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The Advocate
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid36511.asp
09/16/06-09/18/06
Lambda Legal comes to defense of gay man denied fertility services
A gay man denied fertility treatments because of his sexual orientationfiled a complaint with the Human Relations Board of Orlando, Fla., onThursday.
Dennis Barros, an Orlando veterinarian, and his partner planned on having a
child with a surrogate mother who agreed to carry an implanted egg. To goforth with the procedure, the men sought fertility services with FrankRiggall, MD, who at first agreed to help the men but then told Barros andhis partner that the procedure would breach U.S. Food and DrugAdministration guidelines.
The FDA does not bar gay men from being sperm donors; they only recommendnot allowing anonymous donors who have had sex with men in the last fiveyears. This restriction does not include "directed donors," which are menwho donate to a consenting woman, as was Barros's case.
"Dr. Barros was denied services not because of any real medical risk butsolely because of his sexual orientation," said Gregory Nevins, senior staffattorney for Lambda Legal, the gay legal advocacy group working on Barros'sbehalf, in a statement. "The FDA's recommendations against sperm donation bymen who have sex with men are scientifically unfounded; furthermore, theyare clearly not applicable in this case." (The Advocate)
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The Advocate
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid36508.asp
Indiana club cancels performance of homophobic reggae singer
A performance by gay-hating singer Buju Banton that was scheduled to takeplace September 14 at Bloomington, Ind.'s Blue Bird Club was canceled amidprotests by angry gay activists, according to Chicago's Gay LiberationNetwork.
On Wednesday, September 13, activists protested outside a Chicago House ofBlues in advance of a Banton performance there that night. When the managerof the Blue Bird Club became aware of the House of Blues protest and thecommunity's anger over the reggae singer's performances, he canceledThursday night's show at his club.
Morgan Tilleman of the Hoosier Rights Campagin reported that upon Thursday'scanceled performance, gays and their supporters swamped the club to showtheir appreciation for the Blue Bird management.
Banton, along with other reggae entertainers like Beenie Man and Sizzla,advocate the death of gays in many of their lyrics. In Banon's song "BoomBye Bye," Banton urges people to shoot gay men in the head, pour acid over them, and bury them alive. (The Advocate)
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/16/world/asia/16india.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print
September 16, 2006
Notables Urge India to End 145-Year Ban on Gay Sex
By SOMINI SENGUPTA
NEW DELHI, Sept. 15 - A British-era relic is facing a new challenge inIndia, as a growing citizens' movement rallies against a 145-year-old lawstill embedded in the Indian penal code that bans gay sex.
On Saturday an open letter to the government will be officially unveiled,calling for the repeal of what is known by its official moniker, Section377, which makes "carnal intercourse against the order of nature with man,woman or animal" punishable by 10 years in prison.
The letter is signed by an eclectic list of Indian writers, filmmakers,lawyers and other luminaries, including the author Vikram Seth, the actressSoha Ali Khan and a former attorney general of the Hindu-nationalistBharatiya Janata Party-led government, Soli Sorabjee.
"In independent India, as earlier, this archaic and brutal law has served nogood purpose," the letter argues. "It has been used to systematicallypersecute, blackmail, arrest and terrorize sexual minorities. It has spawnedpublic intolerance and abuse, forcing tens of millions of gay and bisexualmen and women to live in fear and secrecy, at tragic cost to themselves andtheir families."
The letter comes less than two months after a similar plea from thegovernment AIDS agency. In an affidavit to the Delhi High Court calling fora repeal of the law, the National AIDS Control Agency argued in late Julythat Section 377 poses a public health risk by driving gay men undergroundand impeding efforts to prevent the spread of AIDS.
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http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid36500.asp
The Advocate
Same-sex marriage not that big an issue for many Americans
A recent Associated Press-Ipsos poll on public attitudes about PresidentBush, the nation's direction, and the upcoming election included a questionabout the issue of same-sex marriage. The poll, conducted Monday through Wednesday, was based on telephone interviews with 1,501 adults, including1,215 registered voters and 661 likely voters, from all states except Alaskaand Hawaii.
When asked how important the issue of same-sex marriage is to them, 22% ofrespondents said it was "extremely important," 15% said it was "veryimportant," 15% said it was "moderately important," 11% said it was only"slightly important," and 36% said it wasn't important "at all." Only 1% of respondents were "not sure."
