GLBT DIGEST October 14, 2007

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The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/opinion/14alford.html?pagewanted=print

October 14, 2007
Op-Ed Contributor

Regrets Only
See "footnotes immediately below"

By HENRY ALFORD

I WANT to make it clear that everything you've heard and read is true.(1) Ican also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need toexamine within my own soul, and I've asked for help.(2) So if you're sothin-skinned that you took offense to a slip of the tongue that I had, thenI offer my apology. I am, am sorry that you were offended.(3)

We admit that several members of our organization allowed an internal powerstruggle to cloud good judgment.(4) We should have done better.(5) Isincerely apologize and hope people realize that conversations can be easilymanipulated in print.(6) And I don't care that he's black or green or purpleor whatever.(7)

I failed.(8) I acknowledge that mistakes were made here.(9) I'm not a badperson. I'm a good person, but I said a bad thing.(10) I am not a bigot.(11)I never want to be portrayed as a guy who loses his cool.(12) That was avery intemperate remark made in the heat of the day yesterday in a verymisguided attempt to defend my boss.(13) When I called him "Pruneface," itwas campaign rhetoric.(14) I certainly would never intend to use theoffensive word in its technical sense, and I would not and could not underany circumstances question the parentage of your son, our currentgovernor.(15) Our trust has been broken, and only love can rebuild it.(16)

more....

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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/opinion/14alfordnotes.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print

October 14, 2007
Op-Ed Contributor

Footnotes to 'Regret Only'

1. Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco re his affair with the wife of hisformer campaign manager, 2007.

2. Isaiah Washington, a star of "Grey's Anatomy," re an anti-gay slur hehurled at is co-star T. R. Knight 2007.

3. Scott James, a Fox News Radio 600 KCOL host, re his on-air remarksequating homosexuals with child molesters, 2007.

4. The president of the Fayetteville (N.C.) Woman's Club re its rejection ofa woman who would have been its first black member, 2007.

5. David Neeleman, the chief executive and founder of Jet Blue re thehundreds of passengers stranded at Kennedy Airport during an ice storm,2007.

6. The actress Sienna Miller re anti-Pittsburgh remarks she made in RollingStone, 2006.

7. Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, re accusing Barry Bonds of using steroidsand cheating on his wife and taxes, 2007.

8. Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman re the uncleanliness of Walter Reed ArmyMedical Center, 2007.

9. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales re the dismissal of United Statesattorneys, 2007.

10. Don Imus re racist comments he made about the Rutgers women's basketballteam, 2007.

43 more.....



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The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/world/europe/14Vatican.html

Monsignor Suspended; Reported to Say His Gay Sex Isn't Sin

October 14, 2007
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

VATICAN CITY, Oct. 13 (AP) - An Italian monsignor was suspended from hispost at the Vatican after he was reported to have said in a televisioninterview that he "didn't feel he was sinning" by having sex with gay men,the Vatican and news reports said Saturday.

The Rev. Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, told reporters that, whilethe case was under investigation, the monsignor was suspended from his jobas a top official in the Vatican's Congregation for Clergy, which aims toensure proper conduct by priests.

"The case is being handled with utmost reserve," Father Lombardi said.

A private Italian television network broadcast a program this month in whichsome priests were interviewed about their homosexuality. Vatican teachingholds that homosexuality is a sin.

The men, including the monsignor who was suspended, were interviewed withtheir faces obscured and their voices altered so that they would not berecognized. But Vatican officials recognized the Vatican office in which themonsignor was interviewed, the newspaper La Repubblica reported on Saturday.

During the interview the monsignor said he "didn't feel he was sinning" byhaving sex with gay men, La Repubblica reported.

The Vatican did not name the monsignor.


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MiamiHerald.com

http://www.miamiherald.com/548/v-print/story/269338.html

Heeding a call to action

Posted on Sun, Oct. 14, 2007
BY DANIEL SHOER ROTH

I always felt like a pariah.

Growing up Jewish in predominantly Catholic Venezuela and gay in a verymachista society gave me a sense of not belonging. Then, when I reachedadulthood, I became a Hispanic immigrant in a country whose culture wasunfamiliar to me. Because of that, I became sensitive to those who belongedto a minority. Or who, simply, suffered.

