The US Supreme Court said Monday it has decided to lengthen a hearing later this month for oral arguments in the much-anticipated case challenging a federal law that bars gay marriage.

An unlikely coalition grouping the Obama administration, major corporations, Republican lawmakers and Clint Eastwood has found common cause in urging the US Supreme Court to legalize gay marriage.

US President Barack Obama's administration threw its weight behind gay marriage on Thursday, urging the Supreme Court to strike down California's ban on same-sex unions.

US President Barack Obama's administration threw its weight behind gay marriage, urging the Supreme Court to strike down California's ban on same-sex unions.

US President Barack Obama threw his weight behind gay marriage on Thursday when his administration filed a brief with the Supreme Court opposing California's bid to ban same-sex unions.

Actor-director Clint Eastwood on Thursday joined more than a hundred self-described moderate and conservative Republicans in urging the US Supreme Court to scrap California's gay marriage ban.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced on Friday that he plans to file briefs in support of gay marriage bans. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced on Friday that he plans to file briefs in support of gay marriage bans when the Supreme Court takes up Proposition 8, California's marriage ban, and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) next year. ?I'm not going to wait for people to challenge our statute,? Zoeller said during a year-end news conference. ?There's a case that's going to go up before the Supreme Court, and I think it's my duty to file the amicus brief like we did with defending the roles of states in other areas.? Zoeller filed a friend-of-the-court brief in August asking the high court to take the Prop 8 case and reverse a decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals which found the 2008 voter-approved amendment to be unconstitutional. ?We contend the people of each state ? either through their elected legislators or directly by referendum ? sh

Yeardley Smith, who plays Lisa on 'The Simpsons,' has pledged $25K to fight California's gay marriage ban. Yeardley Smith, the French-born actress best know for playing the voice of Lisa Simpson on Fox's animated series The Simpsons, has pledged up to $25,000 to the group challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8, California's gay marriage ban. The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) announced the gift in an email to supporters on Thursday. ?My friend and AFER supporter Yeardley Smith stepped up to help us reach our $50,000 goal by the end of the year,? wrote Dustin Lance Black, an AFER founding board member and the writer of the film Milk and the play 8. ?She'll match every donation we receive until we hit our target. We're so close and we need your help to get there.? In Hollingsworth v. Perry, AFER is representing two gay couples who wish to marry but cannot because of Proposition 8, the 2008 voter-approved constitutional amendment which limits marriage to heterosex

Frank Schubert, political director for NOM, has called Newt Gingrich's recent shift on gay marriage 'stupid'. Frank Schubert, political director for the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), has called Newt Gingrich's recent shift on gay marriage ?stupid.? Gingrich, the former House Speaker and a leading candidate for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, told The Huffington Post last week that he's prepared to accept ?a legal document issued by the state? for gay and lesbian couples. Gingrich added that momentum is on the side of supporters and that he fears the issue could hurt the Republican Party, whose official platform opposes the legalization of marriage equality. (Related: Newt Gingrich says it's time to accept the reality of gay marriage.) Schubert ? who has managed campaigns for NOM since 2008's Proposition 8 in California ? criticized Gingrich in a blog post. ?[S]ometimes good men say stupid things, and this is one of those times,? Schubert wrote. ?Gingrich's conclusion

Gay current and retired federal employees are 'cautiously optimistic' about the Supreme Court agreeing to hear a DOMA case. Gay current and retired federal employees are 'cautiously optimistic' about the Supreme Court agreeing to hear a Defense of Marriage (DOMA) case. DOMA is the 1996 law which prohibits federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay and lesbian couples. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case related to the law. The plaintiff in Windsor v. United States, Edith Windsor, wants the IRS to recognize her 2007 marriage, but striking down the law would likely affect all federal agencies. (Related: Supreme Court to hear gay marriage-related Prop 8, DOMA cases.) ?We're very, very hopeful on our end,? Joanne Pedersen, an Office of Naval Intelligence retiree, told The Washington Post. ?It would allow me to put my wife on my health insurance. And as a federal retiree, that would greatly improve our finances.? ?I'm cautiously optimistic,? said Na

