A group of organizations committed to LGBT rights have announced their pulling of support from the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act over its religious exemption.

The American Civil Liberties Union, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, Lambda Legal, National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Transgender Law Center released a joint statement Tuesday expressing their opposition to ENDA.

Meant as a federal measure to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, the current version of ENDA included a provision allowing religious organizations to be exempted from the proposed legislation. more >>

A war memorial in a North Carolina city that includes a Christian flag and the image of a soldier kneeling before a cross has been brought to court.

U.S. District Judge James A. Beaty ruled Tuesday that there is sufficient evidence for a lawsuit against the city of King's war memorial to go to trial.

"As the court has determined that there are genuine disputes of material fact relating to what the cross statue purports to depict, and as a result, a dispute remains regarding the history of the Latin cross that is part of the cross statue, the court finds that those issues should proceed to trial," wrote Beaty. more >>

The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, a group of "continuing Episcopalians" within the Diocese of South Carolina, has embraced a rite that would bless same-sex relationships. Its leaders are involved in a legal battle over property against a diocese that broke away from the denomination.

"Our covenantal life with God is expressed in relationships of commitment and faithfulness, including those of same-sex couples," a document from the group about the rrelatively new rite states. "It is the Church's joy to celebrate these relationships as signs of God's love, to pray for God's grace to support couples in their life together, and to join with these couples in our shared witness to the gospel in the world."

The Rt. Rev. Charles G. vonRosenberg, bishop of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, sent out a letter Tuesday allowing for priests to perform the rite known as "The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant." more >>

In response to a petition that reportedly garnered over 50,000 signatories, the mayor of Houston has pledged to defend an antidiscrimination ordinance that critics say will allow transgendered men to use women's bathrooms.

Mayor Annise Parker, supporter of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, has stated that the ordinance will not be repealed.

"The Houston I know does not discriminate, treats everyone equally and allows full participation by everyone in civic and business life," said Parker, in a statement shared with The Christian Post. more >>

A recently released poll by Rasmussen Reports found that among voters in the United States, those who consider themselves pro-life are "at an all-time high."

Among 1,000 people surveyed last week, the report released Sunday found that 44 percent of likely voters identified themselves as "pro-life," versus 48 percent who self-identified as "pro-choice."

To contrast, in 2012, Rasmussen found 38 percent of voters identifying as pro-life, and in 2013 it was 43 percent. more >>

Marijuana is now a retail item in Washington State, as the west coast state opened its first licensed retail stores for the controversial plant.

Monday sounded the end of the state prohibition on cannabis sales, twenty months after Washington voters passed a referendum allowing for individuals 21 and over to purchase pot.

"I voted for it, and I'm just so excited to see it come to be in my lifetime … I'm not a heavy user, I'm just proud of our state for giving this a try," said one Seattle resident to the Associated Press. more >>