=
Sun-Sentinel.com
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbdig08178nbaug17,0,4210736,print.story
Oakland Park: Theater company gets its own space
August 17, 2007
Rising Action Theater Inc. recently took over about 4,000 square feet in thePrimavera Shopping Mall, 840 E. Oakland Park Blvd.
David Goldyn, creator of the theater group, installed an air conditioner,built a stage and bought 96 seats from the New Theatre in Coral Gables.Goldyn's group used to set up shop wherever it could.
"I believe if you're going to be taken seriously as a theater, you need yourown space," he said.
Goldyn's venue will open in time for the company's newest production,Terrence McNally's Some Men, which begins Sept. 21. It is a retrospective ofthe lives of gay men over 80 years.
Goldyn said the group does not want to be pigeon-holed as a gay theater. Hewants to produce plays about social tolerance, accepting differences andequality.
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Sun-Sentinel.com
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbdig081714nbaug17,0,1344366,print.story
Broward County: GLBT book festival is looking for authors
August 17, 2007
Authors are sought to take part in the GLBT Bookfest Expo, set for 2 to 5p.m. Sept. 30 at the Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.
Locally published authors are invited to discuss their books and have booksignings as the county recognizes the contributions made by gay, lesbian,bisexual and transgender authors.
Published authors are asked to e-mail book and contact information toLorraine Woods at lwoods@browardlibrary.org or call 954-357-7348.
After review of the materials, authors will be notified of theirparticipation. Deadline for authors to submit their information is Aug. 30.
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1
Check out the editorial cartoon - Mayor James Naugle, of Ft. Lauderdale
=
NationalGayNews.com
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08172007/news/regionalnews/correction_big_brawls_in_gay_bar_regionalnews_larry_celona__jamie_schram_and_erika_martinez.htm
CORRECTION BIG BRAWLS IN GAY BAR
By LARRY CELONA, JAMIE SCHRAM and ERIKA MARTINEZ
August 17, 2007 -- An assistant corrections commissioner - who lovesrefrigerator magnets and "kissing with my eyes open" - was busted forpunching out the bartender at a gay watering hole in Chelsea yesterday,officials said.
Marc Carpentier, a financial-management bigwig at the city Department ofCorrection, was charged with assault, criminal mischief and resistingarrest. He was arrested at a popular gay bar, The View, on Eighth Avenue.
The 41-year-old official also was indefinitely suspended from his $140,000-a-year job, authorities said.
Carpentier's drunken bender began late Wednesday when he was tossed out ofanother Chelsea gay bar, sources said.
Several minutes after heading to The View, Carpentier got into a beef with abartender when he paid for a $5 beer and the server handed over five $1bills in change, cops said.
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NationalGayNews.com
http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/printer_6392.php
Brookhaven student attends 1st camp for GSA members
By Staff Reports
Aug 17, 2007, 11:01
40 students from colleges across the country meet in Maryland to discussissues facing LGBT students and their allies
Chad Pride
Chad Pride, a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance at Brookhaven College inDallas, was one of more than 40 student leaders from colleges anduniversities across the country who recently participated in the first-evercamp for LGBT college students and their allies.
The Gay-Straight Alliance at Brookhaven is sponsored by Linus Spiller, astudent services specialist with the school.
The five-day-long leadership camp, referred to as “Gay Camp,” was held July24-29, on the campus of Towson University in Towson, Md., with the QueerStudent Union as the host for the gathering.
The camp was the result of more than six months of planning by members ofCampus Pride coordinating with a team of 12 LGBT educators and activists.
The curriculum included classes in leadership development, social justiceand civic involvement.
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NationalGayNews.com
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/dispatch/content/faith_values/stories/2007/08/17/minutemn.ART_ART_08-17-07_B4_5F7K25N.html?print=yes
Anti-gay activists crash worship services
Minutemen take 'word of God' to 2 congregations
Friday, August 17, 2007 3:31 AM
By Gail Martineau
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
A conservative Christian values group has been interrupting services at twocentral Ohio churches to protest their support for homosexuality.
Minutemen United vowed to attend services every Sunday.
The group started its crusade when First Baptist Church in Granville hosted"Love Makes a Family," a traveling exhibit by the Family Diversity Projectshowing photos of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families.
The night the exhibit opened in July, members of Minutemen United stoodoutside and protested the exhibit and the church's open attitude towardhomosexuality, said the Rev. Kathy Hurt, senior pastor at the Granvillechurch.
Since then, the group has been visiting the church every Sunday, she said.
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NationalGayNews.com
http://www.projo.com/news/content/samesex_debate_08-17-07_RM6P7OI.3551673.html#
Debate intensifies in same-sex divorce case
10:59 AM EDT on Friday, August 17, 2007
By Edward Fitzpatrick
Journal Staff Writer
PROVIDENCE — The debate stemming from Rhode Island’s first same-sex divorcecase is escalating as the Supreme Court reviews a second round of legalbriefs that delve into the meaning of the word “marriage,” the limits ofjudicial power and even “inter-species marriage” and “marrying dead bodies.”
The case involves two Providence women — Margaret R. Chambers and CassandraB. Ormiston — who married in Massachusetts in May 2004 and are now seeking adivorce in Rhode Island. The Supreme Court is weighing this certifiedquestion: “May the Family Court properly recognize, for the purpose ofentertaining a divorce petition, the marriage of two persons of the same sexwho were purportedly married in another state?”
The state’s high court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case on Oct. 9,and in the meantime it has invited state officials and other interestedparties to submit friend-of-the-court briefs. In all, 16 briefs were filedby the initial Aug. 1 deadline, and six briefs were filed in response tothose briefs by Wednesday’s deadline. A third round of briefs is due Aug.31.
