Gay Rights

CHAMPLIN, Minn. -- Two lesbian high school students who fought for the right to walk together as part of a royalty court made their entrances Monday to the cheers of hundreds of classmates.

LOS ANGELES--G. Wayne Clough, the Smithsonian Institution's chief executive, said Thursday that Republican House leaders' threats of budgetary consequences factored into his Nov. 30 decision to remove a video from a National Portrait Gallery exhibition of work by artists who are primarily gay and lesbian.

In a brief interview after speaking at the Town Hall Los Angeles public issues forum at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Clough, who has been the secretary of the Smithsonian 2 1/2 years, said he wished he had taken more time and spoken to more art experts before making the decision. "It's the most painful thing I've ever done," he said.

But he said he didn't consider it censorship because in making the decision, "I didn't judge this work of art."

OGDEN — The Ogden City Council will hold a public fact-finding meeting Feb. 1 to consider a draft ordinance aimed at prohibiting housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

OGDEN -- City Attorney Gary Williams has received the green light to begin drafting a municipal ordinance prohibiting housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Ogden City Council banned the fake drug spice in weeks.

WASHINGTON — In a historic vote for gay rights, the Senate agreed on Saturday to do away with the military’s 17-year ban on openly gay troops and sent President Barack Obama legislation to overturn the Clinton-era policy known as "don’t ask, don’t tell."