Senate votes to end gay ban in United States armed forces

In a historic vote on behalf of gay rights in America, the U.S. Senate today did away with the U.S. military's ban on openly gay service members. The measure will now be sent to President Barack Obama for signature. This proposed law overturns the Clinton-era "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy established during the 1990s.

The significance of the ban being lifted is profound, and would result in openly gay service members no longer fearing separation from the military should their status be discovered by the chain of command. The Senate voted 65-31 to lift the controversial ban.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to multiculturalism, diversity, social justice and religious tolerance. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.

Orthodox Jewish lesbians will have a new online home

American Sarah Weil, 20, emigrated to Israel and threw herself into studying Jewish law through the lens of strict chasidic rebbetzins in Jerusalem. Ms. Weil wants to keep the Torah and mitzvot and live in the Orthodox world. Yet, she is gay and that practice is considered an "abomination" in the eyes of many in the Orthodox community.

However, with the assistance of another "American olah," Talya Levy, as well as a grant from a major Jewish contributor, Weil is readying to launch an English version of the Bat Kol website. Bat Kol ("Daughter of a Voice") lobbies for gay rights in the Jewish world. For religious lesbians, Weil characterized the new site as a "life-net," which is a cross between a lifeline and a safety net.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution that is dedicated to human dignity, equal rights and social justice for all persons and groups. The seminary's primary mission is to prepare men and women, from diverse and inclusive backgrounds, for careers within ministry.