In support of their arguments, the authors of the legal briefs have quotedeveryone from Humpty Dumpty to Abraham Lincoln.
The Family Research Council, based in Washington, D.C., and the Rev. LyleMook, of South Kingstown, filed a response brief, saying, “This court isbeing requested literally to ignore the true meaning of ‘marriage’ that hasdefined the institution for centuries throughout the world.”
=
NationalGayNews.com
http://www.iht.com/bin/print.php?id=7159342
Brazil public health system to provide free sex-change operations
The Associated Press
Friday, August 17, 2007
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: Brazil's public health system will begin providingfree sex-change operations in compliance with a court order, the HealthMinistry said Friday.
Ministry spokesman Edmilson Oliveira da Silva said the government would notappeal Wednesday's ruling by a panel of federal judges giving the government30 days to offer the procedure or face fines of US$5,000 (€3,700) a day.
"The health minister was prompted by the judges' decision," Silva said. "Butwe already had a technical group studying the procedure with the idea ofincluding it among the procedures that are covered."
Federal prosecutors from Rio Grande do Sul state had argued that sexualreassignment surgery is covered under a constitutional clause guaranteeingmedical care as a basic right.
On Wednesday the 4th Regional Federal Court agreed, saying in its rulingthat "from the biomedical perspective, transsexuality can be described as asexual identity disturbance where individuals need to change their sexualdesignation or face serious consequences in their lives, including intensesuffering, mutilation and suicide."
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NationalGayNews.com
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2007/08/merv-griffin-ne.html
Merv Griffin never revealed the man behind the curtain
By RAY RICHMOND, Hollywood Reporter
Merv Griffin was gay.
Why should that be so uncomfortable to read? Why is it so difficult towrite? Why are we still so jittery even about raising the issue inpurportedly liberal-minded Hollywood in 2007? We can refer to it casually inconversation, but the mainstream media somehow remains trapped in the DarkAges when it comes to labeling a person as gay.
Maybe that helps explain why Griffin, who died of prostate cancer Sunday at82, stayed in the closet throughout his life. Perhaps he figured it waspreferable to remain the object of gossip rather than live openly as "one ofthem." But how tremendously sad it is that a man of Merv's renown, of hisgregarious nature and social dexterity, would feel compelled to endure sucha stealthy double life even as the gay community's clout, and its levels ofacceptance and equality, rose steadily from the ashes of ignorance.
I'm not at all insinuating that Griffin had a responsibility to come out.That was up to him.
But what a powerful message Griffin might have sent had he squired his malecompanions around town rather than Eva Gabor, his longtime good friend andplatonic public pal. Imagine the amount of good Merv could have done as awell-respected, hugely successful, beloved and uncloseted gay man inembodying a positive image.
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NationalGayNews.com
http://masseynews.massey.ac.nz/2007/Press_Releases/08-17-07.html
Study into why gay men avoid condoms despite rising HIV ratesResearchers want to find out why gay and bisexual men tend not to usecondoms for sex despite the trebling of new HIV cases in New Zealand in thepast seven years.
They want 58 men from the Auckland region who have sex with men to take partanonymously in on-line discussions and individual interviews.
The study is a collaboration between researchers from Massey’s Centre forSocial and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation (SHORE), the Maori healthresearch group, Te Ropu Whariki and the School of Health Sciences at theUniversity’s Auckland campus.
In addition to men who openly identify as gay, lead researcher Jeff Adamssays the team is looking for other men who have sex with men to take part.
“The key thing here is we are particularly interested in speaking with menwho don’t like, or don’t use, condoms for anal sex with other men. We’dlike to discuss why condoms aren’t working for them, and what alternativestrategies or methods they may use for protecting themselves against HIV.”
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Advocate.com
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid48228.asp
08/18/07-08/20/07
Obama pledges to clean up Washington
Democrat Barack Obama, who says he swims in ''the same muddy water'' oflobbyists and fund-raising that corrupts Washington, is pledging to reformthe system if elected president.
Presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton ''doesn't recognize the problem,''Obama told the Associated Press in an interview late Thursday.
''I have a bunch of friends who were state lobbyists. The fact of the matteris...I played poker with them, so I don't think that lobbyists are evil,''said the first-term U.S. senator from Illinois. ''I just think they've gotan agenda and you got to be clear about that, and not pretend that theydon't.''
''Why else are they getting hired and making all this money unless they'reactually getting something done?''
The renewed criticism of Clinton and Obama's blunt assessment of his ownrole in the ''original sin'' of politics is the latest twist in a Democraticprimary fight over lobbyist donations. Fellow Democratic candidate JohnEdwards has challenged both Clinton and Obama to join him in refusingcampaign donations from lobbyists.
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Advocate.com
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid48230.asp
08/18/07-08/20/07
Ugandan gays allege police brutality; govt. official calls gays "repugnant"
Ugandan gay rights advocates appealed for acceptance Friday, saying gaysface regular abuse by police in a country where being gay is punishable bylife in prison.
''Our message is simple and clear: Let us live in peace,'' said VictorJuliet Mukasa, 32, head of Sexual Minorities Uganda—a previouslylittle-known group that spoke to the media for the first time this week.''We are human beings and should have the same rights as any other citizenof Uganda.''
Attitudes toward gays in Uganda are typical of those across the continent,where many countries outlaw homosexuality and where gays are prone toprejudice and violence.
''There is no question of equal treatment for these strange fellows,''government spokesman Kirunda Kivejinja said. ''Homosexuality is repugnant tothe people of Uganda.''
Police denied the accusation of abuse.
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Advocate.com
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid48224.asp
08/18/07-08/20/07
Prominent N.J. legislator voices support for marriage equality
The idea of moving beyond civil unions to provide full marriage rights tosame-sex couples in New Jersey is gaining traction. A prominent New Jerseylegislator who had not previously supported full marriage rights is nowasking, "Why not gay marriage?"
Sen. Raymond Lesniak posted an entry on a New Jersey blog Thursday thatconcluded, "Allowing gay couples to marry is not going to repair the fabricof society, but it's not going to tear it apart either. To paraphrase JohnLennon, let's give love a chance. We might just find it works."
The post came on the heels of a Garden State Equality poll that found 63% ofpeople in New Jersey said they "would be fine" if the state legislaturedecided to grant gay couples full marriage rights because civil unions hadfailed to provide full equality under the law.
Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, said Lesniak is among a"handful of the most powerful politicians in New Jersey" and called the news"spectacular." (The Advocate)
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Advocate.com
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid48242.asp
08/18/07-08/20/07
Florida's Representative Allen opens mouth, inserts foot
Florida state representative Bob Allen, stripped of his committeeassignments this week by a house speaker seeking his resignation over a gaysex scandal, made more enemies with an apparent slur against Florida'sLatino leadership.
"I would think this leadership more than anyone would think that we don'twant to copy totalitarian governments but copy American principles," Allentold the Miami Herald on Wednesday in an apparent reference to house speakerMarco Rubio being Cuban-American.
Allen was forced to backpedal as yet more of his fellow Republicans calledfor his head.
"The fact that he's comparing the consequences of the allegations of hissexual misconduct to the plight of dissidents trapped in Castro's gulag isat best absurd and at worst insulting. He needs to go," Rep. CarlosLopez-Cantera told the Herald, adding that Allen's comments made him"physically irked."
The party leadership wants Allen to resign before his August 23 arraignmenton a misdemeanor charge of solicitation to commit prostitution.
=
Advocate.com
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid48234.asp
08/18/07-08/20/07
GOP hopeful Thompson would push for a marriage amendment
GOP hopeful Fred Thompson may have yet to officially announce his candidacy,but that didn’t stop him from saying that a constitutional amendment could“cure” the disparity between different state laws on same-sex marriage.
During an interview in Iowa with CNN’s John King, Thompson intimated thatrather than leaving marriage up to individual states, he would use the bullypulpit as president to push for a federal marriage amendment—an initiativethat has dismal prospects at best as long as at least one of the chambers ofCongress stays in Democratic hands.
King: “Would you, a President Fred Thompson, actively push a presidentialamendment banning gay marriage?”
Thompson: “Yes, yes, I think that with regard to gay marriage you have afull faith and credit issue. I don't think one state ought to be able topass a law requiring gay marriage or allowing gay marriage and have anotherstate be required to follow along under full faith and credit. There's someexceptions and exemptions for that. Hasn't happened yet, but I think afederal court very well likely will go in that direction, and aconstitutional amendment would cure that.” (The Advocate )
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ExpressGayNews.com
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/print.cfm?story=130451&ran=2516
Man accused of illegally using silicone on transgender patients
By DAVE FORSTER, The Virginian-Pilot
© August 16, 2007
Last updated: 4:13 PM
SUFFOLK – Police have arrested a man they say injected silicone intotransgender patients at his home without a license to practice medicine.
A former client of Francis Rene White reported the situation to police, saidLt. D.J. George, a department spokeswoman. White, 36, has since been chargedwith two counts of practicing medicine without a license. He turned himselfinto police Wednesday.
Police have two former clients who say they went to White's home in the 300block of S. Main St., and let him inject silicone into their face or breastarea, George said. White charged them for his services, they said.
George said she did not know if either of the two known customers sufferedany complications from their procedures.
The police believe White had other clients and would like to speak to them,George said. They are asked to call Det. Sgt. Robert Ross at (757) 514-7947.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/08/081707uganda.htm
Uganda Gays Go Public to Denounce Repressive Regime
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: August 17, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET
(Kampala) For the first time Ugandan gays have emerged from the shadows tohold a news conference demanding basic civil rights.
But even at their news conference at a Kampala hotel most of the the sevenrepresentatives of LGBT groups wore masks to disguise their identity,fearful of the repressive regime of President Yoweri Museveni.
One of the speakers, identifying himself only as Douglas and wearing a masksaid police regularly arrest and beat gays.
"The goal of the police is to protect all people within the borders ofUganda," he said. "It is not legal for the police to beat or bribe people."
Another speaker, Paul Semugoma, a doctor, said that medical schools inUganda offer no information on sexuality.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/08/081707kids.htm
Arkansas Law Allows Opposite-Sex Toddlers To Wed
by The Associated Press
Posted: August 17, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(Little Rock, Arkansas) A law passed this year allows Arkansans of any age -even infants - to marry if their parents agree, and the governor may have tocall a special session to fix the mistake, lawmakers said Friday.
The legislation was intended to establish 18 as the minimum age to marry butalso allow pregnant teenagers to marry with parental consent, bill sponsorRep. Will Bond said. An extraneous "not" in the bill, however, allows anyonewho is not pregnant to marry at any age if the parents allow it.
"It's clearly not the intent to allow 10-year-olds or 11-year-olds to getmarried," Bond said. "The legislation was screwed up."
The bill reads: "In order for a person who is younger than eighteen (18)years of age and who is not pregnant to obtain a marriage license, theperson must provide the county clerk with evidence of parental consent tothe marriage."
A code revision commission - which fixes typographical and technical errorsin laws - had tried to correct the mistake, but a group of legislators saidFriday the commission went beyond its powers.
=
365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/08/081707ricourt.htm
Marrying Same Sex Like Marrying Corpse Court Told
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: August 17, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(Providence, Rhode Island) Lawyers for conservative groups have told RhodeIsland's highest court that a case involving a same-sex couple seeking adivorce should be thrown out because the state does not explicitly allowsame-sex marriage.
The case involves Margaret R. Chambers and Cassandra B. Ormiston who weremarried in Massachusetts in 2004.
The marriage was never recognized in their home state of Rhode Island.
Last year the women filed for divorce in Providence, citing "irreconcilabledifferences".
Rhode Island has no specific law banning same-sex marriage. But the ChiefFamily Court Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Jr. said he did knot know if hecould rule without taking up the issue of marriage and asked the SupremeCourt justices to determine if he has the authority to hear the case.
(story)
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/08/081707camar.htm
Legal Battle For Same-Sex Marriage Advances In California
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: August 17, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(San Francisco, California) Attorneys for same-sex couples seeking the rightto marry in California on Friday submitted answers to a series of questionsposed earlier this year by the state Supreme Court on the legalramifications of the case.
The justices sought the answers after both sides in the case filed theirinitial briefs in June, (story) saying the briefs failed to address threekey issues.
First, the court asked for a detailed description of the differences betweenthe legal rights accorded by domestic partnerships and those of marriageunder California law. California has one of the nation's most inclusivedomestic partner laws providing many of the rights of marriage, but not all.
The second question asked for the lawyers' positions on what marriagerights, if any are enshrined in California's constitution. The question isimportant because only a constitutional amendment could alter those - notthe legislature nor a voter initiative.
That question led to the third, involving Proposition 22, an initiativepassed by voters in 2000. "Do the terms 'marriage' or 'marry' themselveshave constitutional significance under the California constitution," thecourt asked.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/08/081807saf.htm
Mbeki Defends Controversial AIDS Plan
by The Associated Press
Posted: August 18, 2007 - 9:00 am ET
(Cape Town, South Africa) South African President Thabo Mbeki - who has longbeen accused of playing down the AIDS epidemic - has hit back at criticismof his government's policy and his firing of the popular deputy healthminister.
In his weekly column, Mbeki said that he would not be pressured by the"ill-intentioned and ill-founded hue and cry" about the dismissal of NozizweMadlala-Routledge. The deputy minister had won widespread praise forrevitalizing the country's anti-AIDS campaign, while her boss, the healthminister, has been seen as a destructive force because she has questionedthe efficacy of AIDS drugs and instead promoted beets and garlic as aremedy.
Mbeki fired her last week, saying she was incapable of working as part of ateam. Domestic and international critics, who have long called for thedismissal of health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, said he had fired thewrong person.
An estimated 5.4 million South Africans are infected with the AIDS virus,the second highest total in the world after India. About 900 people die eachday and an estimated 1,400 people are newly infected, according to theMedical Research Council, which predicts that fewer than half the country's15 year-olds will live to see their 60th birthday.
Critics have accused Mbeki of denying the link between HIV and AIDS andturning a blind eye to the devastation the epidemic is wreaking in SouthAfrica.
=
GayCityNews.com
http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18657395&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568857&rfi=6
Gay NGOs Gain Status at U.N. with U.S. Vote
By: ANDY HUMM
08/02/2007
The United Nations Economic and Social Council has voted to giveconsultative status to two LGBT non-governmental organizations, theCoalition gaie et lesbienne du Quebec and the Swedish Federation for LGBTRights, the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)announced. The Council includes 54 member states and the vote was 22-13-13for the Quebec group and 22-12-12 for the Swedes with the United Statesvoting in favor of both.
Russia voted no as did China and Muslim nations. Japan and South Africavoted yes as did Mexico.
Paula Ettelbrick of IGLHRC said the successful votes were due in large partto the backing that these groups received from their governments.
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Wilton Manors
Forwarded from Michael Rajner
Two months ago a local youth, 20 years of age and recently diagnosed HIV+approached me and asked for my help. He wanted to attend the 2007 StayingAlive! conference in Cleveland, Ohio sponsored by the National Associationof People With AIDS (NAPWA) www.napwa.org so he can learn more about thevirus that now inhabits his body.
This conference is an amazing source of empowerment for many that areprivileged to attend. At the conference, many will learn how to livehealthier lives, increase their knowledge in prevention, care, treatment,advocacy and more.
With very little effort, you can be instrumental to help this individualplay a greater role in HIV/AIDS community. This weekend, when out and about,please feel free to drop a $1 or more in the bucket at the followinglocations:
Friday 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Tropics Restaurant & Piano Bar Cabaret
2000 Wilton Drive
Wilton Manors, FL
Saturday 7:00 to 10:00 PM
Georgie's Alibi
2266 Wilton Drive (N.E. 4th Avenue)
Wilton Manors, FL
Sunday 3:00 to 7:00 PM
Rosie's Bar & Grill
2449 Wilton Drive
Wilton Manors, FL
Checks can be made payable to "GLCC" and write "Staying Alive" in the memosection. GLCC has agreed to serve as interim fiscal agent for this project.
Will little effort, we can make great change.
Michael Emanuel Rajner
National Secretary - Campaign to End AIDS
email: nicole@glccsf.org
phone: 954-463-9005
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UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5139.html
Police report C4 over Muslim homophobia documentary
8th August 2007
by Tony Grew
Broadcaster Channel 4 has hit back at allegations from West Midlands policethat they distorted the truth in documentary that showed Muslim preacherscalling for homosexuals to be killed.
The Dispatches programme, broadcast on January, showed undercover footage ofpreacher Abu Usamah calling for gay people to be executed.
"If I were to call homosexuals perverted, dirty, filthy dogs who should bemurdered, that's my freedom of speech, isn't it?" he told followers.
The preacher was caught on camera at Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham.
Eight MPs signed an early day motion condemning his comments and policebegan an investigation.
Today the Crown Prosecution Service accused Channel 4 of distorting what thepreachers were saying, while the police said they will report thebroadcaster to Ofcom, the media watchdog.
Kevin Sutcliffe, commissioning editor for Dispatches, told the BBC:
"We find it extraordinary that they have gone public on these concernswithout discussing them with us first.
"We believe the comments made in the film speak for themselves - severalspeakers were clearly shown making abhorrent and extreme comments.
"All the speakers featured in the film were offered a right to reply andnone denied making these comments, nor have any of them complained to Ofcomto our knowledge."
However, a CPS lawyer who examined 56 hours of uncut footage said theproduction team had cut together excepts from different speeches and therebydistorted what the preachers were saying.
Mr Usamah said that his comments about gay people had been taken out ofcontext and that he was explaining the views of others but did not agreewith their stance.
No charges will be brought against him or the other two preachers featuredin the hour-long documentary.
=
IOL.co.za
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=nw20070813123702129C586691
August 13, 2007
Malaysia to block planned gay church
Kuala Lumpur - Muslim-majority Malaysia will block a plan by the country'sfirst and only openly gay pastor to establish a church embracinghomosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals, a minister said on Monday.
Reverend Ouyang Wen Feng, an ethnic Chinese Malaysian ordained in the US,caused controversy after saying he wanted to set up the church by 2010.
The government would block the plan, Tourism Minister Adnan Tengku Mansortold AFP, adding the country had always sought to portray itself as a"family-oriented" holiday destination.
"We have no intention of being portrayed the same way like other cities suchas Bangkok or those other cities in that league," Mansor said, apparentlyreferring to the Thai capital's sex industry.
"We are here to be seen as a multicultural country with people who are good,excellent followers of their respective religions," Mansor added.
Homosexuality falls under a Malaysian law prohibiting sodomy, which ispunishable by up to 20 years in prison and whipping.
Ouyang's plan to start the church had stirred anxiety, Reverend Wong KinKong, the secretary general of Malaysia's National Evangelical ChristianFellowship, said last week.
This was "because Christians do not want others to assume they condone sucha thing," he said.
But Ouyang remained unfazed and urged a congregation of about 80 people -including his male partner - to "reclaim faith and celebrate our sexuality"in an underground mass on Sunday.
"For some of us, especially our gay brothers and sisters, we haveexperienced first hand that Christianity has been used to persecuteminorities," Ouyang told the mass, according to press reports. - Sapa-AFP
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Philadelphia Gay News
http://www.epgn.com/080307/1activistsScouts080307.htm
Activists: Rental negotiations with Scouts should be open
By Timothy Cwiek
PGN Writer-at-Large
© 2007 Philadelphia Gay News
As city officials work to determine the amount of rent the Boy Scouts mustpay to remain in a city-owned building, GLBT activists are calling for anopen negotiation process.
“Historically, LGBT people have not had access to information that iscritical to our community,” said Stacey Sobel, executive director ofEquality Advocates Pennsylvania.
If open lines of communication are maintained, members of the GLBT community
will have more confidence in the negotiations, she noted.
“It’s important to us, like any other community, to be able to seetransparency and fairness on issues where discrimination has occurred,”Sobel added.
Some activists are particularly concerned because, in 2004, city officialsentered into a closed-door agreement with the Cradle of Liberty chapter ofthe Scouts, allowing them to remain rent-free in the building after the U.S.Supreme Court ruled that the Scouts’ anti-gay policy was legal.
The City eventually revoked that agreement.
Sobel has been active with a working group instrumental in requiring theScouts to pay fair-market rent for use of a city building at 22nd Street,near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
=
Good As You
http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2007/08/gay-endorsement.html
Gay endorsement liability: 'Factor' fiction
So have a look at this Aug. 13 exchange between Bill O'Reilly and Fox NewsCorrespondent Kirsten Powers, and then we'll get back to you:
O'REILLY: Now, a new poll says that most Americans won't vote for you ifyou get an endorsement by a gay rights group. Did you know that?
POWERS: No, I didn't --
O'REILLY: Ah! What is that poll? Pew Research or something like that. Butanyway --
POWERS: I find that -- I have to say I find that very difficult tobelieve. Maybe if they're asked that question in a poll, but most Americansdon't have any idea who's endorsing candidates. They are not payingattention to that.
O'REILLY: OK, but say a gay -- the question posed, "If a gay rights --
POWERS: Yes.
O'REILLY: -- organization endorses you, would that make you more or lesslikely to vote?
POWERS: Right.
O'REILLY: And most Americans said less likely.
(**see the video at Media Matters)
Okay, so Bill put it out into the ether that a gay-endorsed candidate isgoing to automatically lose the vote of the majority of Americans. Soundshurtful to our pro-gay side, right? Sounds to you like our groups are thepolitical cold that none of the candidates want to catch?
Well, this might be damaging, if not for the fact that Bill's words are 100%bullsh*t and his data is pulled straight from his fanny! For you see, dearreaders, there is no recent Pew Research Poll that exists on this subject.There is, however, a recent Qunnipiac poll that gauges the thoughts of swingstate voters (and only swing state voters) on the subject of gayendorsements. But the findings of that poll were NOT "that most Americanswon't vote for you if you get an endorsement by a gay rights group." Infact, the findings were that to the vast majority, these endorsements makeno difference:
And if you tally the "doesn't make a difference" and the "more likely"numbers, it is the "less likely" camp that makes up a very scant minority.And as we mentioned in our last post on this subject, this contingent islikely the sort who is not going to vote for the gay-progressive candidate,HRC-endorsed or not. So Ms. Powers was absolutely right to find this data"very difficult to believe." Mainly because it is as believable as a 12th ofNever snipe hunting match between Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the toothfairy, and a flying pig, the likes of which takes place on Hell's newlyfrozen over ice rink!
So Mr. O'Reilly, we look forward to your correcting of the record. We trustyou'll be eager to do so.
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Salon
http://www.salon.com/sports/col/kaufman/2007/08/14/tuesday/
King Kaufman's Sports Daily
"We don't try to undermine gay stereotypes": Outsports co-founder CydZiegler Jr. talks about gay athletes, gay allies and the site's new book.
Aug. 14, 2007 | "The Outsports Revolution," the first book by the foundersand editors of Outsports, the leading gay sports Web site, has a littlesomething for a lot of people.
Gay and sports-phobic? There's advice about how to get over the horriblegym-class memories many gay men share and relate to jock friends andsignificant others, right down to co-founder Jim Buzinski's recipe for theperfect Super Bowl chili.
Buzinski and Cyd Ziegler Jr. also offer lists of the best gay-themed sportsbooks and movies, discussions of sports fashion -- Speedos good, baggybasketball duds bad, is how they see it -- and serious consideration of someof the issues gay athletes and sports fans face. Plus, at the behest of thepublisher, Ziegler says, great bunches of photos of buff dudes at sportingevents.
Those shots echo one of the most popular features of the Outsports site, thephoto galleries. "The Outsports Revolution" includes a fascinating e-mailexchange between Buzinski and "Timmy," who said he was a closetedprofessional athlete whose name wasn't anything like Timmy.
Timmy objected to the photo galleries on the site, arguing that they confirmthe mainstream's stereotype that "if we're gay, we'll want to 'sexualize'our sport."
He wrote that he realized the galleries of rugby and water polo playershugging and kissing were probably very popular, "but do you honestly expect'straight america' to take us seriously when this is the first image we'reputting out about ourselves?"
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USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2007-08-14-2037781642_x.htm
In a macho sport, an uproar over gays and soccer in Brazil
By Tales Azzoni, Associated Press Writer
SAO PAULO, Brazil — The director of a prominent soccer team insinuates onnational television that a player on a rival team is gay. The player suesfor slander and goes on TV to deny it. A judge causes an uproar by sayinggays don't belong in Brazilian soccer.
With a narrative like a Latin American soap opera, the flap over the sexualorientation of Sao Paulo midfielder Richarlyson has shaken the hallowed andmacho institution of Brazilian soccer.
The commotion started in June when Palmeiras club director Jose CyrilloJunior was asked on TV whether it was true that a soccer player from histeam was negotiating for an exclusive television interview to announce hewas gay.
Cyrillo denied the report, but added "Richarlyson 'almost' played forPalmeiras," suggesting the 24-year-old player was gay.
Cyrillo later apologized, but Richarlyson - whose father playedprofessionally and whose brother played in Portugal and is now with Brazil'sCruzeiro - filed a criminal complaint for slander.
Judge Manoel Maximiano Junqueira Filho stoked the dispute by dismissingRicharlyson's claim and issuing a ruling that suggested he leave the game ifhe were gay. If he weren't, the judge said, Richarlyson was obliged todefend himself on the same TV program.
"Not that a homosexual can't play soccer," Filho wrote. "He can, but he mustform his own team and federation, setting up matches with those who want toplay against him."
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Washingon Business Journal
http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2007/08/13/daily38.html?t=printable
Marriott adds gay suppliers to shopping list
Washington Business Journal - 1:53 PM EDT Thursday, August 16, 2007
by Jeff Clabaugh
Staff Reporter
Marriott International Inc. is adding lesbian, gay, bi-sexual andtransgender-run businesses to its list of suppliers as part of itscommitment to do business with diverse suppliers.
It is also expanding its supplier diversity program to international marketsincluding Brazil and the U.K.
Marriott became a corporate member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamberof Commerce in April.
"Last year our company reached record levels in spending," said MikeTobolski, senior director of Marriott's diversity initiatives. "We plan tobuild on our company's success in the U.S. and expand our program to nurturerelationships internationally and with the LGBT community."
Marriott (NYSE: MAR) spent a record $400 million with diverse suppliers lastyear. The company set a five year goal in 2005 to spend $1 billion withdiverse suppliers by 2010. Marriott says it is on track to reach the goalbefore 2010.
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Multichannel.com
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6469158.html
Logo Builds Online LGBT Presence
Purchase of DowneLink.com Is Latest Addition To Federation of Sites
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 8/15/2007 2:10:00 PM
Continuing its push into the community, Logo signed an agreement to acquireDowneLink.com, a leading social networking site for the multiculturallesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) audience.
DowneLink.com has more than 400,000 members, according to Logo officials,who said the base is largely gender split, with 72% of its users eitherAfrican-American, Asian or of Latino descent. The core audience is youngadults ages 18 to 25.
Launched in June 2005, ad-supported Logo now counts some 27 millionsubscribers, according to MTV Networks officials.
The DowneLink deal, terms of which were not disclosed and is subject tocustomary closing conditions, will add to Logo’s federation of affiliatedWeb sites for niche audiences and fans of LGBT entertainment. These includeHappiestgaycouple.com (fan site for TV series Rick & Steve),visiblevote08.com and NewNowNext.com, as well as AfterEllen.com,AfterElton.com and 365gay.com, which Logo purchased last year.
In addition to bolstering its voice in the LGBT community, the cadre ofsites enables Logo to expand its advertising base, according to networkofficials.
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Ugandan Homosexuals Launch Media Campaign:“LET US LIVE IN PEACE”
Dear Friends,
Yesterday, the Ugandan lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, andintersex (LGBTI) community held its first ever press conference tolaunch the LGBTI Human Rights Media Campaign: “LET US LIVE IN PEACE”.
The PRESS RELEASE IS ATTACHED, with versions in both English andLuganda. In addition, a PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT is attached. PHOTOGRAPHSand a more complete transcript will follow.
This press conference was organised by Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG)and utilised the court case issues as a launching pad for the broadercampaign. The goal of this campaign is to engage the nation in apublic conversation about LGBTI rights, to help people see the humanside of this issue, and to bring about greater understanding and spacefor Ugandan LGBTI people to live in peace.
Questions regarding the court case can be directed to:
Juliet Victor Mukasa
E-mail: julie.mukasa@gmail.com
Mobile: +256 753 116 034
Monique Boivin, Court Case Safety and Logistics Coordinator
E-mail: moniqueb@umich.edu
Mobile: +256 753 374 820
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New Haven Register
http://www.nhregister.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1281&dept_id=566835&newsid=18717190
08/17/2007
Good Fit
Cara Baruzzi , Register Staff
Reggie Solomon, co-owner of the T-shirt company ISSO. Peter
Casolino/Register
NEW HAVEN - Dubbing it a T-shirt company "with a heart, conscience and senseof humor," three young entrepreneurs have started a business that aims topromote marriage equality - one shirt at a time.
The Internet-based company, called ISSO, recently launched its firstT-shirt, which bears the message "marriage is so gay." A portion of theshirt's proceeds are donated to organizations that advocate equal rights forgay and straight couples.
"We're not trying to be political in any sense," said Reggie Solomon, 31, ofNew Haven, one of ISSO's owners. "Unfortunately, marriage has becomepolitical, but we don't think it is."
ISSO merely wanted to create a stylish shirt that people would enjoywearing, he said. Solomon, who is gay, founded the company in May with BenBerkowitz, 28, of New Haven and Andy Horowitz, 26, who recently moved fromNew Haven to Louisiana, both of whom are straight. They had the idea forISSO while on a road trip with friends when "somehow the subject of marriageequality came up."
Berkowitz had previous experience making shirts, having designed andindependently sold T-shirts that said, "New Haven: It's Better Than YourTown" in the past.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Zogby Poll: Six months into New Jersey civil unions, voters say change thelaw to real marriage equality
Poll results
Poll demographics
News release below
By 63% to 31%, New Jersey voters say they'd be fine with the statelegislature upgrading civil unions to marriage equality.
By 72% to 21%, New Jersey voters say state legislators would be in noelectoral danger if they enacted marriage equality.
By 61% to 29%, New Jersey voters say they expect the state to enact marriageequality within just a couple of years.
Zogby asked the baseline question - do you favor marriage equality versuscivil unions - in two ways. Results are 48% to 45% for marriage equalityinone question, 48% to 30% in another.
And a significant 35% of respondents said they would be less likely todobusiness with a company that denies equal benefits to gay employees. 20%said "much less likely."
As New Jersey marks the six-month anniversary of the civil unions law onSunday, August 19, a new statewide Zogby Poll shows majorities of votersfavoring changing the law to full marriage equality for same-sex couples.The poll of 803 New Jersey voters was taken from August 8th through 10,2007, with a margin of error of +/- 3.5%. Though Garden State Equalitycommissioned the poll, Zogby collected the data independently.
With news organizations reporting on the failure of the New Jersey civilunion law to consistently provide equal rights to same-sex couples - andwith statistics showing the law failing at least 1 in every 7 times - thepoll asked:
"If public officials in New Jersey come to the conclusion that civil unionsfor gay couples have not worked to provide equality under the law, and thatthe way to fix the law is to give gay couples the same right to marry asheterosexual couples, would you be fine with that or would you be upset bythat?" 63% responded "fine with that," while only 31% responded "upset bythat."
The poll also provides key political information to legislators for whenthey consider changing civil unions to marriage equality. The poll asked:
"Which of the following do you think is most likely to happen to legislatorsif they were to allow gay couples to marry? Those legislators would not bereelected, or nothing because people care about other issues more." 72% saidnothing would happen to legislators, while only 21% said legislators wouldnot be reelected.
In response to the question, "Regardless of where you stand on the issue ofallowing gay couples to marry, do you agree or disagree that gay coupleswill be allowed to get married in New Jersey in a couple of years anyway?",61% agreed, while only 29% disagreed.
The poll also asked the baseline question testing support for marriageequality versus civil unions in two different ways.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w070813&s=kirchick081607
The Dems Should Shut Up About Gay Marriage.
Check Mate
by James Kirchick
Only at TNR Online
Post date: 08.16.07
During last week's gay issues forum, broadcast on the cable televisionstation LOGO and sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), all of theDemocratic presidential candidates expressed their support for legalequality for gays via civil unions. But, with the exceptions of formerAlaska Senator Mike Gravel and Congressman Dennis Kucinich, they opposedcalling those relationships marriage.
This seeming hypocrisy doesn't sit well with gay rights advocates. EvanWolfson, head of the Freedom to Marry coalition and one of the intellectualfathers of gay marriage, says that, just as previous American presidentsmade the civil rights struggle into a national issue through the power of"moral suasion," presidential candidates ought to voice support for gaymarriage today because it "creates a political, cultural and moral space forAmerica to rise to fairness." HRC's vice president of programs, David M.Smith, says that "The most important role the presidency plays in publicpolicy debates is the bully pulpit, to sway public opinion." And as HRCPresident Joe Solmonese put it after the debate, "The next president must becommitted to not only doing what's achievable, but also what's right."
It would certainly be refreshing to hear a leading presidential candidatecome out in favor of "what's right" and support gay marriage. But gaymarriage advocates are actually doing their cause a disservice by pushingthe Democratic candidates on the issue.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/561168?src=mp
Medscape Medical News
Bullying and Victimization in Childhood Linked to Psychiatric Disorders inEarly Adulthood CME/CE
News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD
CME Author: Désirée Lie, MD, MSEd
August 9, 2007 - Bullying and victimization during early school years mayidentify boys at risk for psychiatric disorders in early adulthood,according to the results of a study reported in the August issue ofPediatrics.
"There have been no longitudinal cohort studies that examined thepsychiatric outcomes in late adolescence or early adulthood of children whobully or are victimized in childhood," write Andre Sourander, MD, from TurkuUniversity in Finland, and colleagues. "Generally, our knowledge of thecontinuities and discontinuities of childhood problems to early adulthoodwas based on a limited number of study cohorts. However, information aboutthe long-term effects of bullying has considerable public healthsignificance that would justify universal or targeted preventiveinterventions and research directed at school bullying."
The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationships between bullyingand victimization in boys aged 8 years and psychiatric diagnoses 10 to 15years later. In 1989, the investigators collected data on 2540 boys who wereborn in 1981, by administering questionnaires about bullying andvictimization to parents, teachers, and to the boys themselves. Militarycall-up examination and army registry data were used to determine thepresence of psychiatric disorders when the participants reached 18 to 23years of age.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/08/17/news/081607lrelders.txt
Former Surgeon General Calls For Change In Health Care System, Sex Education
By Jason Wiest
THE MORNING NEWS
LITTLE ROCK -- Fired in 1994 for suggesting school children be taught aboutmasturbation, former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders said Wednesday alack of sex education in the nation's public schools has hastened the spreadof sexually transmitted diseases and sex crimes against children.
"When we talk about sex education, we all go wild as if that's something wedon't talk about. Well, our silence has been deafening and we are paying avery heavy price for not educating our young people," Elders said in aspeech to about 200 people at a Community Health Centers of Arkansas summit.
Elders, who as Arkansas health director advocated dispensing condoms atschool-based health clinics, was appointed by former President Clinton in1993 and was fired the next year after saying masturbation "perhaps shouldbe taught" in schools as a way to avoid the spread of sexually transmitteddiseases.
Speaking about a national health care crisis Wednesday, Elders said onlyeducation, not any amount of money, could improve the U.S. health caresystem.
"The reason why we have so much AIDS and STDs in Southern states is becausewe are less likely to have sex education and talk about it as part of ourschools and a part of our system," Elders said.
Ignoring contraception and instead teaching only abstinence will not solvethe problem, she said.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
[euro-queer] Gay Humanist Quarterly
You can read the current and previous issues of Gay Humanist Quarterly bygoing to http://www.gayhumanist.com/
You should find these a good antidote to the many examples of religioushomophobia that are posted to this list.
George Broadhead
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WashingtonPost.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/17/AR2007081701970.html
Saturday, August 18, 2007; Page A11
Judge by the Record
As a Latina lesbian who supports Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, Itake issue with Jonathan Capehart's glib dismissal of Gov. Bill Richardsonbecause of his comment that homosexuality is a choice ["Wrong Answer,Governor," op-ed, Aug. 13]. To ignore Richardson's record while cheaplylambasting him for an off-hand response -- which he later corrected -- iswhat I find "inexcusable." It does not provide readers with an accurateassessment of where he stands or what he stands for. Richardson's record onissues of importance to the LGBT community is unmatched in the presidentialrace.
I've been a lesbian activist for more than 25 years, and even I don't knowthe answer to why I am gay. And I really don't care. Bill Richardson clearlyhas not given it much thought, but, more important, that has never impededhis willingness to fight for our equal rights. It matters much more to mewhat somebody actually does than how well they are briefed.
-- Laura M. Esquivel
Takoma Park
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The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/17/AR2007081701800.html
Qualified to Serve
The opponents of appeals court nominee Leslie H. Southwick haven't madetheir case.
Saturday, August 18, 2007; Page A12
BEFORE BEING nominated by President Bush to the U.S. Court of Appeals forthe 5th Circuit, Leslie H. Southwick served for almost 12 years on theMississippi Court of Appeals, where he participated in thousands of casesspanning the gamut of civil and criminal law. A panel of the American BarAssociation unanimously found Judge Southwick to be "well qualified" for thepromotion, its highest ranking. Yet congressional opponents have latched onto two opinions that Mr. Southwick joined, but did not write, to argue thathe is unfit for the federal appeals post.
One case involved a child custody dispute in which a lower court awardedcustody to the biological father, in part because the biological mother wasa self-identified bisexual. The lower court weighed many other factors inmaking its determination, including income, family stability and time spentwith the child, and it found the father better situated to care for her.Judge Southwick was part of the 8-2 majority that left that decision intactafter finding that the lower court had not abused its discretion in reachingthat conclusion. But he went a step further, joining an unnecessaryconcurrence that outlined the many laws in Mississippi at the time of this2001 custody ruling that condemned or penalized homosexual activity.
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Advocate.com
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid48229.asp
08/18/07-08/20/07
Biden's son prepares for deployment to Iraq next year
The son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is preparing fordeployment to Iraq. The candidate is a U.S. senator and critic of U.S.policy in Iraq.
Capt. Beau Biden, a judge advocate general in the Delaware National Guardand the state's attorney general, is part of the 261st Signal Brigade thathas been told to prepare for duty in Iraq in 2008. They have not been givena date of deployment.
''I don't want him going,'' Joe Biden said during his campaigning Wednesday, according to a report on Radio Iowa. ''But I tell you what, I don't want mygrandson or my granddaughters going back in 15 years, and so how we leavemakes a big difference.''
Biden criticized Democratic rivals such as senators Hillary Rodham Clintonand Barack Obama, who have voted against Iraq funding bills to try topressure President George W. Bush to end the war.
''There's no political point worth my son's life,'' Biden said, according toRadio Iowa. ''There's no political point worth anybody's life out there.None.''
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