City Council last week unanimously passed a bill to ban conversion therapy for minors.

Mayor Jim Kenney performed a ceremonial signing for a bill Thursday that will strengthen penalties for local businesses that discriminate. This bill amends the Fair Practices Ordinance by giving the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations authority to issue cease-and-desist orders to businesses violating the LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance.

A Pennsylvania senator last week re-introduced a bill that would prevent individuals convicted of misdemeanor hate-crimes from purchasing and possessing firearms. Sen. Bob Casey co-introduced the Disarm Hate Act along with Congressman David N. Cicilline of Rhode Island.

The state Senate this week failed to move forward a resolution honoring June as LGBT Pride Month in the typical process followed for other cultural-recognition measures.

Amber Hikes, the city's director of LGBT Affairs, said she teared up the first time she saw the new rainbow flag, which will be presented at City Hall Thursday. The new flag will expand on creator Gilbert Baker’s original design by including black and brown stripes to symbolize the LGBT community’s racial diversity.

*This story has been updated with the next leadership steps for the LGBTQ Home For Hope.

The director of the first LGBT-specific homeless shelter in Pennsylvania stepped down from her position Wednesday. Deja Lynn Alvarez confirmed to PGN her resignation for the LGBTQ Home For Hope.

A City Council committee will hold a public hearing on a proposed bill to ban conversion therapy for minors in Philadelphia.

The lead sponsor of a bill to ban LGBT discrimination statewide is urging the Pennsylvania House Speaker to not assign the newly re-introduced measure to the committee helmed by virulently anti-LGBT Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12th Dist.).

Boxers PHL, an LGBT sports bar in the Gayborhood, recently filed a civil-rights lawsuit alleging bias by city officials when handling the bar's requests for permission to erect a roof deck.

Before the stars of “Will & Grace” return to our television screens this fall for the hotly anticipated reunion season, locals will have the chance to see one of them live.