Like Lilly Luna of Homestead, a Mexican immigrant struggling to support herfamily. Or Garvin Webster Sr., who saw his son fatally shot outside hisAllapattah home. Or Morris Rosen, a centenarian in Sunny Isles Beach whosometimes feels lonely.

These are some of the faces of Miami who are often overlooked andunderserved, people overcoming tremendous odds to build a better life. Theyare the protagonists of my columns Punto de Partida -- ''The StartingPoint'' -- that ran in El Nuevo Herald over the past three years.

A year ago, Daniella Levine from the Human Services Coalition -- one of myregular sources -- suggested that my columns about South Florida's socialchallenges needed to reach a broader audience and cross our community'smajor language divide. And so this book was born. We invited communityleaders to write short essays that amplify and explain key points.

Our project tries to inspire you to take action. To give a hand to the lessfortunate. To respect those who are different. Punto de Partida is simply astarting point for us all.

more . . . . .



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Forwarded from Soulforce
www.soulforce.org/

Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights Concludes Saturday: Straight Friendsfrom Coast to Coast Will Keep Speaking Out for Equality

Already this week, straight supporters in Georgia, Arkansas, Maine, Iowa,Minnesota, South Carolina, New York, Alabama, Massachusetts, Washington,D.C., Missouri, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois,California, Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, Michigan, and Utah havemade their voices heard. Tonight, events in Oregon and Colorado, as well asanother action in New York, round out this historic week.

Many states had more than one city participating in this original campaign,and each event took on a local flair. For instance, in Austin, Texas, alarge crowd gathered on the steps of the state Capitol. Soulforce ExecutiveDirector Jeff Lutes opened the rally and was followed by Anne Wynne (founderof Atticus Circle), Rev. Dr. Sid Hall, Representatives Mark Strama, DonnaHoward, and Valinda Bolton; City Council Member Brewster McCracken andTravis County Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt. They each spoke about theimportance of straight men and women coming out and standing up in supportof all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Thecrowd then enjoyed the music of Sarah Hickman, Craig Toungate, DjembabesDrummers, Susan Lincoln and the Hilde Girls. Students from the University ofTexas marched from the UT Tower to the Capitol to kick off the vigil, andafter the initial hour, a small group of dedicated citizens took shiftsvigiling throughout the night until 8am the next morning.

To watch news coverage of the Seven Straight Nights vigils in Austin, Texasand Raleigh, North Carolina go to www.sevenstraightnights.org/article/11

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For The Bible Tells Me So -- Documentary Featuring Soulforce Now ShowingAcross the Country

Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the SeattleInternational Film Festival, Dan Karslake's provocative, entertainingdocumentary, For The Bible Tells Me So, brilliantly reconciles homosexualityand Biblical scripture, and in the process reveals that Church-sanctionedanti-gay bias is based almost solely upon a significant (and oftenmalicious) misinterpretation of the Bible.

Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very Americanfamilies -- including those of former House Majority Leader RichardGephardt, Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson, and the Reitan Family -- wediscover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having agay child. Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu,Harvard's Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg, Soulforce's MelWhite, and Reverend Jimmy Creech, For The Bible Tells Me So offers healing,clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scriptureand sexual identity. Much of the footage was taken from the Soulforce directaction outside Focus on the Family in May, 2005.

To watch the trailer and see a list of screenings go towww.soulforce.org/article/1306



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

California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez's Office

October 12, 2007
Contact: Beth Willon, (916) 319-2411

Núñez Statement on Veto of Assemblyman Leno's Marriage Equality Bill

SACRAMENTO-Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez has released the followingstatement on the veto of AB 43 (Leno):

"I am proud that twice now the California Legislature has approvedAssemblyman Mark Leno's legislation to guarantee equal marriagerights for all Californians. While I am disappointed the governor hasagain vetoed this basic extension of fairness, I firmly believe thatthe day will come soon when California law is on the right side ofthis issue-- and the right side of history. The California Assemblywill continue working to make that happen."

