GLBT DIGEST March 29, 2007

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.


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

Mother Jones

http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2007/03/3981_banning_gay_ado.html

Banning Gay Adoption Would Cost Foster Care System $130 Million

Half a million children in the U.S. live in foster care, and more than100,000 await adoption.

Finding stable, permanent homes for these youth, "forever families," is apriority, and a proven way to positive outcomes for youth. Still, it's up tostates to recruit and evaluate potential foster and adoptive parents, andmost states turn away viable parents who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexualor transgender.

Currently three states-Florida, Mississippi and Utah-have outright bans onadoptive parents who are homosexual. Several other states have or areconsidering policies that would restrict LGBT couples and individuals fromfostering or adopting a child. Florida forbids "homosexuals" from adopting;Mississippi bans "same-gender" couples, and Utah bans all unmarried couples.

Some states: California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington DC,actually protect potential adopters by prohibiting sexual orientation frombeing used as a basis to prevent a prospective applicant from being aadoptive or foster parent.

But throughout most of the country LGBT folks face all kinds of barriers toadoption. This, despite the fact that they are already raising children insignificant numbers. According to census figures, gathered by the WilliamsInstitute in a new study leased today:

-More than one in three lesbians has given birth, and one in six gay menhave athered a child.

-65,500 adopted children are currently living with a lesbian or gay parent,amounting to four percent of all adopted children in the United States.

-10,300 foster children are living with lesbian or gay parents.




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

Ekklesioa.co.uk

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/4937/print

Gay Christians appeal to international community over repressive laws
By staff writers
26 Mar 2007

Gay Christians in Nigeria are urging international action against a newrepressive law which is being backed by the Anglican church in the country.

The proposed law, that would impose brutal penalties on shows of affectionbetween lesbian and gay people, or even on those who would advocate forlesbian and gay people, has already been condemned by more than 250Christian leaders from the US, as well as the church in Canada and Christianin the UK. However, the Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria is giving it hissupport.

The new measures would impose brutal penalties on all relationships,activism, advocacy, and shows of affection among lesbian and gay people. Itwould introduce criminal penalties for any public advocacy or associationssupporting the rights of lesbian and gay people, as well as for same-sexrelationships and marriage ceremonies.

The bill, entitled 'The Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2006', goes much
further than the name suggests. The bill provides for five years'imprisonment to anyone who "goes through the ceremony of marriage with aperson of the same sex," "performs, witnesses, aids or abets the ceremony ofsame sex marriage" or "is involved in the registration of gay clubs,societies and rganizations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicityand public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly inpublic and in private."

Any priest or cleric aiding or abetting such a union could be subject to thefive-year prison term. The law would also prohibit adoption of children bylesbian or gay couples or individuals.



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.

Right Wing Watch

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2007/03/robertson_musli_1.html?tr=y&auid=2492437

March 20, 2007
Robertson: Muslim Politicians Will 'Destroy' American Civilization

On today's "700 Club," Pat Robertson warns that Muslims becoming involved inpolitics, such as Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota), want to "take over" and"institute Sharia."

"If the Christians don't get involved-We've been harassed by People for theAmerican Way, we have been harassed by Americans United for the Separationof Church and State, we have been harassed by the federal court system, butif the Christians won't stand up and not worry about the IRS, not worryabout whether you're going to lose your tax exemption, not worry aboutwhatever because you're going to lose your country if Christians don'tmobilize and vote," warned Robertson. He added that "The curse of God is tobring in people who don't share your point of view and then ultimatelydestroy your civilization. Well, that's what we're facing for our childrenand grandchildren."

Robertson's comments echoed statements denouncing Rep. Ellison as a threatby right-wing commentators such as Roy Moore and Dennis Prager, by Rep.Virgil Goode (R-Virginia), and by Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of theRobertson-founded American Center for Law and Justice.

Posted by Ezra at 6:14 PM



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

The Gay Military Times

http://www.thegaymilitarytimes.com/070327Brasch.html

An Intolerant Minority
by Walter Brasch

Capt. Joan Darrah (USN-ret.) was the Navy's first female intelligenceofficer.

Lt. Col. William Winnewisser (USA-ret.) was a battalion commander, executiveofficer of the Army Operations Center at the Pentagon, and a White Housesocial aide.

Lt. Col. Hank Thomas (USMC-ret.) was an infantry and intelligence officerwho served two tours of duty in Vietnam ; he later served as assistantsecretary for international affairs in the Reagan administration.

Lt. Col. Steve Loomis, wounded in action in Vietnam , was awarded the BronzeStar with a "V" for valor.

Capt. Joe Lopez, a West Point graduate, and Blackhawk pilot, earned an AirMedal in Iraq .

Capt. Rebecca Kanis, a West Point graduate, was a company commander inSpecial Operations at the time she resigned her commission after nine yearsof service.



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.

SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/28/MNG8LOT1K71.DTL&type=printable

Colorado Episcopal parish to quit church
Neela Banerjee, New York Times
Wednesday, March 28, 2007

One of the largest Episcopal parishes in Colorado has decided to leave theEpiscopal Church, prompting the diocesan bishop to dissolve the leadershipof the congregation and heightening tensions between theologicaltraditionalists and liberals in the denomination.

The parish, Grace Church and St. Stephen's Parish in Colorado Springs, is alargely conservative congregation that disagrees with the Episcopal Church'sdecision to consecrate gay bishops and sanction same-sex unions.

The parish decided to leave the denomination over the weekend, in large partbecause of a decision made last week by the denomination's House of Bishops,said Alan Crippen, a parishioner and spokesman for the congregation.

Answering an ultimatum from archbishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion,the Episcopal bishops rejected a demand to create a parallel leadershipstructure for the minority of Episcopalians, like the members of GraceChurch and St. Stephen's, who oppose the church's stand on homosexuality.

"Our read was that it is just curtains for theological conservatives in theEpiscopal Church," Crippen said. "There was a lot of scrambling over theweekend. We thought that the House of Bishops would delay and obfuscate likethey usually do. Everyone here was just shocked that they were so decisivein spurning the rest of the communion."



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.

Times Online

http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2007/03/drama_at_abbey_.html

March 27, 2007

Drama at Abbey, Akinola 'comes out' on anti-gay law

Who exactly are the slaves of today, and why was this protester, ToyinAgbetu, so angry that he disrupted the slavery commemoration service at theAbbey today? Peter Akinola thinks he knows the answer to the first question.He has given an interview to Philip Groves, who head the listening processfor the Anglican Communion, in which he makes it clear that he is fullybehind the draconian anti-gay measures currently going through Nigeria'slegislature. The Abbey protester Agbetu was angry because there has been noformal apology from Britain's government for this country's complicity inslavery, in spite of calls from Archbishop of York John Sentamu amongothers.

Two further new developments - the Listening Process study guide is nowavailable, as well as the reports from each province on the ListeningProcess so far.

The Church Times last week ran an advertisement placed by the Lesbian andGay Christian Movement in which they describe Nigeria's bill as an exampleof modern slavery. Anglican Mainstream came out in support of Akinola. Theyargued that the sexual licence of modern Western culture threatened anotherform of bondage to nations of the South.

LGCM said: 'This debate is held against a global backdrop where over fiftycountries impose jail sentences, including life imprisonment, forhomosexuality. In nine other countries the punishment is death! In mostcountries lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people face daily violenceand harrassment. The Church must ask itself what part it plays inencouraging this disgrace. If maintaining the 'catholic' nature of theAnglican Communion can only be bought at the price of silence and collusionwith such calumnies, this is not true catholicity in Christ.'

LGCM recently wrote an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury askingwhy the Primates had not condemned the Nigerian law at their recent meetingin Tanzania. In reply, Dr Williams wrote: 'I don't think there was a chanceof getting an agreed statement out of the Primates on this subject at themoment. I don't take any pride in that, but it's a fact.'



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.

www.readinggrounds.com

AUTHOR AND ACTIVIST WAYNE BESEN TO COUNTER THE 'EX-GAY' MYTH AT READINGGROUNDS IN OMAHA

Presentation and Book Signing Highlights Dangers of the 'Ex-Gay' Message, AsFocus On The Family Brings 'Ex-Gay' Road Show to Omaha

OMAHA - Fresh from an appearance on the Daily Show With John Stewart,
activist and author Wayne Besen will appear at Reading Grounds (7PM, April12) only days before Focus on the Family hosts its ex-gay road show, LoveWon Out, in Omaha. Besen will present the dangers of so-called 'ex-gay'groups and sign his acclaimed book, Anything But Straight: Unmasking theScandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth.

"Ex-gay groups destroy families in the name of family values, offer falsehope to vulnerable people and portray a distorted view of gay life," saidauthor Wayne Besen, who is also the founder of Truth Wins Out, the onlyfull-time non-profit organization to monitor ex-gay groups. "It is importantto be in Omaha to help counter Focus on the Family's slick disinformationcampaign. I hope to educate people and serve as a resource on this explosiveissue."

In 2000, Besen photographed Love Won Out founder and Focus on the Family'sex-gay poster boy John Paulk in a gay bar in Washington , DC . He alsohelped uncover that Rev. Jerry Falwell's ex-gay leader, Michael Johnston,was having male partners, even after he proclaimed Jesus Christ had "healed"him.



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.

Catholics must oppose civil unions, Italian bishops say

Catholic World News
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=50165

Rome, Mar. 28, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The Italian bishops' conference hasreleased a statement saying that a bid for legal recognition of civil unionsis "unacceptable in principle, and presents a social and educationaldanger."

The bishops' statement, released on May 28, said that it would be"incomprehensible" for a Catholic politician to cast a vote in favor of thecivil-union proposal.

Although the bishops did not suggest any disciplinary action againstlawmakers who support the government's proposal, the statement said thatevery Catholic politician has "the moral duty to express his disagreementclearly and publicly," and to vote against any bill that would grant legalrecognition to same-sex unions.



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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/226/173/

Gay 'Day Of Silence' Meets With Protest
By Norm Kent
Publisher

GLSEN was hoping its 'Day of Silence' next month would launch a campaignagainst discrimination of students in schools.

It may not come so easily. Instead, it has given birth to a significantChristian protest, including a federal lawsuit.

As it has in the past, GLSEN, the Gay and Lesbian Straight EducationNetwork, has planned a National Day of Silence for students nationwide nextmonth.

The project allows for students to be quiet all day in a yeoman's effort toprotest the discrimination, harassment and abuse of lesbian, gay, bisexualand transgender students and their allies in schools.

The participating students will be wearing stickers and passing out'speaking cards' that read:

"Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating inthe Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence facedby lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies inschools.

My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment,prejudice, and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is thefirst step toward fighting these injustices.

Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to doto end the silence?"

Schools across the country are supporting the effort. But at least one highschool student in Illinois is not.

Heidi Zamecnik, of the Chicago suburb of Naperville, has gone to federalcourt seeking the right to wear T-shirts one day later that declaresentiments such as "Be happy, not gay."

Zamecnik has become the focal point of a counter protest group, planned forApril 19, one day later, entitled 'A Day of Truth' (www.dayoftruth.org)Zamecnik is asking a United States District Court to order her school toallow her to express her family's "conviction that true happiness cannot befound through homosexual behavior."



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/03/032907anthos.htm

Police: Elderly Detroit Gay Man Did Not Die From Bashing
by The Associated Press
Posted: March 29, 2007 - 12:01 am ET

(Detroit, Michigan) An elderly man whose death became a national cause forgay rights advocates died of natural causes, not from being beaten,authorities said Wednesday.

Police also said they intended to close the investigation into 72-year-oldAndrew Anthos' death.

"There's no evidence that an assault occurred," police spokesman James Tatetold The Detroit News.

According to family members, Anthos said he was riding a city bus home fromthe library on Feb. 13 when a young man asked him if he was gay and uttereda slur.

Anthos said the man followed him off the bus and confronted him again.Anthos said he told the man he was gay as he went to help a friend whosewheelchair was stuck in a snowbank, according to his cousin, Athena Fedenis.


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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/03/032807hawaii.htm

Teacher Pleads Guilty For Arranging Marriage For Foreign Lover
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: March 28, 2007 - 8:00 pm ET

(Honolulu, Hawaii) A 65-year old Honolulu man has pleaded guilty for helpingto arrange a marriage for his Chinese lover so that the man could remain inthe US.

Federal officials alleged that Bob Loren agreed to pay a woman and herdaughter $6000 for the daughter to marry Hang Duan.

Loren met Hang Duan, 20 at the time, while Loren was teaching English inChina. When Loren returned to Hawaii, Hang entered the country on a 90-dayvisa.

Loren sought the help of Julia Bivit-Padello, an acquaintance who owns aHonolulu area barber shop and asked if she new anyone Hang could marry sothat he could remain in the US. She suggested her daughter Shara Padello,21.

Hang and Padello were married in August 2005. They then signed a"post-marital" agreement that called for Padello to receive $1,000 formarrying Duan and another $5,000 after he received his green card.



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/03/032807alimony.htm

Ruling: Sex Change Doesn't Alter Alimony
by The Associated Press
Posted: March 28, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET

(Clearwater, Florida) A woman's sex change operation does not free herex-husband from his alimony obligation, a judge said Wednesday.

Attorneys for Lawrence Roach, 48, had argued his 55-year-old ex-wife'sdecision to switch genders and change her name from Julia to Julio RobertoSilverwolf voided their 2004 divorce agreement.

"It's illegal for a man to marry a man and it should likewise be illegal fora man to pay alimony to a man," said John McGuire, one of Roach's attorneys.

Circuit Judge Jack R. St. Arnold, however, ruled that in the eyes of thelaw, nothing changed significantly enough to free Roach from his$1,250-a-month obligation.

The judge said since Florida courts have ruled sex-change surgery cannotlegally change a person's birth gender, Roach technically is not payingalimony to a man.



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/03/032807calif.htm

Partner Failed To File Domestic Partner Form, Man Now Battles For CommunalProperty
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: March 28, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET

(Santa Ana, California) Legal papers were filed today in the CaliforniaCourt of Appeal in a case seeking the same protections for domesticpartners, who thought their relationships were registered with the state butwere not, as California family law provides to people who believed they weremarried but were not.

"Without access to marriage, same-sex couples are left with an inferior,confusing system that causes people like our client to fall through thecracks," said Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Tara Borelli.

"In addition to dealing with what amounts to a divorce, people like DarrinEllis have the additional burden of demonstrating to the state why theyshould be treated as spouses are when they honestly thought they weremarried, but for one technical legal reason or another were not."

Ellis and David Arriaga were in a committed relationship for over fiveyears. On August 14, 2003, Ellis and Arriaga met with their attorney toexecute estate planning documents and their Declaration of DomesticPartnership. Arriaga was to send the notarized form to the CaliforniaSecretary of State's office, and Ellis believed Arriaga had done so.

It was not until the relationship ended in 2006 that Arriaga informed Ellishe had never mailed the Declaration of Domestic Partnership to the Secretaryof State.



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/03/032807arab.htm

Arab Lesbians Hold Historic Meeting
by The Associated Press
Posted: March 28, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET

(Haifa, Israel) Arab lesbians quietly defied Islamist protesters and asocial taboo to gather at a rare public event Wednesday in a northernIsraeli city.

Many of the attendees said they were sad that the only place safe enough tohold a conference for gay Arab women was in a Jewish area of Haifa, whichhas a mixed Arab-Jewish population. Israel's Jewish majority is generallytolerant of homosexuality

"This conference is being held, somehow, in exile, even though it's ourcountry," said Yussef Abu Warda, a playwright.

Driven deep underground for the most part, only 10 to 20 Arab lesbiansattended the conference, organizers said. Most blended in with Israelilesbians and heterosexual Arab female supporters without making theirpresence known.

"We'd like all women to come out of the closet - that's our role. We workfor them," said Samira, 31, a conference organizer who came with her JewishIsraeli girlfriend. Samira agreed to be identified only by her first namefor fear of reprisals.



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/03/032807indi.htm

Pressure Mounting On Indiana Lawmakers To Deal With Anti-Gay Amendment
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: March 28, 2007 - 3:00 pm ET

(Indianapolis, Indiana) Supporters and opponents of a proposed amendment tothe Indiana constitution to ban same-sex marriage are calling on lawmakersto deal with the issue - one way or the other.

State law already bars same-sex couples from marrying. The proposedconstitutional amendment would not only ban same-sex marriage but also wouldblock any recognition of unmarried couples.

It defines marriage only as the union of one man and one woman. But, it goesto say the state cannot provide the "incidents" of marriage on unmarriedcouples or groups.

The second part of the amendment would block domestic partner benefits frombeing offered state employees or institutions funded by the state,

Amending the constitution is a two stage process in Indiana, requiring votesin two consecutive sessions of the legislature. It already passed the firstphase and is now in the second round of approvals.



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Advocate.com

http://advocate.com/print_article_ektid43448.asp

March 29, 2007
No charges for Foley in page scandal

Six months after resigning from Congress, former U.S. representative MarkFoley remains under criminal investigation for sexually explicit Internetcommunications with underage boys but has not been charged, authorities saidWednesday.

''I can't really give any more detail other than to say we're still in thepreliminary investigative stance and we are working with stateauthorities,'' said Debra Weierman, spokeswoman for the FBI's Washingtonfield office.

Florida authorities announced their own criminal investigation in Novemberbut have remained tight-lipped on the status since then.

Foley resigned September 29 after being confronted with the lurid messagesto male teenage pages who had worked on Capitol Hill.

He checked himself into an Arizona facility October 1 for what his attorneyssaid was treatment of ''alcoholism and other behavioral problems.'' At thetime, his attorney said Foley was gay and an alcoholic and had been molestedby a priest as a teenage altar boy in Florida.



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/03/032807king.htm

Lesbian Tennis Great King Endorses Clinton
by The Associated Press
Posted: March 28, 2007 - 12:30 pm ET

(New York City) Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton has secured the endorsementof Billie Jean King, the longtime tennis star who made history in 1973 whenshe defeated Bobby Riggs in the famed "Battle of the Sexes" match.

"What I learned when I first met Hillary, and what I know now, is that sheis qualified to lead this country," King, 63, said in statement. "As a youngwoman, mother, advocate, first lady and senator she has continually shown usshe is passionate about improving family issues, health care, equal pay andthe challenges that people all across this nation face on a daily basis."

King's support will be part of the campaign's "Women for Hillary" effortaimed at wooing female voters.

The King endorsement came amid a slew of high-profile events to showcasewomen's support for Clinton, who is hoping to make history as the firstfemale president.

Several of Clinton's top female advisers, including campaign manager PattiSolis Doyle and senior adviser Ann Lewis, were hosting a web chat Wednesdayafternoon, while NOW, the National Organization for Women, was announcingits endorsement of Clinton.



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/03/032807titone.htm

Fourth Gay Elected To NYS Legislature
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: March 28, 2007 - 11:00 am ET

(New York City) Staten Island voters have elected their first openly gaycandidate for the state legislature - making Matthew Titone the fourth gaymember to serve in Albany.

Titone was elected in a special election to replace Assemblyman John W.Lavelle. The 57 year old Lavelle, who died of a stroke in January had been astrong supporter of LGBT rights.

Both Titone and Lavelle were Democrats and Titone's election was notaltogether a surprise. The district has been solidly Democratic in modernhistory.

Titone, 46, had the support of Empire Pride Agenda and the Victory Fund.

"Last night was an historic victory for our community," Pride Agenda's JoeTarver told 365Gay.com.



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Advocate.com

http://advocate.com/print_article_ektid43447.asp

March 29, 2007
Former South Carolina coach reaches out to Chatman

Former collegiate women's basketball coach Pam Parsons, whose improperconduct with one of her players was made public 25 years ago, has reachedout to Pokey Chatman(pictured), who recently relinquished her position coaching the same sportat Louisiana State University because of allegations that she had animproper relationship with a former player.

Former University of South Carolina women's basketball coach Pam Parsons,whose improper conduct with one of her players was made public 25 years ago,has reached out to Pokey Chatman, who recently relinquished her positioncoaching the same sport at Louisiana State University because of allegationsthat she had an improper relationship with a former player, reports theAssociated Press.

With Parsons at the helm, South Carolina's Lady Gamecocks became one of thenation's most powerful teams. In 1980 she led them to a school record whenthey won a whopping 30 games for the season. However, her tenure came to anend when her sexual relationship with 17-year-old player Tina Buck becamepublic knowledge.

Chatman resigned because of an alleged sexual relationship with a formerplayer and hasn't spoken to reporters since leaving her post March 7. ButParsons, 59, isn't passing any judgment and is sympathizing with Chatman'sordeal by offering her open arms.

Parsons told AP that if Chatman called for advice, Parsons would "hug hercompletely and say, 'Oh, my gosh, I couldn't imagine anyone else in theuniverse would have a similar pattern to work through in life.'"



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The Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=12175

Ga. Supreme Court rejects lesbian adoption case
Arguments challenged the legality of second-parent adoption
ATLANTA | Mar 29, 6:31 AM

The Georgia Supreme Court has again sidestepped a challenge to the legalityof second-parent adoptions, a legal process sometimes used by gay parents.The court ruled today that it would not reconsider its Feb. 26 decision notto hear the case of Sara Wheeler, a woman who sought to revoke thesecond-parent adoption of her biological child by former partner MelodyWheeler.

The February decision was challenged by Anthony Zezima, who is Sara Wheeler'sattorney, in a March 6 motion for reconsideration.

The Wheelers' child was conceived using artificial insemination when theWheelers were a couple, and Sara Wheeler was the birth mother. DeKalb CountySuperior Court Judge Anne Workman approved Melody Wheeler's adoption of thechild in 2002, and upheld Melody Wheeler's parental rights in 2005 after thecouple split.

"It's very important in adoptions that after a period of time the adoptionbe final, and there be no threat to the parent-child relationship," saidGreg Nevins, a senior staff attorney in the Atlanta office of Lambda LegalDefense & Education Fund, a gay legal group that assisted Melody Wheeler.

"An adoption that had been granted years ago shouldn't be disturbed fouryears later - that's not a controversial principle," Nevins said after theGa. Supreme Court first declined to hear the case.



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World News

http://cnn.worldnews.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Italian+bishops+spark+gay+vote+row+-+CNN.com&expire=&urlID=21740848&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2007%2FWORLD%2Feurope%2F03%2F29%2Fitaly.gay.reut%2Findex.html&partnerID=2006

Italian bishops spark gay vote row

ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- A directive by Italian bishops ordering Catholicpoliticians to vote against gay rights legislation has caused a politicaluproar and prompted fresh charges of Church interference in domesticaffairs.

The long-awaited note, issued on Wednesday by the Italian BishopsConference, was significant because it specifically targeted politicians asthey consider a law to give homosexual and heterosexual unmarried couplesmore rights.

While not specifying any punishment by the Church, it says Catholics couldnot hide behind "the principle of pluralism" or compromise on what it calledthe ethical needs of society.

The note said Catholic politicians had "the moral duty to clearly andpublicly voice their disagreement and vote against any proposed law thatwould recognize homosexual couples".

While some Catholic and centrist politicians welcomed the directive as foodfor thought, other lawmakers and civil rights groups condemned it asoutright interference.



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The Miami Herald

http://www.miamiherald.com/367/v-print/story/56189.html

Posted on Thu, Mar. 29, 2007
Colo. parish leader facing money charges
By COLLEEN SLEVIN

The leader of a breakaway Episcopal parish will face financial misconductallegations in the diocese's judicial system, officials said Wednesday.

The action came two days after leaders of Grace Church and St. Stephen'sParish in Colorado Springs voted to leave the denomination and join aNigerian-linked missionary diocese. They left because they were upset aboutthe liberal theological direction of the national church, particularly whenit comes to gay relationships.

Hours after the vote, diocese officials handed down the church equivalent ofan indictment against the Rev. Donald Armstrong but did not releasespecifics. Parish leaders criticized the action against him as the productof a "kangaroo court."

A letter to parishioners from Colorado Bishop Robert O'Neill, obtained by
The Gazette of Colorado Springs, accuses Armstrong of theft and mishandlingof hundreds of thousands of dollars over about 10 years. It also saysArmstrong failed to report about $548,000 in income and benefits on stateand federal tax forms.

Diocese spokeswoman Beckett Stokes confirmed the letter, but would notprovide a copy to The Associated Press. The diocese suspended Armstrong Jan.3 and barred him from the parish property because of the investigation.



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The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/28/AR2007032802510_pf.html

Uganda's Early Gains Against HIV Eroding
Message of Fear, Fidelity Diluted by Array of Other Remedies

By Craig Timberg
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, March 29, 2007; A01

KAMPALA, Uganda -- Students packed a grassy field at Makerere University inApril 1989 for a farewell concert by singer Philly Lutaaya. This symbol ofswaggering virility had grown gaunt, with splotchy skin and the fine, sparsehair of a baby. He sang hauntingly,"Today it's me, tomorrow it's somebody else."

Between songs, he warned the stunned crowd that having several sex partnerswas a sure way to die in the age of AIDS, echoing pleas also made bypolitical and religious leaders of the time. When Lutaaya died thatDecember, at age 38, the country already had begun its historic reversal ofthe epidemic, researchers say, because of the power of that single,terrifying message.

Despite this success story, unmatched elsewhere on this AIDS-riddencontinent, no country has entirely replicated Uganda's approach. Mostinstead have followed a diffuse palette of other remedies pushed by Westerndonors -- condom promotion, abstinence training, HIV testing, drug treatmentand stigma reduction -- while forgoing what research shows worked here: fearand a relentless focus on sexual fidelity.

Even in Uganda, these key ingredients have been lost as a new generationcoming of age years after Lutaaya's death indulges in the same recklessbehavior that first spread the disease so widely.

"We saw him. We saw him die. We abandoned the girlfriends," said SwizenKyomuhendo, a social scientist at Makerere, who was an undergraduate whenLutaaya spoke there. "When you look at the university students now, they arenot as terrified as we were then."



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April 18, 2007 is the 11th annual Day of Silence -- one of the largeststudent-led actions in the country. The Day of Silence commemorates andprotests anti-LGBTQ bullying, harassment and discrimination in schools.

Students and teachers take a pledge to remain silent all day to point outthe fact that LGBTQ youth and adults are often silenced by prejudice andbigotry.

There are many ways to observe the day of silence. For suggestions andideas click Day of Silence and Teaching Tolerance. What are YOU going to doto end the Silence?

If the links do not work, cut and paste the URLs below into your browser.

http://www.dayofsilence.org/
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?cid=821&pa=3&ttnewsletter=ttnewsgen-032807



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

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070328/LOCAL19/703280479

Lilly against gay marriage ban
By Mary Beth Schneider
mary.beth.schneider@indystar.com

March 28, 2007

Eli Lilly and Co. today became the latest large Indiana employer to oppose aproposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Tony Murphy, Lilly's senior vice president for human resources, sent aletter to House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, and otherlegislators saying the amendment could hinder Lilly's ability to attractemployees and also paint an image of Indiana as an intolerant state.

Murphy said in the letter that Lilly, which employs nearly 16,000 people inIndiana, has offered domestic partner benefits since January 2004. He saidthe company is concerned that the language of the amendment could put thosebenefits at risk.

In addition to defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, the amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 7, states that the constitution or anyother ndiana law "may not be construed to require that marital status orthe legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon unmarried couples orgroups."

"As a result of this uncertainty (over what the amendment's impact mightbe,)" Murphy wrote, "some employees may choose to leave Indiana to work in astate where these benefits are perceived not to be threatened. Given thegreat lengths Lilly takes to attract and retain top talent from around theworld, we oppose any legislation that might impair our ability to offercompetitive employee benefits or negatively impact our recruitment andretention."



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

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/03/27
/BAGASOSGFL1.DTL&type=politics

Ban of use of sperm from HIV-positive men under review

Bill pending to let fertility clinics use 'washed' specimens

Greg Lucas, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau, Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Sacramento -- Dan Hartmann, a 32-year-old Oakland graphic artist, met hiswife Susan six years ago, and like many couples they decided they wanted tostart a family.

There's a complication: A blood transfusion 20 years ago left HartmannHIV-positive.

Medical technology has existed for more than a decade to "wash" the HIV fromHartmann's sperm, which then could be used to add a new member to theHartmann household while mother and child remain HIV-free.

Except Hartmann can't get the treatment in California because the state bansthe use of sperm from an HIV-positive donor.

"We want to have a kid, but the law here doesn't allow fertility clinics tohelp a man who is HIV-positive," Hartmann said.

Legislation will be debated Wednesday in the Senate Health Committee topermit the use of washed sperm from an HIV-positive donor to impregnate aconsenting woman.



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

http://www.tri.org>

Michigan's House of Representatives voted 59-50 today in favor of Matt'sSafe Schools Law!

Just twenty minutes ago, Michigan's schools came one vital step closer tobecoming safe for every student.

The House vote was witnessed by more than 150 citizen lobbyists who had cometo Safe Schools Lobby Day, an event organized by Triangle Foundation onbehalf of the Michigan Safe Schools Coalition and attended during a 1 p.m.gathering by Governor Jennifer Granholm.

"While we're ecstatic to see this bill pass the full House, we can't let themomentum die now," said Triangle Director of Policy Sean Kosofsky. "Now it'stime to turn our attention to the State Senate so we can deliver thisimportant legislation to Governor Granholm for her signature."

We achieved this victory because of you - your support, your calls to yourState Legislators, your donations. Help us take Matt's Safe Schools Lawthrough the Senate and into actual law with a donation today

https://secure.ga1.org/05/trianglefoundation_donationpage/nB1MOPHY19SMz?


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