ROBIN ROBERTS CONDEMNS MISSISSIPPIs RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LAW

The co-host of ABC’s popular Good Morning America, and a Mississippi native, is opposed to the tate’s new law permitting discrimination against LGBTI residents based on religious convictions.

Robin Roberts, who came out in 2013, released her statement on March 8.

‘My longtime partner, Amber, and I have always felt welcomed in my home state, and it hurts my soul to think of anyone not feeling welcome,’ the statement said, according to the Associated Press. 

‘It’s always been a deeply held belief of mine that everyone, everywhere should be treated equally. I’m proud that my beloved mother and father taught me as a child growing up in Mississippi to focus on the many things we all have in common, not our few differences. And what we all deserve to have in common is the right to be treated equally.’

Roberts and Amber Laign have been together since 2005. The couple married in 2014.

The newscaster, who has connections with the Gulf Coast town of Pass Christian, appears on this year’s cover of the Mississippi Tourism Association guide (see below). The state’s motto is the Hospitality State.

Roberts notes she agreed to be on the cover ‘last year well before recent events.’

This past week, Governor Phil Bryant signed the proposal, known as the ‘Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act,’ into law after it passed the state Senate by a vote of 31-17.

‘The legislation is designed in the most targeted manner possible to prevent government interference in the lives of the people from which all power to the state is derived,’ the governor insisted in a statement.

The law protects religious institutions if they decide not to recognize the legality of same-sex marriages or refuse to place children with qualified LGBTI families.

It also protects state employees fom not issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples and sanctions  ‘conversion therapy’ to ‘cure’ LGBTI people.

SOURCE: GAY STAR NEWS

ROBIN ROBERTS ON MICHAEL SAM KISS: DID YOU EXPECT THEM TO SHAKE HANDS?

In a CNN interview broadcast Sunday, Robin Roberts weighed in on the controversy surrounding a celebratory kiss between Michael Sam and his boyfriend.

The 24-year-old All-American defensive end from Missouri kissed his boyfriend when he learned that he had been drafted by the St. Louis Rams, making Sam the first openly gay football player to be drafted by the NFL.

The 53-year-old Roberts quietly came out in December when she thanked her girlfriend Amber Laign in a Facebook post for standing by her side during a tumultuous year.

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Roberts, who is pitching her latest book Everybody's Got Something, told Reliable Sources' Brian Stelter that she was “pleasantly surprised” that her coming out was greeted with a shrug.

“We were pleasantly surprised that there was a big shrug of the shoulders,” Roberts said. “I love how one person said it, it wasn't like I was trying to keep the closet doors shut that tightly. People were very much aware.”

“Gayle King said this the other day, that somebody came up to her – and this catches me – and said that a young man whose mother was having a tough time and said, 'If it's okay for Robin, it's okay for my son.' I find it surprising that somebody in your own family that don't even know me but for whatever reason it helps you understand your own family member's orientation. Wow.”

“I'm very grateful that it is creating dialogue for families.”

When asked her thoughts on the Sam kiss, Roberts answered: “It's amazing. What was he supposed to do, shake his hand? I mean, really.”

“He's happy like every other young man was happy and turned to somebody and showed their gratitude, expressed their love for the person that was next to them. His just happened to be his boyfriend. I think that he has handled it very well. And I think overwhelmingly the response has been positive.”

SOURCE: ON TOP MAG

ROBIN ROBERTS SHARES FIRST PHOTO OF HER GIRLFRIEND

Robin Roberts can't stop gushing about her girlfriend!

The "Good Morning America" anchor shared the first photo of her longtime love, Amber Laign, on Monday's segment of the hit morning show.

The 53-year-old host and fellow anchors Lara Spencer, Amy Robach, and George Stephanopoulos happily shared stories and snaps from their holiday vacations. Roberts was smiling with excitement as she detailed her time off, which started with a trip to Turks and Caicos, then a jetset to Ogunquit, Maine, and lastly down to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for her niece's wedding.

Roberts shared a family photo from her niece's wedding, where she explained who was on-tap for the joyous occasion: "Next to me is my girlfriend, Amber, and my sister-in-law, Cynthia, and my brother, Butch. And it was a glorious, glorious time that weekend."

Being that this is the first time Roberts has mentioned her girlfriend on television since coming out in a Facebook post on Dec. 29, Stephanopoulos took the opportunity to address the exciting news. He hinted that her relationship with Laign was a well-known fact among her close colleagues and that he hoped her experience coming out was positive.

"I have never been happier or healthier than I am right now and my year-end post was just full of gratitude and just telling everyone all that I'm grateful for, including my girlfriend Amber who really loved me through a difficult year," Roberts responded emotionally.

Roberts's sister, Sally-Ann, and Amber were both by the star's side as she bravely battled breast cancer in 2008 and a rare blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome, which required her to have a bone marrow transplant in 2012.

Roberts and Laign, a licensed massage therapist from the San Francisco/Bay Area, reportedly have been dating for 10 years.

This may be the first snap we've seen of Laign, but we hope it won't be the last. Happy New Year, Robin.

MORNING NEWS HOST ROBIN ROBERTS PUBLICLY MENTIONS HER FEMALE PARTNER FOR THE FIRST TIME

In a Facebook post describing her gratitude for 2013 Robin Roberts, the long serving host of  news show Good Morning America, mentioned her female partner.

'I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together,' Roberts wrote.

This is the first time Roberts has publicly spoken about Amber Laign.

According to People magazine, the couple have been together for 10 years. Laign, a native of San Francisco, is a licensed massage therapist with a private practice.

In 2007, Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer. It went into remission, but at the end of 2012 she was diagnosed with the blood disorder myelodysplastic syndrome. Her sister was donated the required bone marrow.

'I am grateful for my sister, Sally-Ann, for being my donor and giving me the gift of life,' Roberts wrote on Facebook.

SOURCE: GAY STAR NEWS