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legislature, demonstrators opposed to Republican policies within North Carolina demanded again Saturday that laws be repealed that they say harm the sick, the poor and minorities.

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.

Within hours of the Pulse nightclub massacre that claimed the lives of 49 victims, Facebook and Twitter feeds were swarmed with messages of grief and solidarity, with hashtags like #PrayForOrlando, #Pulse and #OrlandoStrong quickly gaining traction. 

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

The casting of a non-transgender actor in the transgender lead role of a film is facing calls of a boycott from the transgender community.

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.

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.

“It was unbelievably fun,” Ed Hermance said about his time operating Giovanni’s Room, one of the first queer bookstores in the world. “You weren’t there for the economics, and it would be exhausting if you were in it for the politics. We were starved.” 

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.