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Cheryl Wetzstein

Cheryl Wetzstein

cwetzstein@washingtontimes.com

Cheryl Wetzstein, a Washington Times staff member since 1985, is manager of special sections in The Washington Times' Advertising and Marketing Department.
Previously, she spent 30 years as a Washington Times news reporter, covering national domestic policy, in addition to being a features writer, environmental and consumer affairs reporter, and assistant business editor.
Beginning in 1994, Mrs. Wetzstein worked exclusively on welfare and family issues such as child support enforcement, abstinence and sex education, child welfare, sexually transmitted diseases, marriage, divorce, cohabiting and gay marriage.
She has won several newspaper awards, including 1977 Cub Reporter of the Year and 1983 Heart of New York award, both from the New York Press Club.

Articles by Cheryl Wetzstein

Plaintiffs and supporters for the California Proposition 8 case hail Supreme Court decisions that struck down a section of federal law denying benefits to married gay couples and cleared the way to resume same-sex marriage in California. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

Supreme Court hands double win to gay-marriage backers

In a banner day for supporters of gay marriage, a closely divided U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal provision that denied benefits to legally married same-sex couples and, in a separate case, cleared the way for California to resume offering marriage licenses to gay couples.

June 26, 2013
** FILE ** A doctor wheels a patient out of an operating room at Santa Casa de Misericordia Hospital in Rio de Janeiro. (Associated Press)

Pediatricians have a new mission: Fight ‘homophobia’

In its first sexual-orientation policy update in nearly a decade, the nation's largest pediatricians group said its members should do more to fight "heterosexism" and "homophobia," as well as step up their care of teens with same-sex attractions.

June 24, 2013

Parents plea with FCC to keep TV’s decency rules

Thousands of people — often describing themselves as parents and grandparents — passionately urged the FCC not to change policy and allow "fleeting" or "isolated" instances of nudity and cursing on public airwaves.

June 19, 2013
** FILE ** Justin Timberlake reaches across Janet Jackson just before uncovering her right breast during the halftime performance at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston in 2004. (Associated Press)

TV viewers weary of nudity and obscenity look for decency from FCC nominee

The future of long-standing government bans on obscenity and nudity on the airwaves soon could become much clearer as President Obama's pick to head the Federal Communications Commission faces a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday — one day before the public comment period on the policy ends.

June 17, 2013
Jennifer Levi, attorney for transgender student Nicole Maines, second from left, speaks to reporters outside the Penobscot Judicial Center, Wednesday, June 12, 2013, in Bangor, Maine. The state supreme court heard arguments on Wednesday over a school districtís handling of Nicole Maine's restroom needs. Also pictures are Nicole's father Wayne Maine, left, twin brother Jonas Maines, center, and mother Kelly Maines.(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Transgender child’s bathroom battle raises a legal case of sex identity

In what is seen as an important legal test for transgender rights, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court heard a case Wednesday on whether an elementary school discriminated against a boy who identifies as a girl when it required her to use a unisex staff bathroom instead of the girls' bathroom.

June 12, 2013
**FILE** This photo from Dec. 13, 2011, shows workers inside Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. (Associated Press)

Vanity, thy name is Facebook?

For the narcissists among us, Facebook and Twitter are a virtual dream come true, says a new study.

June 11, 2013
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday introduced legislation to bring his state's abortion law more in line with federal standards. The abortion provision is part of a 10-point Women's Equality Act. (Associated Press)

N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushing pro-choice legislation

Although most states are tightening their laws on abortion, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo stepped in a different direction Tuesday, introducing legislation to bring his state's abortion law more in line with federal law.

June 4, 2013
Illinois Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, pauses to regain his composure as the gallery erupts in protest after he announced he wouldn’t call the gay marriage bill on the House floor at the Illinois State Capitol Friday, May 31, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. (AP Photo/The State Journal-Register, Ted Schurter)

Illinois lawmakers vow to revive bill allowing gay marriage

Although Illinois lawmakers failed Friday night to approve a bill to make it the 13th state to perform gay marriages, legislative leaders pledged to bring it back for passage with some holding out hope that it could before the end of the summer.

June 2, 2013
** FILE ** Sen. John McCain, meeting for several hours on Monday, May 27, 2013, with rebel leaders in Syria, was asked for U.S. help to establish a no-fly zone, obtain anti-aircraft weapons and launch airstrikes on targets associated with the regime of President Bashar Assad. (Syrian Emergency Task Force)

In secret trip to Syria, Sen. John McCain hears rebels’ pleas for help

As international discussions on Syria's civil war loom, Sen. John McCain, an open critic of the Obama administration's approach to the civil war, on Monday became the highest-ranking U.S. official to slip into Syria and meet with the forces seeking to overthrow the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

May 27, 2013
BSA Chief Scout Executive Wayne Brock (Associated Press)

Boy Scouts will ‘move forward’ after vote on gays

After its historic vote to grant membership to openly gay youth, leaders of Boy Scouts of America are anxious to "move forward" as a unified Scouting family, even as an unknown number of chartering organizations, councils, troops and members reassess their participation in the iconic institution.

May 26, 2013
**FILE** From left, Joshua Kusterer, 12, Nach Mitschke, 6, and Wyatt Mitschke, 4, salute as they recite the pledge of allegiance during the “Save Our Scouts” prayer vigil and rally against allowing gays in the organization in front of the Boy Scouts of America National Headquarters in Dallas on Feb. 6, 2013. (Associated Press)

Boy Scouts vote to allow gay members, but not gay adults

Openly gay youths can join the Boy Scouts of America, its voting members decided Thursday, though gay leaders promptly called the change in the century-old program for boys and teens inadequate and vowed to continue to pressure the Scouts to go further.

May 23, 2013