Local / Regional

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Opponents of same-sex marriage have asked a Missouri court to block Gov. Jay Nixon’s order that the state accept jointly filed tax returns from same-sex couples legally married in other states. The plaintiffs, who represent...

HANNIBAL, Mo. — An honors-caliber college student says he was denied readmission to a northern Missouri Baptist school after he came out as gay in a Facebook post back in December. Twenty-year-old Chase Martinson of suburban St. Louis spent...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Missouri House Committee on March 13, heard testimony on the proposed Missouri Non-discrimination Act (MONA). The bill, HB 1930, would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Missouri’s Human Rights Statute, which currently prohibits...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The city council in Kansas City, Mo., on March 7, voted in favor of a resolution calling for an end to statewide discrimination against the LGBT community by supporting the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA). The resolution...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The St. Louis public school system has implemented changes to their employment benefits to include coverage for married, same-sex spouses. The change will go into effect April 1, 2014, according to the Special Administrative Board...

BLOOMINGTON, IL - Republican McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael says she hopes to be issuing same-sex marriage licenses by the middle of next week. The decision makes McLean the third county, and largest in the state, to do so after...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — While Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer deliberates the fate of her state’s anti-gay religious freedom bill, legislation was filed on Feb. 24 in the Missouri Senate that would allow Missouri business owners to cite religious beliefs as...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A bill that would prohibit the use of controversial gay-to-straight conversion therapy on LGBT youth, has been introduced in the Illinois state legislature. The “Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act” (HB 5569) was introduced in the state House by...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Show Me State’s annual Equality Day was held at the state capitol in Jefferson City on Feb. 19, where dozens of LGBT and allied Missourians lobbied state lawmakers to support the Missouri Nondiscrimination (MONA) and...

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Members of the Westboro Baptist Church, home of the anti-gay extremists behind the “Gods Hate Fags” and “God hates the World” fundamentalist movement, on Feb. 15 protested the coming out of Missouri football player Michael Sam outside...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Missouri joined the growing list of states facing legal challenges to their gay marriage bans, Feb. 12, when the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit seeking to force it to recognize the out-of-state marriages of...

CHICAGO, Ill. – As LGBT Pride Month begins June 1, Brian C. Johnson assumes the leadership of Equality Illinois with a pledge to expand the organization's inclusiveness by launching a summer-long, statewide listening tour to talk to community leaders, allies...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois General Assembly on Tuesday passed legislation ensuring pension fairness for LGBT individuals who retired from public employment prior to the civil unions law and marriage equality law. Equality Illinois, the state's oldest and largest organization...

Seventeen leading civil rights organizations in Illinois are urging Gov. Bruce Rauner, in a letter sent to him on Tuesday, to sign legislation that would ban employment discrimination in all workplaces. The measure, House Bill 4572, which passed the General...

Choosing a physician for a child is one of the most important decisions a parent makes. Imagine learning that your kid is gender-diverse. Finding a doctor who provides an affirming safe space while delivering trans-competent care is key to addressing...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – After great success with the first Charity Trivia Night – With a Twist – which raised over $4,000 for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Ballpark Village will host the second trivia night to help raise funds...