Eric Andresen.

The Boy Scouts of America is scheduled to decide on May 24, 2013 whether to alter its long-standing ban on gay scouts and leaders. The proposal to be put before the roughly 1400 voting members of the BSA National Council would allow the participation of gay scouts, but not gay adult leaders. On the eve of this debate, the father of bullied gay scout Ryan Andresen has spoken out in a video made by Equality California.

Mary Bonauto.

May 17, 2013 is the ninth anniversary of the first legal same-sex marriages in the United States, which came as a result of a historic decision by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. The breakthrough came in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, which was argued by Mary Bonauto of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) on behalf of seven gay and lesbian couples who had been denied marriage licenses.

On May 17, 2013, France's Constitutional Council rejected an appeal from opponents of same-sex marriage and declared constitutional the marriage equality legislation recently passed by lop-sided margins in the Senate and the National Assembly. On May 18, 2012, President Hollande signed the bill into law. Marriages will begin in ten days.

Pam Crawford, the child's adoptive mother, hopes to prevent other children from being forced to endure unwanted sex assignment surgery.

On May 14, 2013, the Southern Poverty Law Center announced it had filed a groundbreaking lawsuit on behalf of an intersexual child who was subjected to unnecessary and premature surgery by the state of South Carolina. The lawsuit charges that the state of South Carolina violated the child's constitutional rights while in foster care, potentially affecting both reproductive and sexual function.

A 14-1 decision by the National Council of Justice announced on May 14, 2013 has extended marriage equality throughout Brazil. The decision requires registrars throughout the country to marry same-sex couples and to convert civil unions to full-fledged marriages without the need for judicial orders. Brazil thus has become the 14th--and most populous--nation to extend equal marriage rights to all its gay and lesbian citizens.

Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill into law.

On May 13, 2013, on a 37-30 vote, the Minnesota Senate passed the marriage equality bill that had previously been passed by the House. On May 14, Governor Mark Dayton signed the bill into law during a ceremony held on the steps of the capitol building. Minnesota has thus become the twelfth U.S. state to extend equal marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples.

On May 9, 2013, after a three-hour debate, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed a marriage equality bill on a vote of 75 to 59. The state Senate will convene on Monday May 13 to consider the bill. With its expected passage in the Senate and signature by Governor Mark Dayton, Minnesota will become the twelfth state to permit same-sex couples to marry.

On May 7, 2013, the Delaware Senate passed marriage equality legislation on a 12-9 vote and sent it to Governor Markell for his signature, thus making Delaware the 11th state to authorize same-sex marriage. The bill passed the Delaware House on April 23, 2013.

Congratulations to Lambda Legal, the largest glbtq legal advocacy group in the United States, on its 40th anniversary. In recognition of Lambda's four decades of fighting for the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans, as well as people with HIV/AIDS, President Barack Obama has extended his personal congratulations in a video in which he says, "Lambda Legal has been consistently in the forefront of ongoing efforts to fight discrimination, support young people and their families, and protect the safety and dignity of all. . . . Congratulations on your 40th anniversary."

Brittney Griner. Photo by Sphilbrick (CC by SA).

Congratulations to basketball phenom Brittney Griner on her amazing athletic achievements and on her courage and commitment. After leading Baylor University to a national championship, the three-time All-American won her second consecutive Wade Trophy as Defensive Player of the Year, her second consecutive Naismith Trophy as Women's College Player of the Year, her second consecutive John R. Wooden Award as Preeminent Women's Collegiate Basketball Player, and became the top pick in the WNBA draft when she was chosen by the Phoenix Mercury. In addition, she quietly acknowledged her lesbianism and dedicated herself to becoming "a light who inspires others."