Pope Francis acknowledged the existence of a "gay lobby" in the Roman Curia for the first time last week and suggested that he was considering taking action on it.

Spring cleaning is one of those necessary tasks that, while perhaps daunting, must be done to keep your space ordered and livable.

Depending on how long you have put off a house-wide cleaning spree, you may be facing a ton of work. Fortunately, it is possible to tackle even the most cluttered space if you remain persistent and remember the rewards that come from seeing the result of a job well done.

Green spring clean

NEW YORK -- A bill in the making could change military discharges of gay and lesbian soldiers, prior to the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," to honorable status.

New York Congressman Steve Israel plans to introduce legislation that could retract the dishonorable discharges and allow these veterans to receive medical and other benefits, according to The Associated Press.

Israel announced the bill during an appearance at the Long Island Pride Parade. He was joined by World War II veteran Robert O. Hawkins Jr., who said he was dishonorably discharged because he was gay.

WASHINGTON -- A last-minute amendment tacked onto the comprehensive immigration-reform bill would provide equal rights to same-gender binational couples, and the nation's leading LGBT advocacy groups are praising Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) for his efforts.

“Seeking equal protection under our laws for the LGBT community is the right thing to do,” Leahy said in a statement Tuesday. “I withheld my anti-discrimination amendment during the Senate Judiciary Committee markup. As the entire Senate turns to debate the immigration bill, the fight for equality must go on.”