Welcome to The Morning Pride, ThinkProgress LGBT’s daily round-up of the latest in LGBT policy, politics, and some culture too! Here’s what we’re reading this morning, but please let us know what stories you’re following as well. Follow us all day on Twitter at @TPEquality.
– The White House has refused to say whether it will be filing a brief in the Proposition 8 case.
– Due to a lack of financial support and mounting debt, the National Stonewall Democrats are going on hiatus.
– This morning, Colorado will swear in its first openly gay House Speaker, Rep. Mark Ferrandino (D).
– Yesterday, Texas swore in its first openly LGBT female legislator, Mary Gonzalez, who identifies as pansexual.
– As the new legislative session begins today, Illinois lawmakers are immediately introducing a new marriage equality bill.
– Illinois residents are receiving anti-gay robo-calls from Iowa.
– The Rockford Pro-Life Initiative is calling on Chicago Cardinal George to excommunicate Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn for supporting marriage equality.
– Springfield, Illinois has again approved civil union benefits for city employees after an open meetings snag invalidated the first vote last week.
– Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D) proposed to her partner of three years, Kelley Quinn, in front of the Capitol this weekend.
– Facebook has taken down a page dedicated to outing gay Ugandans.
– The USA Today features an article about how same-sex marriage is “becoming a uniter — not a divider,” highlighting the impending nuptials for activists Sean Carlson and Jamie McGonnigal.
– Crate & Barrel’s new catalog features a spread of ideas for a romantic night with your loved one, starring a gay couple.
– NPR’s has named its Performance of the Year in its Snap Judgment slam poetry and storytelling series, 15-year old Noah St. John, who tells a story about his two moms: