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This week’s episode of of the series, Brothers & Sisters will feature a same-sex commitment ceremony between two main characters, a first for any network television program.

Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) and long time boyfriend on the show, Scotty Wandell (Luke Macfarlane) will tie the knot in the season finale. Rhys stated that he has even received a fan letter from a mother of a gay son saying she, “took great strength in seeing Kevin interact with his mother, and how little of a problem it is for them.”

The episode will air this Sunday at 10 p.m. on ABC.

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Openly gay Episcopal bishop, Gene Robinson has announced that he will enter into a civil union with his partner of 20 years so that his family can have the same legal rights that heterosexual couples enjoy.

The bishop has received death threats and has been told that he can not attend this years Episcopal conference that meets once every 10 years in England, because of protests from conservative congregations.

Robinson says that it is all worth it because he is doing what God asks of him. “Not living your life - that’s worse than death. And if something were to happen to me, I would know that I am doing what I discern God is calling me to do.”

The bishop states that he will go any way to the conference in July to stand outside the meeting and testify for others like him. “I’m going to go and offer myself and talk with anyone who wants to talk to someone who is unashamedly gay and unashamedly Christian.”

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Since Raul Castro became the President of Cuba, it has been his daughter, Mariela Castro who has promised to push through positive changes for the country. She has been lobbying the government to adopt what would be the most liberal gay and transsexual rights in Latin America.

Castro has worked hard to change the misconception about minority groups in Cuba as the head of the National Centre for Sex Education. She has also proposed a law that would recognize same-sex unions, and allow transsexuals free sex-change operations along with other basic rights as well.

 While Castro says her father is supportive of her work, he has encouraged her to move slowly. She has recognized that if the National Assembly passes her gay rights bill later this year, it would mark a huge change in Cuba’s sexual politics.

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Gay fans of the New York Rangers hockey team are concerned about some of the behavior taking place during the home games at Madison Square Garden.

According to fans, crowd chants that use derogatory terms, and homophobic comments that are shouted to the players have resulted in a tense atmosphere at the games and have led to many giving up their tickets.

Ray Stankes gave up the season tickets he’s had for 25 years in part due to the anti-gay environment. “If I take a friend who is also gay who, for lack of a better term, is not as masculine, I’m always sitting there a little tense…it’s made it not quite as fun as it used to be.”

City Council speaker, Christine Quinn joined with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network in January to urge the Rangers to take action. Since then the Garden has started broadcasting warnings during the games that fans who behave offensively will be removed. Quinn says she would still like to see more done.

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David Paterson, who will become New York State governor on Monday is viewed by many LGBT activists as one of the biggest supporters of the community.

Throughout his career Paterson has been vocal about the need for equal rights, even going on the record for supporting same-sex marriage in 1994. While Paterson was the state senate minority leader, he lobbied for the inclusion of transgendered people into the Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Act. He also refused to pass the hate-crimes bill without protection for gays and lesbians.

Director of the New York Trans Rights Organization, Melissa Sklarz believes Paterson’s own personal struggles have lead him to fight for LGBT rights. “He knows what it’s like to overcome adversity. He knows what it’s like when people are judged negatively at first impression,” she says.

Paterson will become the first African-American and legally blind governor of New York.

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Sally Kern, the House representative for Oklahoma is not apologizing for her speech given to a group of about 50 Republicans. An anonymous person leaked her comments onto YouTube where Kern talks intently about how homosexuality is destroying the nation.

 Many are outraged with Kerns, but also with the fact that she is defending her statements by telling the press, “What i’m saying, I believe in.”

The recording has Kerns stating, that homosexuality is a bigger threat than “terrorism or Islam,” and that the gay agenda is, “Deadly…and it’s spreading and it will destroy our young people. It will destroy this nation.”

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Prosecutors in the trial of former news anchor, Alycia Lane are coming under attack from the NYC division of the Gay Officers Action League after her charges have been downgraded from assault to a misdemeanor.

Lane, was confronted by cops in Manhattan after being disorderly, she then hit a female officer in the face while making homophobic remarks in December 2007.

The Action League stated that they are “outraged and deeply concerned” and wonder if such discriminatory action is allowed against police officers, what chance do everyday citizens have of feeling safe?

Lane was fired from her job at a Philadelphia station shortly after the incident and her lawyer says that his client never assaulted anyone.

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The Pride Foundation of Seattle has announced the largest ever endowment given to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender causes by one of the first Microsoft Corp. employees, Ric Weiland. 

After a long battle with depression, Weiland committed suicide in 2006. On Sunday Weiland’s estate announced that they had established a fund at the Pride Foundation that would give $46 million to various groups ranging from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to the American Foundation for AIDS Research.

An additional $19 million will go towards the Pride Foundation to set up scholarships and grants for LGBT people in the Pacific Northwest.

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Jason Bartlett, who represents three counties in Connecticut has become the first openly gay, black state legislator in U.S. history.

While campaigning there was speculation and rumors regarding his sexual orientation, but Bartlett tried to keep his personal life private. On Tuesday all of that changed. “To me,” he said, ”this is about having a conversation with my larger family- the people of greater Danbury who voted for me.”

While up for reelection in November Bartlett is not going to worry about how his announcement will affect the voters decision and other lawmakers have announced that his coming out will not change their opinion of him. House Speaker James Amman, added, “Maybe it will give others the courage to come out and say, ‘This is who I am.’”

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15-year-old, Lawrence King was shot in the head by a classmate who had a falling out with the victim stemming from his sexual orientation.

Classmates at the E.O. Green Junior High in Oxnard, CA stated that King announced that he was gay and often wore women’s clothing, shoes, and makeup to school.

The suspect, whose identity is not being release because of his age allegedly shot King twice at the beginning of the school day on Tuesday and fled the scene. King has been declared brain dead by two neurosurgeons and currently remains on a ventilator.

 The suspect is being held in Juvenile Hall and is expected to be charged as an adult. If it is determined that King was targeted because he was gay, officials say the case could rise to the level of a hate crime.

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