The Latest Equality News from Texas & the Nation

El Paso County Democrats elected Latina lesbian Mary Gonzalez (pictured right) to represent Texas House District 75 on Tuesday night. Since there is no Republican opponent in November's general election, Mary Gonzalez's victory in Tuesday's primary ensures that Mary is the State Representative-Elect from District 75. The Texas Equity PAC gave Mary its first-ever endorsement in a primary election race, and it actively supported Mary Gonzalez's candidacy. Congratulations to Mary and to Texas Equity PAC!

A 3-judge federal appeals court this morning unanimously ruled the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. The court said the denial of federal benefits to married gay couples was not " adequately supported by any permissible federal interest."

California is poised to become the first state to limit 'Ex-Gay' Therapy. The California Senate passed a bill Thursday that would prohibit children younger than 18 from undergoing the repudiated therapies that purport to change a child's sexual orientation.

More than two dozen gay and lesbian couples in Illinois filed lawsuits Wednesday challenging the state law that denies them the right to marry. Currently, gay and lesbian couples in Illinois are only able to enter into the downgraded version of marriage, civil unions.

Gay marriage opponents in the State of Washington say they have the signatures to qualify a proposed referendum, R-74, seeking to deny gay couples the right to marry. Washington's governor signed Marriage Equality into law in February, and a poll released yesterday shows it has strong public support. By a margin of 54-33, Washington voters support the new law.