman to file ‘one man-one woman’ marriage bill
Dallas Voice, August 25, 2010
Texas Congressman Lamar Smith, a Republican who represents a portion of Central Texas, has announced that he intends to introduce federal legislation this fall to define marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Gay partygoers cry foul after Dallas hotel bar turns them away
EDGEdallas.com, August 25, 2010
Gay patrons of the Joule Hotel's PM Nightlife Lounge allege that they were discriminated against by door staff who denied them entry to the upscale downtown bar last weekend. Despite being on the guest list, gay patrons said they were made to stand outside in the searing heat as straight couples passed them by, and some eventually left without going in.

Dallas school denies place to daughter of lesbian couple
PinkNews.co.uk, August 24, 2010
St Vincent's Cathedral School, a private Christian school in Dallas, has refused admission to the daughter of a lesbian couple. The school says the reason for the refusal is that they base their enrollment policies on the "clear teaching of the Christian faith".

Bedford, Texas school denies child because of same-sex parents
NBC4i.com, August 24, 2010
A child has been denied entrance into an Episcopal school in Bedford, Texas, because her parents are married lesbians. "We are a church affiliated with the Anglican Church in North America, and it is their policy that we don't provide services to individuals or families that do not behave properly," said Kenneth Monk, head of the school.

Gay rights groups ignore plight of Houston transgender widow says lawyer
Dallas Voice, August 24, 2010
Phyllis Randolph Frye, the well-known transgender attorney from Houston whose clients include trans widow Nikki Araguz, sent out an e-mail Sunday slamming national gay-rights groups for ignoring the issue of "‘tranny’ same-sex marriage" in Texas.

El Paso bishop says priest was stating personal opinion about gays
KVIA.com, August 23, 2010
Catholic Diocese of El Paso Bishop Armando X. Ochoa said that a recent newspaper column by a local priest "claiming to speak for Catholic Doctrine were the personal opinions of individuals and do not necessarily express the belief of the Catholic Church."

Marking the 30th anniversary of a Houston milestone
Houston Chronicle, August 19, 2010
How far has Houston come in the last 30 years? Consider this milestone: On August 12, 1980, the city repealed its Ordinance 28-42.4 — the "cross-dressing ordinance" that allowed cops to harass the patrons of gay and lesbian bars. Wearing fly-front jeans was enough to send a lesbian to jail.

On homosexuality, Texas Young Republicans split from rest of party
Star-Telegram, August 11, 2010
Texas' old-school Republican Party criticizes gay and lesbian sex as "dangerous" and says some bedroom behavior ought to be a crime. But in a change that reflects not only divided generations but also divided factions, the state's Young Republicans voted unanimously last weekend to discourage labels and support "liberty and privacy" for all Americans.

Texas attorney general declines transgender marriage question
Austin American Statesman, August 11, 2010
The Texas attorney general's office has declined to issue an opinion on whether counties can provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples if one underwent sex reassignment surgery. El Paso County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal, noting that state law forbids same-sex marriage, asked which form of identification to accept.

El Paso voters to decide on domestic partner benefits
KFOXTX.com, August 9, 2010
El Paso voters will soon decide if domestic partners of city employees will be eligible for health benefits provided by the city. The topic has become a heated battle between those for and against the decision by El Paso City Council made months back. Many against the decision claim the city is endorsing homosexual lifestyles, and have been fighting to overturn council's decision.

Gay Marine from Texas talks about life while on active duty
Dallas Voice, August 6, 2010
Kevin is from a small town northeast of Dallas. He says he loves Big D and plans to move here eventually. Right now, though, Kevin is on active duty with the Marines, stationed overseas and deployed to a classified location. He joined the Marines a few years ago, before he had accepted the fact that he was gay.

Transgender widow’s real-life drama fit for daytime television
Houston Chronicle, August 3, 2010
The bizarre case of transgender widow Nikki Araguz has been the stuff of a raucous Jerry Springer segment from the start.