The poll also asked if, generally speaking, the respondents would say thingsin this country are heading in the right direction or are they off on thewrong track. Thirty-three percent said they thought the country was headingin the "right direction," 63% said it was on the "wrong track," and only 4% were "not sure."
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The Advocate
I hate being gay
This Washington State teen faces a daily battle between the sexualattraction he feels for other men and his religious convictions that tellhim being gay is against God's word.
By Kyle Rice
An Advocate.com exclusive posted September 15, 2006
In late July the Washington State supreme court upheld a law that limitsmarriage to heterosexual couples. As a gay 19-year-old in Longview, Wash.,my delight with that ruling is probably surprising. However, I'm not youraverage gay person-I'm also a Christian who views living a gay lifestyle asagainst God's word.
And because of my religious beliefs, I hate the fact that I am gay.
About the time I was 12 years old, it became clear to me that I was sexuallyattracted to guys. I assumed these feelings would go away as I got older.People choose to be gay, right? I didn't choose this, so I figured it wouldpass. But it didn't. By age 15 I had my first boyfriend.
At about that time I started to attend a Pentecostal church. I began readingthe Bible, including its many different and powerful passages condemninghomosexual activity. I knew in my heart that being gay was wrong in God'seyes. I decided to devote myself to living a God-filled life and knew I needed to stop being gay so that I could stop being attracted to guys.
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/15524518.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
The Miami Herald
Posted on Sat, Sep. 16, 2006
GAY ISSUES
This time they'll go to the prom
BY STEVE ROTHAUS
srothaus@MiamiHerald.com
Lynn Bové didn't attend her senior prom when she graduated in 1986 from Miami Beach Senior High. ''I was asked by a guy, but I never went,'' shesaid. ``I was in a new school. I didn't like the guy who asked me. And I wasgay. And the girl I wanted to go with was straight.''
Tonight, 20 years later, Bové will at last go to the prom. And her date'sname is Claudia Perez.
Bové, her pal Perez and several hundred other gay, lesbian, bisexual andtransgender folks from around South Florida will dress up and dance thenight away at the inaugural GLBT Adult Prom at the JW Marriott Hotel onBrickell Avenue.
''My friend never went to her prom, either, so we're whooping it up,'' saidBové, 37, of icandee productions, which produces lesbian-oriented events.``I'm going to go in a dress and my friend is going to go in a suit. I'mshowing all legs -- my best asset. This is a night to definitely dress up.It will be funny if someone comes in in one of those T-shirts like a tuxedo. Remember those?''
Many gay teens now hold their own proms to celebrate the end of high school. But until a decade or so ago, that just wasn't done. ''Wow, what courage to be able to be out,'' said Bové, who is co-chairingthe event with Miami Beach protocol chief Michael Aller, 67. ``This prom is a celebration of that change. Look how far we've come!''
Many of today's gay teens, however, don't feel comfortable expressing their true selves, Bové said.
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Forwarded from Ken's List <Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu>
To: kenslist@groups.queernet.org
3 religious groups back gay rights
Ballot measure would grant status similar to marriage
Darin McGregor
Rocky Mountain New
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/elections/article/0,2808,DRMN_24736_4994041,00.html
September 15, 2006
Three state religious organizations endorsed a ballot measure Thursday that would grant gay couples many of the legal rights and responsibilities ofmarried couples.
Among the groups backing Referendum I is the Colorado Council of Churches.It is the largest Christian coalition in the state, representing a dozenProtestant denominations and close to 1,000 churches, including the UnitedMethodists, American Baptists and the United Church of Christ, according toCouncil executive the Rev. Jim Ryan.
The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado and Colorado Clergy for Equality inMarriage, representing about 200 clergy statewide, also announced supportfor Referendum I during a news conference on the steps of the Denver City and County Building.
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Forwarded from Ken's List <Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu>
To: kenslist@groups.queernet.org
New Bisexual Women's Anthology
Email: heather@heathercassell.com
Please forward this to anyone whom you believe would be interested in writing for this anthology.
Hi!
I'm in the process of having a proposal for a bisexual women's anthology ofpersonal essays accepted by a well known women's publisher. At this point,my editor is requesting a list of names of people who might be interested inwriting an essay and which section their interested in writing a piece forthis anthology. I would like to get this list to my editor early or mid-weeknext week, so please submit your name and the section you are interested inwriting a piece for by, Tuesday, September 19, 2006.
