Morning Sweep

The New York State AFL-CIO has passed resolutions urging the Legislature to pass bills for marriage equality, banning discrimination against transgender New Yorkers, and ending bullying and harassment of LGBT youth in public schools.

Republican Assemblymember Teresa Sayward, an outspoken supporter of same-sex marriage, recently received an award from The Bridge, a Glens Falls-based LGBT advocacy organization.

An anti-gay rally by Hispanic religious leaders near City Hall on Monday was a huge flop. Not surprisingly, it was a bit upstaged by the NYC Obama Pride launch.

Today has been named “The Trevor Project Day” in New York, in conjunction with it also being World Suicide Prevention Day. The Trevor Project is the non-profit organization that operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBT and questioning youth.

The Church of Latter Day Saints has released a statement that although it opposes same-sex marriage, it does not oppose employment, housing and other protections for gay couples. Affirmation, a gay Mormon group, says this is “by far the most affirming statement of both human and civil rights of gay people" by the religion.

A circuit court judge has ruled that Florida’s law banning gay couples from adopting is unconstitutional.

A Montgomery County, Maryland law banning transgender discrimination went into effect yesterday. The law had been challenged in court by conservative and religious groups who wanted to force it to a referendum.

The same-sex marriage ban on Florida’s Nov. ballot likely won’t have enough support to pass.

But same-sex marriage bans on Florida, Arizona and California’s ballots could bring more voters out to the polls – a possibility that McCain and Obama must take seriously.

David Mixner writes on how this presidential election will be critical to our nation’s future.

A Wall Street Journal columnist notes the absence of anti-gay rhetoric from last week’s Republican National Convention.

CBS News has an interesting story on Trinidad, Colorado, a small town known as the “sex-change capital of the U.S.”