Houston mayor: Shanghai's openness to gays shows entrepreneurship
People's Daily Online, August 3, 2010
Shanghai's acceptance of its gay community shows its people's openness and entrepreneurship, Houston's openly gay mayor said in the east China metropolis Monday. "Shanghainese and Houstonians are similar. They care about what you do, not who you are," said Annise Parker, the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city.

Texas priest: Catholics duty-bound to oppose gay marriage
On Top Magazine, August 2, 2010
Father Michael Rodriguez, parish priest of El Paso's San Juan Bautista Catholic Church, opined in an editorial published in the El Paso Times that being gay is immoral.

What’s in a name? In Texas, it all depends
Edgefireisland.com, August 2, 2010
When Jon and Cliff Garinn decided they wanted to share a last name, they consulted their attorney. They said it was the first such case she had handled since Texans had voted to amend the state’s Constitution to ban gay marriage, and the lawyer told them she thought it might have turned into a test case if a judge had rejected it on grounds that they were trying to create a same-sex marriage that Texas law now specifically forbade.

Cornyn to attend a gay fundraiser
Times Record News, July 30, 2010
Sen. John Cornyn, the junior Texas senator in charge of getting Republicans elected to the Senate, has voted against same-sex marriage and opposed a recent push to repeal the military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. But September 22 he plans to drop by the Long Cabin Republicans Political Action Committee reception to "seek common ground."

AG argues he can’t be sued for discriminating against gay employees
Dallas Voice, July 29, 2010
Last November Vic Gardner of Tyler filed a lawsuit that alleges that he was forced out of his job with the state attorney general’s office for being gay. The Texas Attorney General’s office has field a motion seeking to dismiss the case, on grounds that Attorney General Greg Abbott can’t be sued for damages for discriminating against people on the basis of sexual orientation.

Texas judge bars firefighter's transgender widow from benefits
Houston Chronicle, July 23, 2010
A judge Friday agreed to temporarily bar the allegedly transgendered widow of a Wharton firefighter from spending or collecting his death benefits. State District Judge Randy Clapp ruled after hearing from Nikki Araguz that she received a check for $60,000 on Thursday, about a 10th of the total cash expected because of Thomas Araguz's July 4 death in an egg farm inferno.

Transgender widow may lose deceased husband's benefits
ABC News, July 22, 2010
Days after losing their son in the line of duty, the family of a fallen Texas firefighter is battling his wife in court, saying her status as a transgender woman makes her inelligible to receive his death benefits.

Houston, you're not gay enough, survey finds
Houstonpress.com, July 21, 2010
Although Houston is the biggest city in the country with an openly gay mayor and the launching pad for the landmark Lawrence v. Texas case, we're just not queer enough for some people: The latest Gay/Lesbian Index rankings of the top 20 gayest cities includes Austin and Dallas -- freakin' Dallas -- but not Space City.

Fort Worth churchgoers urge city to overturn gay-friendly policies
Star-Telegram, July 14, 2010
More than 100 people from local churches urged the City Council on Tuesday night to overturn some of the policies that the city adopted last year in the wake of protests after arrests at the Rainbow Lounge, a gay bar on the near south side.

Gay pride, gay prank or gay ole time?
The Leakey Star, July 14, 2010
As Independence Day jubileers lined U.S. Hwy. 83 through rural downtown Leakey last Saturday, saluting the U.S. flag under umbrellas and pledging their allegiance to one nation under God, a controversial parade entry made an unexpected appearance. Some spectators, including Chamber Director Glenn Bradley, said the entry was 'inappropriate.'

But gay activists forced Texas GOP to lash out against queers
Queerty, July 14, 2010
Melinda Fredricks, the vice chairwoman of the Texas Republican Party, explains the state GOP's platform - which wants to re-criminalize sodomy and keep gay marriage dead forever - this way: It's your fault.

