An Austrian Cardinal--the head of the Catholic faith in that country--has said that his church ought to respect long-term, committed relationships between people of the same gender.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn made the comment along with several other remarks sure to fire up conservative Catholics, including an assertion that the church needs to reconsider its opposition to divorced people remarrying. Schönborn’s comments were reported on by Catholic British publication The Tablet on May 8.

Read the complete article at EdgeOnTheNet.com: http://bit.ly/9s6HQe

From EW.com

From the Washington Post, by Aaron C. Davis and John Wagner

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D) said Wednesday that effective immediately, and until challenged in court, the state recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere and that Maryland agencies should begin affording out-of-state gay couples all the rights they have been awarded in other places.

"State agencies in Maryland will recognize out-of-state gay marriages as of right now," Gansler said at a news conference explaining the effect of a long-awaited opinion he released Wednesday morning.

[…]

Read the complete story at WashingtonPost.com: http://bit.ly/bQ6ucd

A member of Uganda’s parliament – which is currently debating an anti-gay bill that would punish homosexuality with death – said Friday at a human rights forum he would kill his own son if he found out his son were gay.

The forum’s keynote speaker, Makau Mutua, immediately denounced MP Otto Odonga for his comment.

“I am baffled by the kind of hatred you spew against gay people, including your desire to be a hangman,” Mutua told the forum...

Read the complete article at 365Gay.com: http://bit.ly/bYkGJc

From BangorDailyNews.com

AUGUSTA, Maine — More than three months after Mainers voted down same-sex marriage, the organization that provided much of the money to the traditional marriage camp is still fighting to block the state from forcing disclosure of their donor lists.

This past week, the National Organization for Marriage lost another skirmish in the larger legal battle over its campaign finances.

[…]

Read the complete article at BangorDailyNews.com: http://bit.ly/9LNDtU

The Department of Defense has rejected an attempt by DODEA to recognize same-sex relationships when transferring overseas teachers.

The decision was made Friday to quash the policy created last month because it conflicts with the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1993 law that limits the federal government from providing benefits to gay couples, according to a DOD statement supplied to Stars and Stripes.

Stars and Stripes reported last month that the Department of Defense Education Activity and two teachers unions had signed off on giving same-sex teaching couples the same consideration as married heterosexual teaching couples when requesting joint transfers to new schools. The policy, which also extended the benefit to unmarried but committed straight couples, was disapproved during a routine DOD labor agreement review, according to the statement.

[…]

Read the complete story at Stripes.com: http://bit.ly/9Obx8o

"Gays to the Rescue" in Haiti, Couple Runs Emergency Supplies to Survivors by Boat,
 Launch Website to Rally Support From LGBT Community

CauseCommandos.com Video Chronicles Gay Couple in the Disaster Zone, Allows Visitors to Directly Buy Medicine, Food & Tents

Jacmel, Haiti - February 11, 2010 – A gay couple running emergency medicine, food and tents into Haiti by boat has taken their mission online to the Internet and launched CauseCommandos.com to rally support from the gay community. The site allows supporters to watch video of the duo in action and contribute directly to buy emergency supplies.

When disaster struck the impoverished island nation of Haiti, it also struck close to the hearts of boyfriends Luke Montgomery and Nate Gudias.  Having lived in Haiti and founded an AIDS orphanage in the coastal town of Jacmel, Montgomery feared the worst when no word was received from the orphanage. Within 48 hours the couple raised over $10,000 from family and friends in the gay community and were on a plane bound for the Dominican Republic which borders Haiti. When news reached them that children in the AIDS orphanage were unhurt but that the local hospital had collapsed on its patients the couple says they were transformed into "cause commandos" with a mission to get medicine and medical supplies to survivors.

At the Last Minute, Government Drops Case Against Lt. Choi, Cpt. Pietrangelo; Prosecutor: “I was ready,” Arresting Officers Present

In a significant step toward an AIDS vaccine, U.S. government scientists have discovered three powerful antibodies, the strongest of which neutralizes 91% of HIV strains, more than any AIDS antibody yet discovered.

In a landmark decision this afternoon, a Federal District Court judge in Boston has ruled a key provision of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.