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Veto Message from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

http://gov.ca.gov/pdf/press/AB%2043%20veto%20message.pdf

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 43 without my signature.

As I stated in vetoing similar legislation in 2005, I am proudCalifornia is a leader in recognizing and respecting domesticpartnerships. I believe that all Californians are entitled to fullprotection under the law and should not be discriminated againstbased upon their sexual orientation. I support current domesticpartnership rights and will continue to vigorously defend andenforce these rights.

In 2000, the voters approved Proposition 22, a challenge to whichis currently pending before the California Supreme Court. Imaintain my position that the appropriate resolution to this issue isto allow the Court to rule on Proposition 22. The people ofCalifornia should then determine what, if any, statutory changesare needed in response to the Court's ruling.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger



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

Metropolitan Community Church Honors Human Rights Watch

Award Recognizes Groundbreaking Work on LGBT Rights

(New York, June 29, 2007) - The Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) - afellowship of Christian churches with a special ministry to lesbian, gay,bisexual and transgender people - will present its triennial Human RightsAward to Human Rights Watch on July 4. The award recognizes Human RightsWatch's groundbreaking work defending LGBT people worldwide from violence,discrimination, and abuse. "Faith used as a pretext for hatred often fuelsviolence against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people," saidScott Long, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender RightsProgram at Human Rights Watch. "For the Metropolitan Community Church,religion means inclusion, and we are proud to work with them in spreadingthe message that human rights are for everyone."

Founded in 1968, Metropolitan Community Church is the largest and oldestworldwide Christian denomination with a special affirming ministry to LGBTpeople and communities. The church's United Fellowship presents its HumanRights Award every three years at its International General Conference. Thisyear, Scott Long will accept the award at the conference in Scottsdale,Arizona.

The Metropolitan Community Church has almost 300 local congregations in 28countries. Each year, almost a quarter of a million people attend MCC'sprograms and services. It has collaborated successfully with LGBT groups incountries such as Jamaica, Romania and South Africa to foster publicacceptance and promote human rights.

"Human Rights Watch works to build a world in where everyone's rights willbe respected, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity,"said Long. "The Metropolitan Community Church is a vital part of this commonstruggle."

The award recognizes Human Rights Watch for these achievements againstprejudice and persecution, among others:

* Human Rights Watch played a central part in ending a massivecrackdown on men having sex with men in Egypt. After years of research,Human Rights Watch in 2004 released a report on the government campaign inwhich hundreds, possibly even thousands, were arrested and tortured. The dayafter its release and the accompanying high-level advocacy, the crackdownstopped.

* Human Rights Watch's HIV/AIDS and LGBT Rights Programs brought humanrights groups in Jamaica into a coalition to condemn widespread violenceagainst gay men. Its report on the issue, called "explosive" by the Jamaicanmedia, sparked an unprecedented debate within Jamaica about the rights ofLGBT people and the struggle against HIV/AIDS. The report also gave strengthto a growing movement to repeal Jamaica's colonial-era sodomy laws.

* Human Rights Watch played a key role in realizing the "YogyakartaPrinciples on the Application of International Human Rights Law in Relationto Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity," developed by a group ofinternational law experts meeting last year in Indonesia. The principles setout standards for how states should ensure full equality for lesbian, gay,bisexual, and transgender people. They also affirm that human rights do notadmit exceptions.

* Human Rights Watch has documented abuses against LGBT Iranians,supported over a hundred asylum claimants in dozens of countries, and helpedchange refugee policies to safeguard LGBT people in exile.

"Homophobic violence fuels the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Jamaica and around theworld, and Human Rights Watch works to combat both," said Rebecca Schleifer,advocate for the HIV/AIDS and Human Rights Program. "In Jamaica, I've seenhow MCC has created spaces for people living with HIV to live and worship,and has helped link human rights and faith communities."

Human Rights Watch's HIV/AIDS Program has been documenting human rightsabuses linked to HIV/AIDS - including state-sponsored violence anddiscrimination against LGBT people, and outreach workers to them - since2001. Human Rights Watch's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender RightsProgram - the first of its kind at a major mainstream human rightsorganization - was formed in 2004. Scott Long was its founding director.

Long has nearly 20 years of experience in fighting abuses based on sexualorientation and gender identity. He launched his human rights career inEastern Europe, where his documentation of arrests and torture underRomania's repressive anti-gay measures helped draw global attention to theeffects of sodomy laws.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Program

Human Rights Watch
350 Fifth Ave, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118
Tel.: 212 290 4700
Fax: 212 736 1300
http://www.hrw.org/lgbt


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

Pelosi's ENDA 'Bargain":The Inside Story (Gay City News)

http://gaycitynews.com:80/site/news.cfm?newsid=18913390&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=6

At a late afternoon meeting on October 12 in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi'soffice, representatives of the Democratic leadership informed key LGBTadvocates that it planned to move forward with a vote on a revised versionof the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) covering sexual orientationbut not gender identity and expression.

But in what was intended as a concession to leading LGBT organizations whohave waged an uphill struggle for more than two weeks to salvage the fullyinclusive version of the bill introduced earlier this year, Pelosi pledgedto allow a floor vote on that original formulation once advocates indicatethey have the votes to secure passage.

It is not at all certain that Pelosi's bargain will be widely accepted.

The plan would involve a hearing next week by the Labor and EducationCommittee next week and a floor vote the following week.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which indicated early last week that unlikethe preponderance of LGBT groups nationwide, it would not oppose eitherversion of ENDA Democratic leaders decided to move, hailed the outcome ofthe meeting. The group, in a written release issued at about 7 p.m., said ithad "secure[d an] unprecedented commitment" from the speaker, elsewhereterming it a "promise."

"This commitment by the speaker of the House is an unprecedented departurefrom the usual delays seen in Congress on an issue that has already beenconsidered by the full House," HRC said in its release.

Joe Solmonese, HRC's president, pledged to continue the group's "ramped up"efforts to secure congressional support for employment protections thatinclude the transgender community.

"Now the real work begins," Solmonese said. "We must maintain the momentumwe have built up to persist in educating members of Congress and the publicabout issues facing the transgender community."

Asked how other groups represented at the meeting - including the NationalGay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), the National Center for TransgenderEquality (NCTE), Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays(PFLAG), and the National Stonewall Democrats - viewed the decision reached,Solmonese, in an early evening telephone interview, said, "In no way would Icharacterize others as embracing this. Ultimately I hope they will comearound."

Referring back to a statement he had made nine days earlier to Gay CityNews, Solmonese conceded that the group's need, as lead lobbyist for thecommunity on Capitol Hill, to always be "an allied partner" with pro-gaymembers of Congress meant, "We are out of step with the rest of theorganizations because of who we are."

The other groups at the Pelosi meeting are among 270 nationwide that haveorganized under the ad hoc umbrella ENDAUnited.org and pledged to oppose anyvote on ENDA that does not include gender protections.

Mara Keisling, executive director of NCTE, the leading gender rights groupin the ENDAUnited.org effort, made clear in a phone interview after theCapitol Hill meeting that her group was not backing down. As Matt Foreman,NGLTF's leader, characterized the lobbying push earlier in the week, the"ask" to members of Congress would continue to be that they support atrans-inclusive measure and oppose any other.

Keisling pledged to be back on Capitol Hill Tuesday pressing the fight tohave the inclusive version of ENDA be the only one the House votes on.

Asked about the decision to move forward with the sexual orientation-onlybill, Keisling challenged the assumption of that question by saying, "Thedecision has been made that they intend to move ahead. This would be anhistoric first that they would hold a vote on a piece of civil rightslegislation that is not supported by any LGBT or civil rights group" exceptHRC.

"There is a lot of anger," Keisling continued. "And a lot of disappointmentwith HRC. There is disappointment with this strategy, but it is not lay-downdisappointment. No one has yet been willing to explain why we need to moveforward on a bill that has no chance to be passed into law at this time."

In a written statement issued hours after the Pelosi meeting, Foreman said,"We completely disagree with this proposed strategy - it simply makes nosense. If the goal is moving an ENDA that protects all of us, passing aflawed, gay-only bill utterly undermines that objective. The notion that theHouse of Representatives will be willing to revisit a different ENDA beforethe end of the calendar year - when it has been unwilling or unable to takeup a single pro-gay matter over the last 34 years - is more thanimplausible. We will do everything possible to convince members to end thismisguided course of action."

Throughout the week, Barney Frank, the out gay Massachusetts Democrat who ischief ENDA sponsor and the lawmaker who first pushed to strip the measure ofits trans protections, has been sharply critical of advocates urging Housemembers to vote no on a gay rights bill and has also faulted the tenor oftheir lobbying.

Characterizing the rhetoric of those groups demanding that gender identitybe part of the bill as, "How dare you think about doing a partial bill,you've betrayed us," Frank, at an October 11 press conference said, "Theanger is very counterproductive and it's going to make it hard to mobilizesupport in the future."

He argued that Democrats from marginal districts who are brought around tosupport a gay rights bill cannot then be subjected to criticism from theLGBT community for the political risk they have taken.

"This is a moment of truth as far as I'm concerned for responsible liberalsin the Democratic Party," Frank added. "The question is can we governresponsibly?"

He insisted that the House "not allow ourselves to defeat each other bygiving the most passionate and involved and engaged groups a veto over anystrategy that might make a real advance."

Alan Van Capelle, the executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda(ESPA), New York's LGBT rights lobby, took issue with Frank's politicalcalculus, saying that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee shouldnot be advising its candidates, especially those facing potential toughraces, that they can expect political kudos for taking a tough vote if thebill falls short of what the community is demanding.

"I don't think these folks should be given cover," Van Capelle said, addingthat was the message he is giving members of New York's House delegation,four of whom he said he spoke to on Friday.

By week's end, in fact, it appeared that Frank's grip on ENDA leadershipamong his fellow Democrats was eroding - a dynamic that might have led to alate Friday afternoon meeting in Pelosi's office.

Democratic Congressmen Jerry Nadler, who represents the West Side ofManhattan and portions of Brooklyn, and Rush Holt of Princeton, New Jersey,have now gone public with their opposition to Frank's strategy.

Amy Rutkin, Nadler's out lesbian chief of staff, told Gay City News, "Jerrytold people at the Empire State Pride Agenda dinner [Thursday] that if he isunsuccessful in making ENDA fully inclusive, he will vote against it."

Rutkin indicated that Nadler had conveyed his position to Frank, but wouldnot characterize their conversation.

Nadler will be elaborating on his position in an interview with thisnewspaper on Monday.

Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality wrote in an e-mail that Holt"announced last week that he would vote NO on an ENDA stripped of genderidentity, and we expect some other Democrats in our New Jersey Congressionaldelegation to follow suit."

Frank told Gay City News in a telephone interview Friday that while Holt hastaken an explicit stand that "he'll never vote for a bill that doesn'tinclude transgenders," Nadler "is saying he would vote for it, just don't doit now."

Frank characterized Nadler's posture as "holding the Congress to a higher
standard than what New York has," where sexual orientation is protected, butnot gender identity.

Joe Tarver, ESPA's communications director, said that Nadler's announcementwas "very important because it reflects where New York's community is andwhere much of the community around the country is. His position will beheard by members of the New York delegation and make them think again beforevoting on a watered-down version. If they believe that a vote for a sexualorientation-only bill will be praised by the community, they need to thinkagain."

Frank said that the Pride Agenda would have more credibility on this issue"if I heard there was a strong push to repeal the New York law and notreinstate it until it included transgenders."

Tarver responded by saying, "It's 2007. Congressman Frank needs to listen towhere the community is on this issue now."

Tarver said the Pride Agenda has written to every member of the New Yorkdelegation urging them to adopt the Nadler stance and noted Van Capelle'sone-on-one conversations. But the group is not releasing a count on wheremembers are at this point.

"We had 20 sponsors of the inclusive ENDA from the New York delegation," hesaid, "but now that they have other alternatives [because of Frank'sproposal], it becomes more difficult to predict."

Asked whether there been any push back from the Pride Agenda's constituencyover its stance, Tarver responded, "None."

Frank said he was not surprised that New Yorkers aren't pushing back because"they have their bill. This is not for them. They're already protected."