Policeman's claims of arresting, beating people at Houston Pride investigated
Examiner.com, July 9, 2010
An Internal Affairs Division complaint has been filed by a Special Operations Division officer, who reports that a sergeant repeatedly commented about roughing up and arresting gay people, according to one high-ranking officer who was briefed on the investigation.

Oral Roberts’ gay grandson speaks out
Dallas Voice, July 9, 2010
Randy Roberts Potts grew up like many in this area. Raised in an evangelical family, he married at 20 and had three children. But at 30, he came out as gay and moved to Dallas.

New executive director chosen for Equality Texas
Dallas Voice, July 7, 2010
Dallas Voice has learned that Dennis Coleman will be named the new executive director of Equality Texas. Coleman has served as executive director of Lambda Legal’s South Central Region, based in Dallas, for more than six years.

Employees, gay couples aim for UT policy shift
The Daily Texan, July 7, 2010
The Pride and Equity Faculty Staff Association is pushing for the University to provide insurance benefits that cover partners of University of Texas employees in same-sex relationships.

Houston college student charged in attack on transgender man
Houston Chronicle, July 1, 2010
A Houston Community College student was charged with aggravated robbery on Wednesday in connection with the June 22 attack on campus transgender activist Lance Reyna, officials said. Accused of the first-degree felony was Terrance Calhoun, 22, who allegedly confessed to the robbery and now faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.

Gay Republicans respond to Texas GOP platform
Advocate.com, June 30, 2010
The Dallas chapter of Log Cabin Republicans issued a statement on the recently-adopted, and virulently antigay, platform of the Texas GOP party. The platform calls for gay sex to be criminalized, the performing of gay marriages to be made a felony, and refers to homosexuality as a practice that "tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and lead to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases."

Five El Paso men sue city, restaurant, claiming bias against gays
El Paso Times, June 29, 2010
Five men who allege that their constitutional rights were violated at a Chico's Tacos last year filed a lawsuit Monday against the city government, a security company and the restaurant. The case involves two men who kissed at Chico's Tacos and who police allegedly threatened to charge with a violating a state statute that was declared unconstitutional in 2003.

Gays at Dallas rally say Democrats haven't delivered on rights promises
Dallas Morning News, June 28, 2010
Forty-one years after riots in Greenwich Village put the gay rights fight on America's TV screens, members of Dallas' gay community gathered Sunday amid a growing feeling that not nearly enough has changed since 1969. For that, they blame their friends – notably the Democratic Party and President Barack Obama – and themselves.

Dallas transit board approves trans protections
Dallas Voice, June 25, 2010
After removing a one-word amendment that would have gutted the proposal, Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Board of Directors voted unanimously Tuesday, June 22, to add transgender protections to the agency’s employment nondiscrimination policy.

The Texas GOP Is a grand old piece of work
Huffington Post, June 25, 2010
On the issue of family values, whatever that means, the Republican's policy paper condemns homosexuality and opposes the legalization of sodomy and supports a prohibition on all pornography and strip clubs. Further, they would make it a felony to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple, or for a civil official to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony.

Houston transgender activist calls attack hate-based
HoustonChronicle.com, June 25, 2010
A Houston Community College political science student says he was targeted in a knifepoint robbery and beating at the school's midtown fine arts building because of his work as a transgender campus activist.

Austin businesses cater to gay customers for sales
KXAN, June 25, 2010
The city's Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce estimates Austin's Gay Dollar at nearly 10% of the city's income. That is about $2.3 billion a year. This group seems to have weathered the nation's economic slump better than many others.

Fort Worth officials tout changes after controversial bar raid
EDGEboston.com, June 24, 2010
The Fort Worth Police Department has implemented diversity training classes and hired a full-time LGBT liaison since its officers and others from the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission conducted a controversial raid on the Rainbow Lounge on June 28, 2009.

