Free Republic

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal ruling that gender dysphoria is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act could help block conservative political efforts to restrict access to gender-affirming care, advocates and experts say. A panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week became the first federal appellate court in the country to find that the 1990 landmark federal law protects transgender people who experience anguish and other symptoms as a result of the disparity between their assigned sex and their gender identity. The ruling could become a powerful tool to challenge legislation restricting access to medical...

The men’s room at Malden City Hall has earned high ratings on a Zagat-style, gay meet-up Web site, prompting city councilors Tuesday to call for the basement lavatories to be closed indefinitely. Mayor Richard Howard, however, overruled the decision Wednesday, and the bathrooms remain open. The Web site "Gay Universe" rates sites all over the U.S. for male-on-male sexual meet-ups, and the Massachusetts section lists some of the most public parks and beaches, prominent malls and department store bathrooms all over the Boston area. In addition to Malden City Hall, an unnamed public park on Fellsway East is named, along...

TAMPA, Fla. -- A Tampa man convicted in federal court of drugging and raping nine young men was sentenced to the maximum 200 years in prison Friday. Two of the victims of Steven Lorenzo ended up dead, and he is likely to face murder charges in state court later. "I hope that he never sees the light of day again," said U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara after the sentencing. A jury in November found Lorenzo, 46, guilty of slipping the date rape drug, GHB, into the drinks of all nine victims and then sexually torturing them at his home....

California Gay Marriages in Legal Limbo 2 hours, 11 minutes ago By DAVID KRAVETS, Associated Press Writer SAN FRANCISCO - Many of the more than 3,000 same-sex couples who obtained marriage licenses from the city said getting married was among the most joyous events in their lives. But because of legal uncertainty and political controversy, the certificates don't appear to be worth much more than sentimental value at this point. Until the legal fog lifts, businesses being contacted by gays and lesbians seeking new benefits probably won't acknowledge their marriages. Corporate counsels, employment law consultants and human resource departments already...

By JAY LINDSAY Associated Press Writer November 21, 2003, 2:06 AM EST BOSTON -- The phone began ringing and e-mail inboxes clogged at the Massachusetts Family Institute almost as soon as the state's highest court ruled to endorse gay marriage. To executive director Ron Crews, these were the stirrings of a public finally shocked awake. Calls from around the country pledged assistance, the institute was offered free legal help and Crews began considering whether he needed to hire more staffers for his small operation, which opposes gay marriage. "It's time that the sleeping majority woke up to what's going on,"...

Now that the Mass. Supreme Court has acted to force the legislature to adopt gay marriage, the time is now for Republicans to act to save this most basic institution of this country. We need a US Constitutional Amendment to save us from activist courts who assult religion and basic family values. The public will be outraged over this and the GOP must capitolize on it. The GOP must put the Democrats in a bind. Oppose the Amendment and lose their base, or support it and expose themselves as the radicals they are. Now is the time to act. Put...