WASHINGTON – The nation’s leading LGBT groups today praised the Pentagon’s decision to allow military chaplains to perform wedding ceremonies where they are legal and if such ceremonies are consistent with their religious traditions.

The Department of Defense today clarified this policy just days after the implementation of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Supporters are calling this an important step to preserving the religious freedom of military chaplains and removing discriminatory barriers for America’s troops.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Country music artist and LGBT activist Chely Wright is lending her voice and her support to the marriage equality activists who are staging rallies in North Carolina this week, in response to a stunning move by the state legislature to pass a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage -- and civil unions -- across the state.

The measure was passed by the NC House on Monday, September 12, 2011 and by the Senate on Tuesday, September 13.

North Carolina is currently the only southern state without a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

NEW YORK -- Emmy Award winning broadcaster Larry King, who has interviewed every U.S. president since Gerald Ford, has spoken up for the LGBT community by telling President Barack Obama to support marriage equality.

In a video created by the NOH8 Campaign and Freedom to Marry, King says to Obama: “Many of your fellow elected officials have already taken a stand … Please, Mr. President, support the Freedom to Marry.”

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – On the heels of a marriage victory in New York, a group of marriage advocates sent a letter late Tuesday to Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, calling on him to veto the civil union bill currently under consideration if it comes to his desk in its present form.

The bill contains a provision that would allow religious organizations and their employees to disregard couples’ civil union status, creating unprecedented, onerous and discriminatory hurdles for same-sex couples seeking to take care of one another.