PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Lambda Legal argued before the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of Riverside County on Friday that the June 2009 sex sting operation in the Warm Sands neighborhood of Palm Springs constituted discriminatory enforcement of the laws and asked the Court to reverse several convictions resulting from that operation.

Lambda Legal had filed a friend-of-the-court brief in this case earlier this year, and was granted permission by the court to present oral argument at the hearing.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – LGBT voters in droves helped elect Dr. Raul Ruiz to an upset victory over U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack on Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

Ruiz, who campaigned as a straight ally of the LGBT community, ousted Bono Mack, who is the stepmother of transgender activist Chaz Bono.

Bono Mack, who was a seven-term U.S. representative and a Republican, had a checkered voting record on LGBT rights and represented an area where the LGBT community is growing and showing its political clout.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), the first openly gay person to be elected Speaker of a legislative body, was unanimously chosen by California Assembly Democrats to continue serving as their leader.

Pérez is one of a handful of LGBT Speakers across the U.S. Tuesday’s elections will add two more LGBT Speakers.

In Colorado, state Rep. Mark Ferrandino was chosen by Democrats today to serve as Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives in January.

In Oregon, state Rep. Tina Kotek is on track to be elected Speaker in that state.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Besides being a resort city popular with Southern Californians and visitors from around the world, Palm Springs is home to a vibrant LGBT community that likes to step out and show its colors in the desert.