2+ hour, 37+ min ago   (783+ words) AGAWAM " Marriage benefits are for married people, the City Council decided last week. In an 8-2 vote on Feb. 2, councilors defeated a proposal to begin recording "domestic partnerships" in town, defined as an arrangement between "two or more persons" who "have…...

5+ day, 8+ hour ago   (1158+ words) SAN JOSE, Calif. - Every Sunday night, particularly during the football season, Mike Vrabel keeps to the same ritual. At some point after the Patriots game, he calls or texts one of the important influences in his life, the man who…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago   (829+ words) The Supreme Court on Tuesday seemed likely to uphold state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams. Lower courts ruled for the transgender athletes in Idaho and West Virginia who challenged the state bans, but…...

1+ mon, 1+ week ago   (488+ words) SPRINGFIELD " A judge has narrowed the scope of a lawsuit brought by an assistant librarian alleging she faced age, disability and sexual orientation discrimination while working at the Agawam Public Library. In May 2023, Library Director Nancy Siegel told Jolene Mercadante…...

1+ mon, 2+ week ago   (205+ words) Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has joined a multistate lawsuit challenging a Trump administration declaration that could restrict access to gender-affirming care for young people. Massachusetts is among 19 states and Washington, D.C., suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The…...

2+ mon, 3+ week ago   (133+ words) Delinda Dykes was fired in 2023 from Amherst Regional Middle School for allegedly misgendering transgender students. Amherst-Pelham Regional School District says it will comply with court order to reinstate fired counselor AMHERST " The Amherst-Pelham Regional School District says it will comply…...

3+ mon, 1+ week ago   (143+ words) Even when corrected, Delinda Dykes would quickly revert to using incorrect names or pronouns according to a Title IX investigation. Judge confirms reinstatement of Amherst school counselor who was fired after allegations of misgendering transgender students AMHERST " A Hampshire Superior…...

3+ mon, 2+ week ago   (1147+ words) NEW HAVEN, Conn. " Springfield creatives turned heads at the recent New Haven Fashion Week with bold designs, personal stories and surprise runway moments " including snakes, knives and "runaway brides" " all staged inside a busy train station. Springfield model Jaynaya Collins,…...

3+ mon, 3+ week ago   (609+ words) A Boston community health center that, for decades, has been a nation-leading haven for LGBTQ+ care, is ending gender-affirming care for patients under 19, citing new federal requirements. Fenway Health announced this week that it will stop providing hormones and puberty…...

3+ mon, 3+ week ago   (376+ words) SPRINGFIELD " The School Committee is considering writing a policy calling for all schools to say the Pledge of Allegiance after one member said its daily recitation varies from school to school. But developing a policy may be difficult since educators…...