The style and tone of this anthology is intelligent, hip and sassy firstperson narrative essays by a diverse community - ethnically, educationally,and socioeconomically - of bisexual women in our 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s whoare unapologetic about our sexuality and how we live our lives. It willaddress: coming out; dating and sex; relationships, family and partnerships;education and work; community and politics; and media, image, and the futureof the bisexual movement.
Please see below the subject areas that are currently being proposed to becovered:
Contact us at rays.list@comcast.net if you would like the full article.
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Forwarded from Ken's List <Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu>
To: kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Examining the state of gay unions
By Anne Rostow - Contributing Writer
Sep 14, 2006, 18:50
http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/printer_3349.php
It has been 10 years since the battle for gay marriage began in earnest in Hawaii. Where do we stand today?
"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you.
And then you win."
The quote is from Mahatma Gandhi, but it's been borrowed many times by theleaders in the fight for marriage equality.
Today, 10 years since the issue entered the national consciousness for thefirst time, we are most definitely in the middle of phase three.
Will phase four follow? Yes. When? That's the hard question.
Ten years ago, lawyers from Lambda Legal Defense were poised to win abreakthrough same-sex marriage ruling in Hawaii. The case had developedunder the news radar, but by that summer, its implications had finally drawnthe attention of the U.S. Congress. In July, the Senate began debate on theDefense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and the measure was signed into law in thedead of night by President Bill Clinton on Sept. 21.
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/15533890.htm
SPAIN
AIR FORCE PRIVATES' GAY WEDDING A FIRST
SEVILLE -- Two male air force privates were to wed in a ceremony in southern Spain on Friday, the first known marriage of two military servicemen sincethe once-conservative Catholic country's legalization of gay marriage.
Some members of the military may not be happy about the union, but theDefense Ministry has said it considers the wedding apersonal matter and the men will be allowed to continue with their careers.It had no comment Friday on the pending nuptials.
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Forwarded from Steve Rothaus
srothaus@rothaus.net
http://www.afterelton.com/people/2006/9/roberts.html
Life as an Openly Gay Journalist: CNN's Thomas Roberts
by Christie Keith, September 15, 2006
Rumors that CNN's Thomas Roberts had come out at the National Lesbian andGay Journalists Association conference in Florida last week must have seemeda little puzzling to the Headline News anchor. While Roberts did appear on apanel called "Off Camera: The Challenges for LGBT TV Anchors," it was reallyonly the most recent stage in a seven-year coming out process.
Roberts first came out as a gay journalist to co-workers at NBC affiliateWAVY-TV in Norfolk, VA, in 1999. In an exclusive interview withAfterElton.com, he described those first steps out of the closet: "It'spainful to open up and trust people with something I was guarding witheverything I had. (but) most of my fears have been put aside because of the kindness of the people I work with."
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.thanhniennews.com/worlds/?catid=9&newsid=20056
Thanh Nien News | World / Region | Japan city's move to change pro-gay law draws ire
Japan city's move to change pro-gay law draws ire
Homosexuality is still widely regarded unnatural
A Japanese city's plan to amend a precedent-setting local law on genderequality and discrimination against homosexuals has set off protests byactivists who say the law is being watered down.
The plan coincides with growing concern among conservatives about abreakdown in traditional values, worries that prompted the government toinclude a caveat against trying to erase all sex-based differences in agender equality plan last year.
The local assembly in Miyakonojo, a city of 171,000 some 900 km (560 miles)southwest of Tokyo, this week began debating a revision to a 2003 city lawthat explicitly bans discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation.
Proposed changes to the law, called the "Law for a Gender Equal Society",would revise a sentence that reads: "In a gender-equal society, human rightsshould be respected for all people regardless of gender or sexualorientation."
The new phrasing would be: "In a gender-equal society, human rights should be respected for all people."
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.pridesource.com/digestarticle.shtml?article=20211
Between The Lines Newspaper
From issue number 1437
Return to PrideSource
House passes bills allowing adoption agencies to practice religious, gay discrimination
By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman
Originally printed 9/14/2006
LANSING - Sixty-nine members of Michigan's House of Representatives believethat state adoption agencies ought to be allowed to practice religious-baseddiscrimination against prospective adoptive parents, including same-sexparents.
Last week, the State House - in a 69-37 vote - approved House Bills 5908 and5909.
If passed into law, the bills would allow faith-based adoption agencies todiscriminate against same-sex parents if they have a "written religiousmoral conviction or policy" against homosexuality.
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