Top Trending: Feb. 24 - March 2, 2013

A bill to legalize gay marriage in Illinois cleared its first hurdle in the House late Tuesday when a House Executive Committee passed The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act by a vote of 6 to 5.

Illinois Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the sponsor of a marriage equality bill in the Illinois House, said he is "prepared to put it all on the line."

It is finally here! The Oscars are tonight on ABC with openly gay Broadway, film and television producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan producing the three-hour Oscar telecast from Hollywood's Dolby Theatre.

Twenty-three prominent Latino leaders on Sunday called on Illinois lawmakers to approve a gay marriage bill.

Hollywood's Dolby Theatre wasn't the only place lighting up the red carpet for the Oscars this year. Center on Halsted welcomed their network of supporters, activists, and leaders for a red carpet evening of the VIP treatment and an interactive Oscar viewing experience at the Park West this past Sunday, Feb. 24.

Authorities have charged a 22-year-old man with the murder of Marco McMillian an openly-gay African-American mayoral candidate for the city of Clarksdale, Mississippi.

The Obama administration on Thursday filed a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to find Proposition 8, California's gay marriage ban, in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Apple, Facebook and Microsoft are among the companies signing on to a legal brief in support of gay marriage.

On a vote of 286-138, the U.S. House of Representatives easily passed reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act on Thursday morning. President Obama is expected to sign the bill which has already passed the Senate in a bi-partisan fashion.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien has been forced to resign his post as archbishop effective immediately amid allegations he made advances to younger clergy in his diocese.