El Paso Man: The Navy discharged me after I was raped
KFOXTV.com, June 21, 2010
An El Paso man said he is fighting to repeal the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy after he was discharged from the Navy. Jose Rodriguez said he was drugged and raped after going to a gay nightclub in San Diego. He said the Navy was given the information he told the hospital.

Rainbow Lounge to mark police raid with a party
KXAS, June 21, 2010
A Fort Worth gay bar will mark the one-year anniversary of a controversial police raid with a party -- and police Chief Jeffrey Halstead plans to attend. Randy Norman, general manager of The Rainbow Lounge, said Halstead and a number of his officers have accepted the invitation to attend the barbecue on June 28.

Dallas transit agency infuriates LGBT community
Advocate, June 18, 2010
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority claims it was trying to be more inclusive by updating its nondiscrimination policy, but many claim the agency is utilizing a loophole to allow discrimination against gay and transgender people.

Austin -- The Pride divide's aftermath
Austin Chronicle, June 18, 2010
When Chad Peevy became president of the Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in 2009, he told the Chronicle he was working to build "a sense of community that is inclusive." In the wake of this year's chamber-led Pride festival on June 5, which saw a large portion of the LGBT community mount a parallel parade and celebration under the QueerBomb banner, major questions remain about how successful this new "inclusive" Pride really was.

Partners' benefits issue on November ballot in El Paso
El Paso Times, June 16, 2010
An initiative to cut health insurance benefits for gay and unmarried partners of city employees is headed for the November ballot. "The city of El Paso endorses traditional family values by making health benefits available only to city employees and their legal spouse and dependent children," the petition stated.

HRC blasts Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson for voting against DADT repeal.
Except, uh, she didn't
Queerty.com, June 16, 2010
Will any heads roll at the Human Rights Campaign for an email blast — to their 750,000 "members"? — claiming Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Texas Democrat, voted against repealing DADT, when in fact she voted for it?

Dallas Police Chief vows support for gays, lesbians
Dallas Morning News, June 11, 2010
Dallas Police Chief David Brown vowed Thursday night to maintain strong ties with the gay community throughout his term. His message at a meeting at an Oak Lawn club comes in the wake of a violent anti-gay robbery of two men last month that remains unsolved and stirred concern among some gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Fort Worth police liaison to gay community credited with progress
Star-Telegram, June 7, 2010
Last June, just two days after the now-infamous Rainbow Lounge bar check, Police Chief Jeff Halstead said he would appoint a department liaison to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, a community that includes Fort Worth police officers.

Thousands show support for LGBT community in Austin
News8Austin.com, June 7, 2010
Thousands lined the streets of downtown Austin Saturday night, waving banners and flags through the air for the annual Austin Pride Parade. Earlier in the day, City of Austin Council member Laura Morrison declared June 5, 2010 as Austin Pride Day. This year marks the first of many for the City of Austin to be an official co-sponsor of the festival.

Pridefest Parade held in downtown El Paso
kvia.com, June 7, 2010
El Paso's gay community paraded through downtown this weekend in the third annual Pride Parade - part of this year's Pridefest. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Purple - the colors of diversity brightened El Paso's downtown for the parade. "There's still issues, not just here, everywhere, but it's getting better," said one parade participant.

Austin Pride: Gay event plans marred by tension
Austin Chronicle, June 3, 2010
One goal of gay pride celebrations has always been to bring the range of LGBT communities and their straight allies together under one banner. This year, several local groups and artists say they have found themselves not so welcome in the planning for this weekend's Austin Pride events.

Houston city council member brought to tears
MyFoxHouston, June 3, 2010
A Houston city council member was brought to tears after being accused of hating gays. Wanda Adams says she felt attacked by some members of the gay community.

GLAAD promotes protest of ‘Ticked Off Tr*nnies’ at Fort Worth film fest
Dallas Voice, June 3, 2010
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation posted an item on its website this morning promoting a protest of Israel Luna’s "Ticked-Off Tr*nnies with Knives" on Saturday night during Q Cinema, Fort Worth’s Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival.