GLBT DIGEST - February 09, 2007

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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/540759.html


Tension builds in shades of 'Grey'
Scott Collins, Los Angeles Times


HOLLYWOOD - That "Grey's Anatomy" has grown entangled in the IsaiahWashington gay-baiting scandal has to be among the strangest developments ofthis TV season. The many fans of ABC's hospital soap might even dub itMcIronic.

The scandal also has heightened usually unseen tensions among various campsin the black and gay communities.

"The reality," BET host Keith Boykin, who is black and gay, said last week,"is that race is as much a factor at play here as sexuality."

All we know for certain about the "Grey's" dust-up is this: Backstage at theJan. 15 Golden Globes, when series creator Shonda Rhimes was asked about awidely reported on-set altercation last year involving Washington, who playsthoracic surgeon Dr. Preston Burke, the actor unexpectedly strode to themicrophone and said, "No, I did not call T.R. a [slur against gays]. Neverhappened, never happened."



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
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http://www.topix.net/content/ap/4095610044119768411403100005563870216379?threadid=6RL5I76TJLICL82F


Judge Mulls Suit Over Gay Classroom Talk
The Associated Press

By DENISE LAVOIE

February 07, 2007

Officials from a suburban Massachusetts school district asked a federaljudge Wednesday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by two couples who claim theirparental rights were violated when homosexuality was discussed in theirchildren's classrooms.

U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf did not immediately issue a decision in thecase from Lexington, but peppered lawyers on both sides with questions andsaid he understood the importance of the case to both parents and schooladministrators.



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
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http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20070207&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=702070694&SectionCat=FRONTPAGE&Template=printart


Feb 7, 2007

Gay community is urged to fight for rights

Shepard's mother at HC

By Richard Nangle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
rnangle@telegram.com


WORCESTER- Stand up and be counted. Come out of the closet. Organize for gaymarriage.

That is Judy Shepard's message to the gay community, which she says risksmissing out on one of the great civil rights movements of modern timessimply because of its own complacency.

Speaking last night to an overflow crowd of more than 500 in the HoganCampus Center Ballroom at the College of the Holy Cross, Mrs. Shepard saidwhile she is frustrated that sexual orientation has not been added to thefederal hate crimes law, she believes the Democratic takeover of Congressprovides a new opportunity for gay rights activists.



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
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http://www.alternet.org/stories/47679/


The Rise of Christian Fascism and Its Threat to American Democracy
By Chris Hedges, Truthdig

Posted on February 8, 2007, Printed on February 9, 2007
http://www.alternet.org/story/47679/

Dr. James Luther Adams, my ethics professor at Harvard Divinity School, toldhis students that when we were his age -- he was then close to 80 -- wewould all be fighting the "Christian fascists."

The warning, given 25 years ago, came at the moment Pat Robertson and otherradio and television evangelists began speaking about a new politicalreligion that would direct its efforts toward taking control of allinstitutions, including mainstream denominations and the government. Itsstated goal was to use the United States to create a global Christianempire. This call for fundamentalists and evangelicals to take politicalpower was a radical and ominous mutation of traditional Christianity. It washard, at the time, to take such fantastic rhetoric seriously, especiallygiven the buffoonish quality of those who expounded it. But Adams warned usagainst the blindness caused by intellectual snobbery. The Nazis, he said,were not going to return with swastikas and brown shirts. Their ideologicalinheritors had found a mask for fascism in the pages of the Bible.



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17033258/


Court weighs same-sex story read to kids
Parents sued when Mass. teacher read 'King and King' at public school
Reuters
Updated: 5:44 a.m. ET Feb 8, 2007

BOSTON - As gay rights supporters and foes gathered outside, a federal courton Wednesday took up the question of whether a Massachusetts town and itsschool district infringed on parents' rights when a teacher read youngstudents a book with a gay theme.

Two Lexington, Mass. families last year filed the suit asserting that thereading of the book "King & King" and the handing out to elementary schoolstudents of other children's books that discussed homosexuality withoutfirst notifying parents was a violation of their religious rights.

"What they fear is their children are being brainwashed," Robert Sinsheimer,who represented the families, told the court in Boston. "It's a form ofpropaganda specifically intended to wipe out their way of life."



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
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http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070207/NEWS02/702070338/0/OPINION02&template=printart


Article published Feb 7, 2007
Gay marriage debate to begin at Statehouse

MONTPELIER - Lawmakers are expected to propose a bill today that would allowgay marriage in the state, a move advocates said would put same-sex coupleson a truly equal legal footing.

The proposal is not likely to be nearly as controversial as the state's 2000civil union law, which provided same-sex couples with many of the samebenefits as married couples for the first time in the country. The fightover that law resulted in many tough - and some unsuccessful - re-electionfights for lawmakers who supported the bill.

However, the state should take the next step toward a gay marriage law,similar to the one passed in Massachusetts, said Beth Robinson, chair of theVermont Freedom to Marry Task Force.



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6341593.stm


Rights for Colombia gay couples

Homosexual couples in Colombia should have the same property rights as theirheterosexual counterparts, the nation's Constitutional Court has ruled.The decision applies to those who have been living together for two years.

A gay rights group, which had sought the clarification from the court, saidat least 100,000 couples would benefit.

A court source said it did not mean same-sex civil unions - which are partof a bill currently being debated in Congress - had been approved.

'Great step'

The court said the expression "men and women" used in a 1990 law which givesproperty rights to de-facto couples was unconstitutional.



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
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http://www.topix.net/content/ap/3750042804364713143534513474912336210943?threadid=4MEN4UB0E13SPD1B

'Platoon of lesbians': New York congressman skewers U.S. policy
The Associated Press

By DEVLIN BARRETT

February 07, 2007

A New York congressman on Wednesday jokingly suggested the Bushadministration may fear a 'platoon of lesbians' more than terrorists inBaghdad, given the military's resistance to letting homosexuals openlyserve.

Rep. Gary Ackerman's criticism of Pentagon policy came as Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Ackerman, a New York City Democrat, complained to Rice that the military hadfired Arabic and Farsi translators after learning they were gay.



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FortWayne.com

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/16652087.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp


Posted on Thu, Feb. 08, 2007

Teen students: Gay and straight together
By Steve Rothaus

McClatchy Newspapers

(MCT)

Kelcie Currier of Tamarac, Fla., says her world changed the day she joinedher high school's gay-straight alliance club.

"Just knowing that there are other kids like me, or who care about the sameissue that I do, it makes me feel great. Less alone. That life is nothopeless," said Kelcie, 17, a junior at J.P. Taravella High in CoralSprings, Fla., who came out as a lesbian about four years ago.

Gay-straight alliances (GSAs) are student-led clubs, usually at high schooland middle schools, that promote respect and address antigay name-calling,bullying and harassment. Spectrum, the Taravella club, is one of more than3,000 GSAs nationally.



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365Gay

http://www.365gay.com/health/fitness/Sports/020907sports.htm


What 'Man In The Middle' Says To Younger Jocks And The Rest Of Us

by Cyd Zeigler Jr., Outsports.com

had been waiting for over a year to read John Amaechi's book, "Man In TheMiddle". My expectations had been rising for 52 weeks and I was anticipatinga juicy gay tell-all book with some basketball thrown in. I got all that andthen some.

"Man in the Middle" is a gripping tale of one man's difficult struggle tostay afloat in a sports league an ocean away from his home. While many toppro-sports stars, who coasted with a safety net most of their careers, havewritten best-sellers with tips on how to get to the pinnacle of sports,Amaechi and co-author Chris Bull have crafted a roller-coaster story ofstruggle that goes much deeper than simply being a gay man in the NBA.

The book is unmistakably the story of John Amaechi. It begins with hischildhood, following his mother as a toddler back to England from his Bostonbirthplace to escape his father. Maybe most importantly, the book givesgreat insight into Amaechi's deep-seated dedication to helping kids. As anoverweight, 6-foot-10 black man in England, he stood out like a BostonCeltics fan in L.A. in the '80s; And he was ridiculed as such, withmerciless kids referring to him as the "whale."



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365Gay

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/02/020807nba.htm


Reaction From Players, Coaches To Amaechi's Coming Out Mainly Positive
by The Associated Press

Posted: February 8, 2007 - 11:00 am ET

(Boston, Massachusetts) Sure, Doc Rivers heard whispers about John Amaechi'ssexuality when they were both in Orlando. But here's what the former Magiccoach knew for sure: Amaechi was a good scorer, a decent rebounder, a littlebit of a defensive liability and "a fantastic kid."

"He's better than a good kid; he's a fantastic kid," Rivers said Wednesdaynight after learning that Amaechi acknowledged he is gay. "John Amaechi,when I was coaching him, was a great kid. He did as much charity work asanybody in our city, and he's still doing it. That's what I wish we focusedon.

"Unfortunately, we're talking about his sexual orientation, which I couldn'tcare a flying flip about."



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365Gay

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/02/020807edwards.htm


Edwards' Gay-Positive Bloggers Apologize
by The Associated Press

Posted: February 8, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET

(Washington) Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said Thursday hewas personally offended by the provocative messages two of his campaignbloggers wrote criticizing the Catholic church, but he's not firing them.

Edwards issued a written statement about the fate of Amanda Marcotte andMelissa McEwen, two days after the head of the conservative Catholic Leaguefor Religious and Civil Rights demanded they be fired for messages theywrote before working on the campaign. (story)

The campaign distributed written apologies from the two women, who stressedthey were writing on personal blogs and not on behalf of the campaign.Edwards said he believes in giving everyone a "fair shake."


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Advocate.com

http://advocate.com/print_article_ektid41863.asp


February 09, 2007
Canadian immigration board denies asylum to gay runaway from Nicaragua

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has refused to grant a gayrunaway from Nicaragua asylum because they do not believe he is gay. AlvaroAntonio Orozco, who ran away from his home country when he was 12, washoping to find sanctuary from the abuse he endured from his family becauseof his sexuality, reports The [Toronto] Globe and Mail.

"My father called me 'marica' [an antigay slur] and told me he would beat itout of me," Orozco, now 21, told the paper.

IRB member Deborah Lamont heard Orozco’s case via videoconference butconcluded that she did not believe Orozco was gay. She said her reason wasthat Orozco was not sexually active as a teenager and that he also did notspecify his sexuality when he left Nicaragua.



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365Gay

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/02/020807italy.htm


Italian Cabinet OK Civil Partnership Bill
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: February 8, 2007 - 3:00 pm ET

(Rome) The cabinet of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Thursdayapproved legislation creating civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.

The bill is expected to be presented to Parliament later this month but itspassage is far from certain. Prodi's left of center coalition has a razorthin majority and the the opposition right of center coalition, led bySilvio Berlusconi and aligned with the Vatican, is opposed to the measure.

That Prodi was able to secure cabinet approval is considered a majoraccomplishment. A loose coalition of nine small parties, his government hasbeen grappling with civil partnerships for moths. Communists on the the farleft of the coalition have been pressing for full marriage. The tiny UDEURParty is opposed to any legislation.



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Advocate.com

http://advocate.com/print_article_ektid41909.asp


February 09, 2007
Colombia court orders property rights for gay couples

Colombia's constitutional court ruled Wednesday that same-sex couples shouldhave the same property rights as straight couples. The landmark decisionwill apply to those couples who have lived together for a minimum of twoyears.

The court concluded that the expression "men and women" used in a 1990 law,granting property rights only to straight couples, was unconstitutional.

Gay rights group Colombia Diversa claimed that at least 100,000 coupleswould benefit from the new legislation.



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365Gay

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/02/020807unions.htm

Problems Arise In NJ Civil Unions Form
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: February 9, 2007 - 12:01 am ET

(Trenton, New Jersey) With just over a week before same-sex couples in NewJersey can begin applying for civil union licenses the state has begundistributing to local clerks the forms to be used and LGBT rights groups arenot happy with the wording.

Garden State Equality and the American Civil Liberties Union in a letter tostate authorities say same-sex couples are being asked more probingquestions than are opposite-sex couples applying for marriage licenses.

"Currently, the proposed Application for Civil Union/Reaffirmation of CivilUnion License form requires much more information of an applicant than doesa marriage application form; yet the State has just as much interest inknowing whether a partner to a heterosexual marriage has previously been in,or still is in, a civil union or domestic partnership, and knowing if aperson seeking a civil union has previously been married," the letter says.



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365Gay

http://www.365gay.com/entertainment/news-gossip/020907shownews.htm


Is Rant Rehab Real Remorse Or Just Damage Control?

by John Rogers, Associated Press

(Hollywood, California) It used to be that celebrities sought treatment forthings they put into their mouths. Now it's for things that come out ofthem.

Michael Richards warmly regarded for his oddball Kramer character on"Seinfeld," began psychiatric counseling to control his anger just daysafter unleashing a racist tirade against black patrons at a comedy club.More recently, "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington said he would seekhelp after receiving a torrent of negative publicity for using a gay slur.

"With the support of my family and friends, I have begun counseling,"Washington announced after admitting, then denying, then admitting once andfor all that he used the invective last fall when referring to fellow castmember T.R. Knight, who soon after declared he is gay.



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The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/08/AR2007020802047_pf.html


Lutheran Panel Votes to Expel Gay Minister

By Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 9, 2007; A05


A disciplinary committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ruledyesterday that a gay pastor in Atlanta must give up his pulpit, saying itwas reluctantly enforcing a "bad policy."

Following a five-day church trial last month, seven of the committee's 12members voted to remove the Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling, 44, from the clergyas of Aug. 15.

The committee set that date to give the denomination an opportunity toreconsider its policies on homosexuality at its next churchwide assembly,Aug. 6-12 in Chicago. Activists on both sides of the issue predict thatSchmeling's case will stir vigorous debate at the Chicago session.



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The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/08/AR2007020801047_pf.html


Schools Picked to Pilot Sex-Ed Lessons

By Daniel de Vise
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 9, 2007; B02

Montgomery County school Superintendent Jerry D. Weast yesterday named sixschools that will be the first in the county to introduce the topics ofsexual orientation to students, an effort three citizen groups are fighting.

The county's new sex-education lessons, approved by the school board lastmonth, will be introduced in field tests next month at Argyle Middle Schoolin Silver Spring, Julius West Middle in Rockville, Westland Middle inBethesda, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High, Sherwood High in Sandy Spring andWatkins Mill High in Gaithersburg.

Should the pilot program go forward, it would mark the first time sexualorientation has been addressed directly in eighth- and 10th-grade countyhealth classes. Current curriculum allows teachers to broach the topic onlyin response to student inquiries.



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365Gay

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/02/020807pastFolo.htm


Gays Find Silver Lining In Pastor Verdict
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: February 8, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET

(Atlanta) Despite a ruling by an the Evangelical Lutheran Churchecclesiastic court that an openly gay Atlanta pastor who told his bishopthat he is in a same-sex relationship be removed from the clergy the panelthat made up the court calls the policy barring clergy in gay relationshipsdiscriminatory and possibly a violation of the church's own constitution.

The Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling, who had the support of parishioners at St.John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Atlanta, learned his fate Thursday.(story)



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org


http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070207/NEWS02/702070338/1003/NEWS02

The Times Argus
February 7, 2007

By Louis Porter Vermont Press Bureau

Gay marriage debate to begin at Statehouse


MONTPELIER - Lawmakers are expected to propose a bill today that would allowgay marriage in the state, a move advocates said would put same-sex coupleson a truly equal legal footing.

The proposal is not likely to be nearly as controversial as the state's 2000civil union law, which provided same-sex couples with many of the samebenefits as married couples for the first time in the country. The fightover that law resulted in many tough - and some unsuccessful - re-electionfights for lawmakers who supported the bill.

However, the state should take the next step toward a gay marriage law,similar to the one passed in Massachusetts, said Beth Robinson, chair of theVermont Freedom to Marry Task Force.



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org


Montel Williams Show: Abomination, AGLP Reparative TherapyDocumentary


Alicia Salzer says:

The episode airs on Tuesday February 20th, you will have to check locallistings but in NYC it is at 11AM on channel 9. You can also go to ourwebsite www.montelshow.com and look under the tab "where to watch" to findout local times in your city.

Meanwhile if you want to see the film in its entirety. you can purchase itby going to the website of the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists(www.aglp.org) and then clicking on the link to "Educational DVD's availablefrom AGLP."

Thank you all for your support and be sure to tune in to Montel on Feb20th!!


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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-myword0707feb07,0,3516026.story?coll=orl-opinion-headlines

Orlando Sentinel

Bill Maier |
Posted February 7, 2007

Gay adoption law: An opposing view


In criticizing Florida's law banning gay adoption and Focus on the Family'ssupport of that law, Sentinel columnist Mike Thomas rustles up a bushel ofapples to compare to our oranges ("It's Time to Do the Right Thing on GayAdoption," Jan. 30).

Our point is a macro one: Public policy on matters such as same-sex marriageand adoption must be based on what's best for all of society.

Thomas' point is a micro one, citing one admittedly tragic story to justifythe institutionalization of a radical social experiment that could havedisastrous effects for millions of children.



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org


http://activerain.com/blogsview/42951/Do-gay-communities-violate

<file:///blogsview/42951/Do-gay-communities-violate>

Do gay communities violate Fair Housing?

This post s based on a recent article by Amy Sullivan. If you are afull-time Realtor and haven't thought about this type of housing question,know that it is just a matter of time before you will be faced with havingto consider it.

With only 17 states protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenderhomebuyers from discrimination, developers and other real estate pros arefinding ways to accommodate the population by sprouting "targeted"communities and Realtor "specialty" groups. But is this new way ofprotecting one class actually discriminating against another? Read on tofind out what one developer had to say about his proposed gay community inBoston and how agents should do business when faced with a local FairHousing battle of wills.



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org


http://www.townonline.com/cambridge/opinion/8998949036962611199

Cambridge Chronicle

By Polyxane Cobb
Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - Updated: 11:26 AM EST

Same-sex marriage debate should be left to the law

Elizabeth Harmer-Dionne ("The Right View") is in error when she describesthe ruling of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) in Goodridge v.Department of Public Health. Massachusetts does not have same-sex marriagebecause "four members of the SJC decided that we should." What we have inMassachusetts is marriage available to couples who wish to enter that state,whatever their gender. The SJC decision held the state Constitution did notpermit discrimination, in this case, gender discrimination, in marriage. Itis compatible with earlier findings that people of different races had theright to marry. Ms. Harmer-Dionne may not be comfortable with the fact thatpeople of the samegender are attracted to each other and wish to live together in marriage,but why should her discomfort dictate their access to this fundamentalsocial contract?

The Massachusetts Constitution says that the commonwealth may not provideprivileges that are exclusive to one group. Those that petitioned the SJCfor access to marriage did so on that basis. The state provides economicprotections and privileges to married couples that it does not provide tounmarried couples. Since civil marriage is an economic arrangement betweenthe state and the couple, providing those benefits to certain couples, butnot all couples, is discrimination.



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200703/tim-gill

Atlantic Monthly profile of Tim Gill


The Atlantic Monthly
March 2007

(The software mogul Tim Gill has a mission: Stop the Rick Santorums oftomorrow before they get started. How a network of gay political donors isstealthily fighting sexual discrimination and reshaping American politics)

They Won't Know What Hit Them
by Joshua Green

A tough loss can be hard to swallow, and plenty of defeated politicians havebeen known to grumble about sinister conspiracies. When they are risingstars like Danny Carroll, the Republican speaker pro tempore of Iowa's Houseof Representatives, and the loss is unexpected, the urge to blame unseenforces can be even stronger--and in Carroll's case, it would have theadditional distinction of being justified. Carroll was among the dozens oftargets of a group of rich gay philanthropists who quietly joined forceslast year, under the leadership of a reclusive Colorado technology mogul, tocounter the tide of antigay politics in America that has generated, amongother things, a succession of state ballot initiatives banning gay marriage.Carroll had sponsored such a bill in Iowa and guided it to passage in thestate House of Representatives, the first step toward getting it on theballot.



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org


MA: Editorial--Marriage issue wed to Mass. politics

http://media.www.tuftsdaily.com/media/storage/paper856/news/2007/02/07/Editorial/Marriage.Issue.Wed.To.Mass.Politics-2702146.shtml?sourcedomain=www.tuftsdaily.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com


The Tufts Daily
2/7/07

Editorial--Marriage issue wed to Mass. politics


With the 2006 campaign behind us, issues for future campaigns are beginningto emerge. The future of Massachusetts' experiment with same-sex marriagewill make the commonwealth a nationwide leader on another cutting-edgeissue.

Massachusetts has a long history of being the first to enact legislation therest of the nation soon adopts. From the first constitution in the UnitedStates in 1780 to the first minimum wage in 1912, the state has a history ofblazing trails that soon become part of the nation's political fabric.



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org


http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070207/COLUMNIST13
/702070443

Herald Tribune

February 07. 2007 6:51AM

Guest columnist

LEGALIZING GAY MARRIAGE
Laws that could help children

Gilbert Cranberg, a part-time resident of Longboat Key, is former editor ofThe Des Moines Register's editorial pages.

FL: Opinion--LEGALIZING GAY MARRIAGE; Laws that could help children


Vice president Richard Cheney became especially testy during a recentinterview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer when the subject turned to the pregnancyof Cheney's unmarried daughter, Mary. Twice, Cheney bluntly told Blitzer,"You're out of line" when Blitzer asked the vice president to respond toconservative critics of Mary Cheney's decision to "conceive a child outsideof the relationship of a married mother and father."



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Tackling anti-gay bullying at work - new Stonewall guide to help employers

Stonewall has launched a new guide aimed at dealing with the bullying andharassment of lesbian and gay employees. Bullying: preventing the bullyingand harassment of gay employees, the third in Stonewall’s Workplace Guideseries, offers clear and practical advice on how to tackle anti-gay bullyingand harassment at work.

The guide is published in the week that a gay man secured £17,000 incompensation from his employers, Parkam Foods, after the Yorkshire-basedfirm failed to tackle homophobic harassment in the workplace. Supported byUBS investment bank, Preventing the Bullying and Harassment of Gay Employeesis aimed at managers and HR professionals who want to maintain a workingenvironment free from discrimination.

The guide explains the difficulties gay employees can face when reportingbullying and looks at the ways in which employers can deal with the problemof anti-gay bulling and harassment at work. It also features practicalexamples of good practice currently being developed by a range of Stonewall’spartner organisations including BT, Accenture, Manchester City Council, theRoyal Navy and Barnado’s.

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The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/08/AR2007020802247_pf.html


Sexuality Disclosed, Ignorance Exposed

By Michael Wilbon
Friday, February 9, 2007; E01

Just as it would be a relief to arrive at the place in time when the colorof the coaches in the Super Bowl matters not one bit, it would be fabulousto reach the day when a male athlete in a team sport doesn't have to worryabout the reaction of declaring his homosexuality.

But that day isn't here just yet, as we found out this week now that JohnAmaechi has become the first former NBA player to publicly say he's gay. Thereaction to Amaechi's announcement in advance of his soon-to-be-releasedautobiography, "Man in the Middle," is all over the place, from appropriateindifference to utterances that border on homophobic to, well, stockignorance



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://www.gay.com/content/tools/print.html?coll=news_articles&sernum=2007/02/07/2&navpath=channels/news

Solo Atlantic row aims to raise black HIV awareness
published Wednesday, February 7, 2007

An AIDS activist plans to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean later this yearto draw attention to the high rate of HIV in the U.S. black community.Victor Mooney's first attempt two years ago ended less than two hours afterhe started from the coast of Senegal when his boat leaked. But he says he isbetter prepared now and determined to succeed.

"It's important that I continue this quest, because this disease ispreventable," he said Wednesday, also National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
He has lost a brother to AIDS, and another brother has HIV.

Mooney, 41, wants to be the first black person to row solo across theAtlantic. He plans to follow the trans-Atlantic slave trade route thatbrought blacks to the Americas from Africa and to connect the plight of AIDSin the two continents.



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http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0706,sutton,75759,9.html

Link to cartoon: Mary Cheney's Non-Political Baby Shower



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