RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ Still working toward substantial victories at the ballot box and the legislature, demonstrators opposed to Republican policies within North Carolina demanded again Saturday that laws be repealed that they say harm the sick, the poor and minorities.

In recent years, a cinematic trend has arisen. Period pieces about lesbians, set in the late 18th century through the mid-19th century are not just becoming popular, they are also well-received.

The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) announced Monday it's closing its doors. The decision to close up shop follows the United States Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v Hodges and mirrors the move by marriage equality group Freedom to Marry to also "go out of business."

(EDGE) Police in the former Soviet republic of Georgia say they have detained 10 gay rights activists who were painting graffiti on the fence of the Georgian Orthodox Patriarch's office.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — At least 105 gay rights demonstrators filled the Capitol's basement corridor seeking to convince lawmakers to update the Idaho Human Rights Act with discrimination protections based on gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination.

BOISE, Idaho — Police arrested roughly two dozen gay rights activists Monday after protesters refused to leave the Idaho Senate and House chambers in an attempt to pressure lawmakers into passing anti-discrimination protections.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Gay rights activists once again returned to the Idaho Capitol to protest lawmakers' refusal to pass anti-discrimination protections, this time by refusing to leave the state's bill-drafting offices.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Three gay-rights advocates are charged with damaging property after confronting protesters outside a North Carolina fundraiser celebrating same-sex marriage and other social changes.

East Central Florida’s LGBT community will gather Oct. 24 at shade-covered Old Fort Park in New Smyrna Beach for the fourth annual Volusia Pride.

Tallahassee – Equality Florida delivered 7,000 petitions to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office, asking her to withdraw her notice of appeal that has put a stay on a judge’s decision that Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

HAVANA (AP) — Yet another revolutionary tradition has been broken in Cuba: A lawmaker voted "no" in parliament.

(WB) Jessycka Ckatallea Letona is an indigenous transgender woman from Guatemala who fled persecution in her homeland because of her gender identity.

Charleston, S.C. (AP) – Gay rights activists hope the buzz surrounding a “Big, Gay `I Do”’ wedding celebration in Charleston will show how much money South Carolina’s businesses are losing to the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Human rights and gay rights activists on Tuesday urged President Barack Obama to ensure that the issue of anti-gay discrimination in Africa is on the agenda at next week's summit in Washington with more than 40 African leaders.

HOUSTON (AP) — The landslide defeat of a nondiscrimination ordinance in Houston has stunned LGBT-rights activists across the nation. They're now bracing for their opponents in other states to seize on the successful tactic of stoking fears over transgender people's access to public restrooms.

Cleve Jones has devoted a lifetime to LGBT rights. An isolated teen who contemplated suicide, while flipping through a copy of Life magazine, he discovered there were other people like him, in fact, an entire movement and so he moved to San Francisco in his early 20s.

WASHINGTON (AP) - For Scott Walker, it wasn't one thing that led to the demise of his presidential campaign. It was just about everything.

History was made in a most unexpected way in late 2013 when the petition titled “Southern Poverty Law Center: Monitor Gender Identity Watch as a Hate Group” appeared at Change.org. At press time, the petition had garnered more than 7,000 signatures.

Who will be this year’s Best New LGBT Activist? Voting is underway now in this category and dozens of others in SFGN’s annual Best Of contest. 

Study reports just under $130 million in funding to LGBTQ issues

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An Arkansas judge has struck down part of the state's law on birth certificates, a move that an attorney says clears the way for married same-sex couples to both be listed as parents.

Everyone could use a little distraction during these difficult times. That’s why ArtServe is presenting a virtual event to talk about the power of art activism, featuring “ChangeMaker” Dr. Corinna J. Moebius.

If Jeb Bush decides to run for president in 2016, he's going to have to get crafty with the naming of the URL for his campaign website.

SOCHI, Russia (CNN) -- After several tumultuous days that included police detentions, interrogations and a public flogging from angry Cossacks, the dissident punk band Pussy Riot struck back.

Robin Bodiford recalls many mentors and heroes that impacted her life — one that’s been a tapestry of activism in politics and LGBT rights. 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown praised gay rights advocates Monday night for being on "the cutting edge" in pushing for equality over the last several decades, as he was honored with an award for what supporters said was his lifelong push to advance equal rights.

Organizers promise an even better festival next year

Students at Dartmouth College are defending a series of explicit questions on gay sex posed to Texas Gov. Rick Perry during a Sunday night Q&A, saying they were trying to illustrate how childish Perry was being by denying gays their rights just because "he finds anal sex icky."

(WB) Some of the 50 human rights activists that a Columbia University researcher has helped evacuate from Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control of the country are LGBT.

The Darkest Shadow, part 2