PORTLAND, Maine -- Maine's new freedom to marry law, which allows same-sex couples to receive a marriage license, will take effect on Saturday, Dec. 29.

According to the Office of the Secretary of State, the certified election results for the state were signed off on by Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday, Nov. 29. The new law becomes effective 30 days from that date.

"The long wait for marriage for same-sex couples in Maine is almost over," said Betsy Smith, the executive director of EqualityMaine. "Before the end

The Minneapolis city council on Friday confirmed 25-year veteran officer Janee Harteau as the city's new Chief of Police, and in doing so Harteau becomes the first woman and first openly gay officer to serve as police chief.

The council voted 11-0 to confirm Harteau, 48, after council members and Mayor R.T. Rybak gushed praise for the new chief.

“I love the fact that we will have a chief who has worked her way up,” said Rybak, who officially nominated Harteau to become the city’s next chief of police. “She’s a smart cop, a savvy administrator and a natural leader,” he said.

Recently re-elected President Barack Obama and failed GOP presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney had lunch last Thursday, and what fun it is to imagine their conversation. Perhaps it went something like this. …

WASHINGTON – The waiting game continues for LGBT Americans in their quest to achieve full equality.

Once again, the U.S. Supreme Court leaves LGBT Americans hanging in the wind, wondering whether the justices will ever make a decision about the Proposition 8 and Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) cases that are before them.

This morning, the high court announced its order list from last Friday's conference and it did not include any of the gay-rights issues.