Welcome to The Morning Pride, ThinkProgress LGBT’s 8:45 AM round-up of the latest in LGBT policy, politics, and some culture too! Here’s what we’re reading this morning, but let us know what you’re checking out as well. Follow us all day on Twitter at @TPEquality.
– In case you missed it, the Washington state Senate voted 28–21 last night to advance the marriage equality bill! The full video of debate can be found at TVW, but here is a clip of openly gay Sen. Ed Murray (D) speaking on behalf of the measure, followed by the vote itself:
– Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley reiterated his support for same-sex marriage during his State of the State last night.
– It seems that all of the Catholic Charities’ discrimination against same-sex couples was mandated from the Vatican itself.
– Students at Pepperdine University, which is associated with the Churches of Christ, are petitioning the school to recognize a Gay-Straight Alliance.
– Tyler Clementi’s older brother, James, shares “Letters to My Brother.”
– Todd Heywood attempts to sort out a complex HIV criminal investigation that recently unfolded in Michigan.
– A gay couple is suing the Cleveland police for mistreatment.
– A German father wants his transgender daughter placed in a mental institution simply because of her gender identity.
– Kenya’s Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has echoed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s call that “gay rights are human rights.”
– A gay man from San Diego is facing deportation to Nigeria, where his life would be in danger.
– Scott Rose profiles the anti-gay history Kathleen Kositzky Crank, the mother of the 14-year-old birthday girl who testified against marriage equality in Maryland. Crank has been feverishly responding to comments on our original post of her daughter’s remarks.
– The owner of the Tennessee Bistro that kicked out anti-gay state Sen. Stacey Campfield (R) explains her decision: