EDGE Dallas

After getting an earful from Chancellor Angela Merkel on the importance of civic society, Russian President Vladimir Putin was heading Monday to Amsterdam, where rights activists were ready to blast Russian gay rights policies.

For all its beauty and travel convenience, Puerto Rico is sometimes overlooked by gay travelers, who assume that it’s simply not a very LGBT-friendly place. That may have once been true, but things are rapidly changing.

Puerto Rico is becoming more gay-friendly, as evidenced by a bill in the legislature to outlaw discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation.

One of the lead strategists for Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign suggests that he lost the election because of his views on gay rights and similar issues rather than technological issues.

Belarus police are targeting the LGBT community by raiding their clubs, arresting club-goers and calling in gay activists for questioning. One activist even accused police of beating him during questioning.

From President Barack Obama’s comments about gay military spouses at the State of the Union address to his historic acknowledgement during his second inauguration that LGBTs be treated equally; has ’The Obama Effect’ changed public opinion on gay rights?

In President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address he presents a rare and fleeting opportunity to push the second-term agenda that could help determine his legacy - if he can get Congress to act quickly.

U.S.-born children of Hispanic immigrants are more likely than their parents to identify be a Democrat as they integrate into American life, maintaining strong ties to their heritage while casting themselves as liberal on social issues, like gay marriage.

In the ultra conservative state of Wyoming, Republican lawmakers are beginning to show support on LGBT issues.

Growing public acceptance of gay rights is causing some conservative evangelical churches to reconsider the way they talk about homosexuality and sin.