Gay

The first-graders in Ohio Pack 109's Tiger Scouts didn't know or care their den mother was a lesbian -- at least not until the Boy Scouts of America threw her out over the organization's ban on gays.

Now, parents who were aware of Jennifer Tyrell's sexual orientation well before she took the boys on campouts and helped them carve race cars for the annual Pinewood Derby have rallied to her defense in a case that has re-ignited the debate over the Scouts' policy.

Mitt Romney parted ways with his Arizona campaign co-chairman after allegations of misconduct made by a man with whom the campaign official previously had a relationship.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- David X spilled his story to the other men seated around him, revealing how his boyfriend -- angry about leaving the heater on too long -- had punched him so hard that his eye socket shattered. Instead of receiving comfort at the counseling session, a man told him: You should have just punched him back. You're a guy.

That was the moment that David, a 56-year-old San Jose gay man whose last name is not being used to protect him, realized he was in the wrong place.

Santa Clara County is the wrong place for many gays and lesbians suffering from domestic abuse, local experts say. There is a dearth of help for victims of abusive same-sex relationships. David said he's never received the kind of therapy and support that he needed. It shocks and saddens him that such a large and progressive-minded county could be so far behind the times.

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- An unusual nativity display at a Claremont church that conveyed a gay couple was vandalized over the weekend in an incident authorities are investigating as a hate crime.

The Rev. Stephen Sprinkle, an openly gay Baptist minister from Dallas, said it's not enough for churches to be "tolerant" of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people. They need to "move from tolerance through understanding to appreciation and celebration."

LOS ANGELES -- Federal officials announced Friday a settlement had been reached with a central California school district where a 13-year-old gay student committed suicide after being subjected to persistent harassment from his classmates.