The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – praised the Department of Justice for issuing a legal opinion that clarifies that criminal provisions of the Violence Against Women Act cover crimes against victims of same-sex domestic violence.  The memorandum, which was produced by the Office of Legal Counsel, provides that criminal provisions related to domestic violence, stalking and protection order violations apply to conduct when the offender and victim are the same sex.

Ellen DeGeneres spoke exclusively with "Extra" about the future of "American Idol," the signing of Greyson Chance, and what we can expect from her new "Somewhat Special Special."

There is growing concern that the Iraqi government is stepping up a witch-hunt against gays and lesbians in the country after a police raid on a Karbala safe house.

It’s impossible to pin isolated natural phenomena—like an individual volcanic eruption—on global warming, but some researchers insist that there is a correlation between the two in some instances.

Columbia Law School’s Sexuality and Gender Law Clinic has won asylum for a gay man who feared persecution because of his sexual orientation if forced to return to his native Uzbekistan.

The American Foundation for Equal Rights brought together Olson and David Boies, who notably faced-off in Bush v. Gore, to demonstrate that Prop. 8 violates Americans’ U.S. constitutional rights by creating separate classes of people with different laws for each, in conflict with the nation’s founding principles, including equal protection under the law. Prop. 8 unconstitutionally stripped away the right of same-sex couples to marry in California .

Tomorrow, GetEQUAL, a direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, Show Me No Hate, a Missouri based LGBT civil rights organization, and other Missouri LGBT equality advocates are set to protest the Jefferson City, MO offices of House Armed Services Chair Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) over the congressman’s refusal to apologize for homophobic remarks he made last week regarding the repeal of the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

LGBTI persons are hounded, harassed, persecuted and murdered in tens of countries around the world, propelling thousands to flee their homes. This past year alone, we witnessed barbaric homophobic acts and anti-gay mob violence across Africa, and the execution of gays in the Middle East.  While several governments -- notably the US -- made long-overdue statements condemning the fast-spreading epidemic of hatred, none took the bold new steps necessary to take in and protect those who succeeded in escaping imminent danger.