A quote referencing a Marilyn Monroe film in connection with a gay marriage case has topped a legal journal's roundup. A quote referencing a Marilyn Monroe film in connection with a gay marriage case has topped a legal journal's roundup of best quotes. Among the National Law Journal's list of wittiest legal quotes of 2012 is one from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in its ruling overturning Proposition 8, California's gay marriage ban. In its opinion the court cited the 1953 film How to Marry a Millionaire, which starred Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall as three gold diggers. The film inspired a television sitcom of the same name. ?Had Marilyn Monroe's film been called How to Register a Domestic Partnership with a Millionaire, it would not have conveyed the same meaning,? the justices wrote. California currently recognizes gay and lesbian couples with domestic partnerships. The opinion also cited thoughts on marriage from Abe Lincoln, Frank Sinatra and William Shakespear

Damon Lindelof, a co-writer of the upcoming film 'Star Trek Into Darkness,' has joined the NOH8 Campaign. Damon Lindelof, a co-writer of the upcoming film Star Trek Into Darkness, has joined the NOH8 Campaign, which raises awareness and funds for gay rights causes, including ending California's 2008 voter-approved gay marriage ban, Proposition 8. The campaign's Adam Bouska and his partner Jeff Parshley photograph celebrities, politicians, professional athletes and everyday folks with their mouths duct taped and the campaign's familiar ?NOH8? slogan often written on one cheek. The NOH8 Campaign released Lindelof's photo in a tweet. ?This issue is about equality, pure and simple,? Lindelof is quoted as saying in the message. The 39-year-old Lindelof is best known as the co-creator and showrunner of the ABC drama Lost. He also co-wrote Cowboys & Aliens and Prometheus. Celebrities who have recently joined the NOH8 Campaign include Ricki Lake, Nate Ruess, Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost of th

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is no longer the only Congressional Republican supporting repeal of DOMA. Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is no longer the only Congressional Republican supporting repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the 1996 law which forbids federal agencies from recognizing the marriages of gay and lesbian couples. New York Rep. Richard Hanna on Friday announced his support for the measure. In a statement released to gay glossy The Advocate, Hanna announced his co-sponsorship of the Respect for Marriage Act. ?New York State allows all its citizens the freedom to marry the person they love,? Hanna said. ?Under the Tenth Amendment, the federal government has a Constitutional responsibility to respect New York's right to set its own laws. It's my job to see that it does. ?It is right to extend equal protection under federal law to all couples who are legally married without infringing upon religious freedom and beliefs. This legislation does not tell states who can b

Talk show host Ricki Lake has posed for the NOH8 Campaign. ?Talk show host Ricki Lake has posed for the NOH8 Campaign, which raises awareness and funds for gay rights causes, including ending California's 2008 voter-approved gay marriage ban, Proposition 8. The campaign's Adam Bouska and his partner Jeff Parshley photograph celebrities, politicians, professional athletes and everyday folks with their mouths duct taped and the campaign's familiar ?NOH8? slogan often written on one cheek. The 44-year-old Lake, who recently returned to television with a new syndicated talk show, The Ricki Lake Show, is photographed wearing a white button-down shirt and making a heart gesture above her head with her thumbs and index fingers. Celebrities who have recently joined the NOH8 Campaign include Nate Ruess, Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost of the band fun, Glee's Alex Newell, singer Ricky Martin, actress Lana Parrilla, actor LeVar Burton, Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, singer LeAnn Rimes, actor

Liberty Counsel Chairman Mat Staver is predicting a civil war if the Supreme Court rules in favor of gay marriage advocates. Liberty Counsel Chairman Mat Staver is predicting a civil war if the Supreme Court rules in favor of gay marriage advocates. The nation's highest court has agreed to hear two cases related to marriage equality. Arguments are set for March and rulings are expected in June. (Related: Supreme Cout to hear gay marriage-related Prop 8, DOMA cases.) Speaking to Janet Parshall, Staver, whose group is heading a legal challenge to California's first-in-the-nation 'ex-gay' ban, said such a ruling would be ?devastating to our religious freedom.? ?Basically marriage will be completely destroyed, families will be destroyed, children will be hurt by this and freedom of speech and freedom of religion, including in the pulpit itself, will absolutely be bulldozed over,? Staver said. ?This would open a floodgate of unimaginable proportions. That's why with those kinds of consequen

Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert on Sunday said he wished Dawn Hochsprung, the principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School, had a gun. Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert on Sunday said he wished Dawn Hochsprung, the principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School, had a gun. Sandy Hook is the Newtown, Connecticut site where 27 people, including 20 children, died at the hands of gunman Adam Lanza, 20, on Friday. (Related: Sandy Hook mass shooting: Obama, HRC mourn.) Hochsprung was among the adults killed in the massacre. She was shot as she lunged at Lanza. Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Gohmert said: ?Hearing the heroic stories of the principal, lunging, trying to protect ? I wish to God she had had an M-4 [carbine rifle] in her office locked up so when she heard gunfire, she pulls it out and she didn't have to lunge heroically with nothing in her hands, but she takes him out, takes his head off before he kills those precious kids.? The 59-year-old Gohmert, a Republican, is also an outspoken opponent of gay righ

Edith Windsor, the woman at the center of the DOMA case headed to the Supreme Court, describes her journey coming out in the 60s. ?Edith Windsor, the woman at the center of the DOMA case headed to the Supreme Court, describes her journey coming out in the? 60s. In a profile from last year, gay weekly Out gets the details on the woman challenging the U.S. government for not recognizing her marriage to another woman. (Related: Supreme Court to hear gay marriage-related Prop 8, DOMA cases.) ?I came to New York to be a lesbian when I divorced,? Windsor said. She struck out on her first try. ?Once, when I came in from Philadelphia for a wedding, I stopped a woman wearing a trench coat and a pink button-down shirt, and I asked if there was a woman's bar around, and she directed me to what was Elle's Bar at the time. So I went to this bar, and I was dressed to the teeth ? and no one was dressed to the teeth ? and I sat there at the bar nursing my drink, but no one talked to me! And that was i

merican Apparel will reportedly be giving away thousands of 'Legalize Gay' t-shirts in France. Los Angeles-based clothier American Apparel will reportedly be giving away? thousands of ?Legalize Gay? t-shirts in France to support the government's plans to legalize gay marriage. The retailer said in a press release that it would be giving away 10,000 t-shirts in its stores and on the streets of Paris. ?In America the foundation of our civil rights are written as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ? in France it is liberty, equality, fraternity,? said Dov Charney, founder and CEO of American Apparel. ?Our company believes that those creeds by our founding fathers join us in an obligation to fight for freedom and fairness. Both the French and American people have a shared tradition of the pursuit of justice and we are proud to use our company's resources and give our support to this important fight.? The company first introduced its popular ?Legalize Gay? t-shirt in 2008 as a stat

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has criticized House Republicans for not disclosing boosting spending to defend DOMA. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has criticized House Republicans for not disclosing boosting spending to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the 1996 law which bans federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay and lesbian couples. According to CQ Roll Call, Republicans raised the cap twice from its original maximum of $500,000. On September 29, 2011 the cap was raised to $1.5 million. A second increase to $2 million was authorized a year later, on September 28. After the Department of Justice announced it would no longer defend the law in court, House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, directed the so-called Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) to step in. BLAG hired former Solicitor General Paul Clement to argue the cases. The Supreme Court earlier this month agreed to hear one of those DOMA cases, Windsor v. United States. (Re

Rob Thomas, the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty, has joined the NOH8 Campaign. Rob Thomas, the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty, has joined the NOH8 Campaign, which raises awareness and funds for gay rights causes, including ending California's 2008 voter-approved gay marriage ban, Proposition 8. The campaign's Adam Bouska and his partner Jeff Parshley photograph celebrities, politicians, professional athletes and everyday folks with their mouths duct taped and the campaign's familiar ?NOH8? slogan often written on one cheek. The 40-year-old Thomas, also an accomplished solo artist, is photographed in a white shirt with his hands outstretched forward. Celebrities who have recently joined the NOH8 Campaign include Nate Ruess, Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost of the band fun, Glee's Alex Newell, singer Ricky Martin, actress Lana Parrilla, actor LeVar Burton, Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, singer LeAnn Rimes, actor Taye Digg