Gay

Legislature

House passes bill to expand “Don’t Say Gay” law through 12th grade

Lawmakers also passed a bill requiring parental consent for drag performances at schools and libraries.

April 18, 2025

New “Don’t Say Gay” bill would extend through 12th grade

It would extend the state’s prohibition on classroom discussion or instruction of sexual orientation or gender identity.

February 20, 2024

LGBTQ community marches on the Capitol to protest anti-trans bills

Hundreds of people marched from the Alabama Supreme Court to the Capitol, and then to the Statehouse.

May 17, 2023

Again and again. And yes, again.

There are issues that most of Alabama knows we need to address. I’ll write about them over and over again.

January 31, 2023

Chris Countryman forms exploratory committee on running for governor

Countryman was a 2018 candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor.

June 7, 2021

Stop telling people that Alabama is better than this. It’s not.

This is who we are. We are the state that just told rape victims they have to carry their rape babies to term. We are the state that just told pre-teen girls that they have to carry their incest babies to term. This is who we are. Stop telling me otherwise. Please. I’m sick of … Continued

May 15, 2019

Stupid is as stupid does

I hate new years. Not because it’s another year. That’s going to happen, regardless of what we might want. The calendar days end, and the new calendar days begin. We can’t stop it. I hate new years because of the silly expectations. We expect the new year to encourage us to exercise more, or to … Continued

January 3, 2019

A real “enemy of the people”

I’m pretty fortunate, in that I’ve got two great careers. I write for this great news organization each week, continuing the mostly political columns about Alabama I wrote for a more than a quarter of a century for The Birmingham News, back when The News was a newspaper. I also write the monthly back-page column … Continued

December 20, 2018

Inside the Statehouse: Less than two weeks to primary – governor’s race

As we get down to the lick log in the 2018 June Primary, there are few if any surprises in any of the major state races. Polling indicates that all of the contests are about where they were three or four months ago when the races began. There is a tremendous amount of apathy and indifference … Continued

May 22, 2018

All you need is love

Oh, Alabama, I cry for you. I cry for you, too, Birmingham. We make progress, then we wipe it out. It’s the old cliché of two steps forward, one step back. Except during election years, it seems we take no steps forward and 100 years back. What’s wrong with us? When will we stop hating? … Continued

May 17, 2018