Written by: Tony Merevick

State officials in Florida filed appeals Thursday to a federal court ruling that found the state’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples unconstitutional.

LGBT advocates and marriage equality proponents had urged Republican Gov. Rick Scott to leave the Aug. 21 ruling unopposed in court. With no appeal in the cases, Brenner v. Scott and Grimsley v. Scott, advocates had hoped same-sex couples would be able to marry in the state as soon as later this month.

Written by: Mitch Perry

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge continues to rage on, with the ALS Foundation reporting today that it has received just shy of $80 million ($79.7) in donations compared to $2.5 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 25). These donations have come from existing donors and 1.7 million new donors.

Written by: Michael Kruse

The people in Florida fighting same-sex marriage are going to lose. Arc of the moral universe and whatnot.

Written by: Steve Benen

For proponents of civil rights and marriage equality, the last year has been remarkably successful, though there have been some recent bumps in the road. A state court in Tennessee, for example, interrupted the winning streak last week, while the U.S. Supreme Court halted Virginia marriages that had been set to begin today.

Written By: Brian Greig

PANAMA CITY - A group of local activists sponsored a town hall meeting Thursday night in support of gay rights. They believe the tide is turning in their favor in the legal battle over same sex marriages. One local coupe at tonight's meeting is part of a lawsuit to legalize gay marriages here in Florida.