Cheryl Wetzstein
Articles by Cheryl Wetzstein
Supreme Court hands double win to gay-marriage backers
In a banner day for supporters of gay marriage, a closely divided U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal provision that denied benefits to legally married same-sex couples and, in a separate case, cleared the way for California to resume offering marriage licenses to gay couples. Published June 26, 2013
Indian welfare law can’t be ‘trump card’ to block adoption, Supreme Court rules
In a victory for adoptive parents, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a federal law protecting Native American families cannot not be used as "a trump card" to block the adoption of an Indian child that would otherwise take place under South Carolina state law. Published June 25, 2013
Both sides await as high court prepares gay marriage rulings
The U.S. Supreme Court will speak on gay marriage Wednesday morning, and from coast to coast, advocates, pastors and legal groups are preparing to answer back. Published June 25, 2013
Pediatricians have a new mission: Fight ‘homophobia’
In its first sexual-orientation policy update in nearly a decade, the nation's largest pediatricians group said its members should do more to fight "heterosexism" and "homophobia," as well as step up their care of teens with same-sex attractions. Published June 24, 2013
Ministry tells gays it’s sorry and closes
Gay-rights groups are cheering the closing of a Florida-based ex-gay ministry, which was announced this week with an apology from its leader. Published June 20, 2013
Supreme Court strikes down Obama-backed ‘prostitution pledge’ in AIDS funding
In a setback for the Obama administration, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday voided an anti-prostitution provision in the federal anti-AIDS funding program. Published June 20, 2013
Parents plea with FCC to keep TV’s decency rules
Thousands of people — often describing themselves as parents and grandparents — passionately urged the FCC not to change policy and allow "fleeting" or "isolated" instances of nudity and cursing on public airwaves. Published June 19, 2013
HUD finds small amount of anti-gay discrimination in housing
A federal housing study finds that when heterosexual married couples look for a place to live, they are slightly more likely to get a favorable response than gay or lesbian couples. Published June 18, 2013
TV viewers weary of nudity and obscenity look for decency from FCC nominee
The future of long-standing government bans on obscenity and nudity on the airwaves soon could become much clearer as President Obama's pick to head the Federal Communications Commission faces a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday — one day before the public comment period on the policy ends. Published June 17, 2013
Transgender child’s bathroom battle raises a legal case of sex identity
In what is seen as an important legal test for transgender rights, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court heard a case Wednesday on whether an elementary school discriminated against a boy who identifies as a girl when it required her to use a unisex staff bathroom instead of the girls' bathroom. Published June 12, 2013
Vanity, thy name is Facebook?
For the narcissists among us, Facebook and Twitter are a virtual dream come true, says a new study. Published June 11, 2013
N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushing pro-choice legislation
Although most states are tightening their laws on abortion, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo stepped in a different direction Tuesday, introducing legislation to bring his state's abortion law more in line with federal law. Published June 4, 2013
Irreconcilable differences: Conflicting marriage laws a problem for gay couples
The number of states expected to legalize gay marriage may be topping out and, unless the U.S. Supreme Court decides otherwise, there are few signs that a large number of other states will follow suit anytime soon. Can the United States live with such irreconcilable differences? Published June 3, 2013
Illinois lawmakers vow to revive bill allowing gay marriage
Although Illinois lawmakers failed Friday night to approve a bill to make it the 13th state to perform gay marriages, legislative leaders pledged to bring it back for passage with some holding out hope that it could before the end of the summer. Published June 2, 2013
Gay marriage bill fails in Illinois; lawmaker vows ‘we will be back’
Illinois lawmakers failed Friday night to approve a bill to legalize gay marriage, but the bill's sponsor pledged to bring it back for passage at the end of the year. Published June 1, 2013
Arizona abortion law receives pushback from minority groups
Minority groups in Arizona are pushing back against a state law that forbids abortions based solely on the sex or race of the baby, saying it unfairly targets black and Asian women. Published May 29, 2013
In secret trip to Syria, Sen. John McCain hears rebels’ pleas for help
As international discussions on Syria's civil war loom, Sen. John McCain, an open critic of the Obama administration's approach to the civil war, on Monday became the highest-ranking U.S. official to slip into Syria and meet with the forces seeking to overthrow the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Published May 27, 2013
Boy Scouts will ‘move forward’ after vote on gays
After its historic vote to grant membership to openly gay youth, leaders of Boy Scouts of America are anxious to "move forward" as a unified Scouting family, even as an unknown number of chartering organizations, councils, troops and members reassess their participation in the iconic institution. Published May 26, 2013
Boy Scouts vote to allow gay members, but not gay adults
Openly gay youths can join the Boy Scouts of America, its voting members decided Thursday, though gay leaders promptly called the change in the century-old program for boys and teens inadequate and vowed to continue to pressure the Scouts to go further. Published May 23, 2013
Number of teens having babies down significantly
Plummeting birthrates among all teens — especially Hispanics — has helped bring this vital statistic to record-low levels, says a new federal report. Published May 23, 2013
