Morning Sweep

A transgender woman who was subjected to harassment and later fired by the New York State Thruway Authority has been awarded more than $55,000 in damages by the state Division of Human Rights. She is still seeking reinstatement to her job.

State Senator George Onorato, one of the eight Democrats who voted against the marriage bill, has announced he will not run for re-election this November.

The Buffalo News writes extensively on anti-gay hate crimes in light of two recent attacks.

Buffalo Spree magazine, a regional Western New York publication, has a great story on the unique challenges faced by same-sex couples in their Weddings issue.

The federal Prop. 8 case begins today.

The New York Times highlights the ideological differences between the two lawyers arguing against the proposition. One of them, Theodore B. Olson, outlines the conservative arguments for same-sex marriage in Newsweek.

An op-ed in the Times argues that the pre-trial rulings in the Prop. 8 case show that the judge is biased toward LGBT advocates' side. Judge Walker has ruled that things like TV advertisements, press releases and Prop. 8 sponsors' personal beliefs can be considered relevant evidence. He has also ruled that the trial can be televised, though not live.

The L.A. Times praises Judge Walker for allowing the trial to be televised.