The dangers of handholding in Tennessee; Cissna challenges Young for Congress; study confirms coming out is healthy for LGB people; equal rights in Pennsylvania; and other Bent Alaska news of the day.

Tennessee: Handholding a “gateway sexual activity”

“Like any state legislature dealing with 8 percent unemployment and thousands of its residents facing disenfranchisement,” writes Scott Keyes of ThinkProgress, “the Tennessee Senate is targeting the menace of underage hand-holding.”

• RT @TPEquality: TN Senate Approves Bill To Warn Students That Hand-Holding Is A ‘Gateway Sexual Activity’ – http://t.co/4y1hLxf1 #

Alaska news

The Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles has been ordered to write new regulations for transgender people that do not violate their constitutional right to privacy; and state Rep. Sharon Cissna will take on U.S. Rep. Don Young in this years Congressional race.

• Alaska DMV ordered to write new regulations for transgender people, and other Bent News of the day: http://t.co/j1nKWBNe#
• Rep. Don Young faces challenge from Alaska state Rep. Sharon Cissna http://t.co/F4z1mbGL (via @alaskadispatch ) #

Research news

The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law joins Twitter to keep the world up to date on important research in the field of sexual orientation law and public policy. Among its first announcements: the Williams Institute’s Gary Gates is now part of the Census advisory committee.

• RT @TheTaskForce: Follow Friday: The newly created @WilliamsPolicy #FF #LGBT // these folks do important research! #

In other research news, a new study from Boston University’s School of Public Health adds to the growing body of research that shows that coming out is good for the health of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, as is parental support during the coming out process.

• RT @TPEquality: Another Study Confirms Importance Of Coming Out And Parental Support – http://t.co/as5X9BLo #ComingOut  #

Equal rights in Pennsylvania

Abingdon Township became the 28th community in Pennsylvania to pass an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination measure. There are still no statewide protections in Pennsylvania prohibiting sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. In the past two years, Equality Pennsylvania (EQPA) has helped to pass ordinances in Doylestown Borough; Lower Merion Township; Haverford Township; the City of Bethlehem; Springfield Township; Newtown Borough; Whitemarsh Township, Jenkintown Borough, Susquehanna Township and Cheltenham Borough.

• Congrats // Abington Township, Pennsylvania passes #lgbt inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance by a vote of 10-5 (via @EqualityPA ) #
• Equality Pennsylvania Celebrates Passage of State’s 28th Non-Discrimination Ordinance http://t.co/GYExQdDT #
• ‘When people learn it’s still legal to fire some1 for being gay, deny hotel room or evict from apt, they are appalled’ http://t.co/GYExQdDT #