Denise Simmons is mayor of Cambridge, Mass. Photo courtesy of Simmons___________
E. Denise Simmons has become the United States' first openly lesbian, African-American mayor after winning the race to head Cambridge, Mass., according to EDGE Boston. 'It's wonderful to be in a high-profile position, and to be in it as you are,' said Simmons, who served four terms on the City Council and 10 years on the Cambridge School Committee prior to her historical victory.
Ohio's first out lesbian judge, Mary Wiseman, has been advised to not rule on cases involving LGBT issues, reported Outincolumbus.com . Recently, a fellow judge publicly stated that he feels Wiseman should stay away from LGBT cases. The judge, James D. Piergies, announced that he will run against Wiseman in the primary.
New York City officials are calling on 24 of the nation's largest companies to change their policies in order to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Newsday.com reported. The city has $2.2 billion in local pension investments with the two dozen companies, and the city's comptroller William Thompson, Jr., is asking them to amend their policies.
Indiana's senate recently approved an anti-gay bill, 39-9, that would amend the state's constitution to ban same-sex marriage, reported Edgeboston.com . The Indianapolis Star, however, recently reported the state's house will most likely reject the measure. The bill died in the house last year. Indiana already has a law that bans same-sex marriage.
Five Republican state representatives and senators in Iowa have filed suit to overturn last year's decision by Polk County Judge Robert Hansons that banning same-sex marriage goes against the state constitution. The politicians want Iowa's Supreme Court to overturn the decision, according to Advocate.com . The decision of the high court would determine whether or not Iowa will become the first state in the Midwest to offer gay marriage. The lawmakers are being represented by the conservative and anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund.
A transgender woman is seeking the Republican nomination for the Minnesota state legislature. Chrissy Nakonsky, who is running for state representative, would be the first trans individual elected to a state legislature in the U.S., reported 365gay.com . Nakonsky recently told a local publication that she was inspired by Republican state Sen. Paul Koering, the first openly gay member of Minnesota's state legislature.
A female choir member of a large Black Baptist Washington church made waves when she decided to start her own outing campaign in December and January. According to Southern Voice, the woman e-mailed the church's pastor and members of the congregation, outing over 100 church members. Many of those she outed are male members of the choir. The church has roughly 7,000 members.
An appeal is expected after a Southern California judge threw out a discrimination lawsuit filed on behalf of two female students who were expelled from their Christian school because they were suspected to be lesbians. The two students, who were juniors in high school at the time, were expelled in 2005. The judged ruled that the suit has no basis in the state's anti-discrimination law, Associated Press reported.
