Free Republic

PRINCETON, N.J. -- The American public estimates on average that 23% of Americans are gay or lesbian, little changed from Americans' 25% estimate in 2011, and only slightly higher than separate 2002 estimates of the gay and lesbian population. These estimates are many times higher than the 3.8% of the adult population who identified themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender in Gallup Daily tracking in the first four months of this year. Trend: Just your best guess, what percent of Americans today would you say are gay or lesbian? The stability of these estimates over time contrasts with the...

Fred Karger knew he was a 2012 long shot, but wanted to make history.During the last presidential election, Fred Karger’s run was a big first, but he was barely heard of by most. Karger, a longtime political consultant who advised the campaigns of former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, was the country’s first openly gay presidential candidate from a major political party – and he was a Republican, which made his journey as a political anomaly a worthy watch. This month, Karger is back campaigning in New Hampshire, but now it's for a new film by John Fitzgerald...

Gov. John Baldacci's gay rights legislation awaited only his signature Wednesday evening to complete the anti-discrimination bill's rapid journey through the Legislature this week. "This one signature will wipe out at least a decade of intolerance," Baldacci aide Lee Umphrey said as the bill made its final, procedural stops in the House and Senate, both of which had strongly endorsed the measure in earlier votes.  The final House vote on Wednesday evening was 91-58 in favor of the bill. The Senate took its final vote at about 8 p.m., approving the measure 25-10.  Baldacci's signature, expected this morning, will also...