Congressman Anthony Weiner, a Democrat who represents portions of Brooklynand Queens, was asked by Gay City News at the ESPA dinner if he will voteagainst a non-inclusive ENDA and replied, "I think I would, but I hope wedon't get to that place. The reason I don't want to stake out a firm line isbecause I hope we don't get to that place."

Daniel Dromm, an out gay leader from Queens who is a Democratic districtleader in the 39th Assembly District, said he had "expressed his concern toCongressman Joseph Crowley" that they want a no vote on a non-inclusiveENDA, but had not heard back. Rohit Mahajan, communications director forCrowley, told Gay City News that the Queens Democrat "is going to supportBarney Frank's sexual orientation-only bill" if that is all that comes tothe floor.

Brice Peyre from Manhattan/Queens Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney'soffice said that "she is fully supportive of transgender inclusion," butthat she was attending her mother's funeral in Virginia and not reachable.

The LGBT Democratic clubs in New York have been united in pushing Housemembers here to oppose a non-inclusive ENDA. Allen Roskoff, president of theJim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, said of Nadler, "Jerry's commitment tovoting no on any bill that does not include the transgender community is aprincipled position which is to be respected, applauded, and imitated. WhatBarney Frank is doing is a disgrace and hurtful. He is living in anotherera."

Transgender activist Melissa Sklarz, a member of the National StonewallDemocrats board, wrote in an e-mail message that she is "thrilled" that"Nadler sees the need to help the LGBT community stay united and fight forjustice and equality for all."

Sklarz wrote, "Barney Frank should have worked more openly with us or let usknow that this was on the table. No one knew this until two weeks ago,although the professional lobbyists saw this coming in the spring as apossibility."

Foreman praised Nadler for publicly backing their strategy.

"I saw him last night and literally kissed his hand," he said. "This is abold and courageous stand for full equality that I know he has expressed toCongressman Frank. We appreciate that as well."

Foreman would not say who else in the House has committed to theENDAUnited.org strategy, but insisted, "We have the votes to pass" a fullyinclusive ENDA. He acknowledged that the tougher battle is to make sure ENDAsupporters would be willing to stand firm against Republican amendments onthe House floor to strip the gender identity provisions from the bill.

That strategy would force a straight up or down vote on transgender rights,one Frank is convinced the community at present would lose. Depending on thespecific parliamentary maneuver gay rights opponents take, the result couldmean having the bill sent back to committee, effectively killing it for thetime being.

Solmonese said that at Friday's meeting the vote count discussion focusednot on the number of ayes in favor of a trans-inclusive bill, but rather thenumber of firm nays to beat back a Republican troublemaking amendment, knownas a recommit motion. Those votes are not there, he said.

But Nadine Smith of Equality Florida challenged that conclusion.

"If the inclusive bill were brought forward, we believe a slim majoritywould support it," she said. "We believe the motion to recommit will fail ifthe [Democratic] leadership stops sending mixed messages, preachinginclusive language but insisting the votes to support it won't exist."

Florida currently offers no protections in state law for LGBT people.

Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat and the only other out lesbian or gaymember of Congress, made clear on October 11 that she thinks the originalENDA with transgender protections should be brought to the floor, even if itmeans a potentially crippling amendment effort by the GOP.

"Perhaps some of these hostile efforts will be successful," Baldwin said ina written statement. "That should not deter our work. We must bring thestrongest possible bill to the floor of the House for a vote. If ouradversaries wish to erode protections in the bill, we must be prepared toface that challenge and make our case. However, I believe it is a mistake toconcede defeat on any issue, before our opponents even raise it."

She stopped short, however, of urging her colleagues to oppose thetrimmed-down Frank version of the bill.

Asked to explain how an activist like Smith, who works in a state withneither a gay rights law nor gender identity protections, is willing to holdout for a fully-inclusive approach to federal legislation rather than goingfor a quick gay rights gain, Frank responded, "I don't think they speak fortheir people," adding that "average gay men and lesbians" he speaks to wouldbe very happy with an ENDA that protects them on the basis of sexualorientation if a more inclusive bill is not possible now.

Pelosi's office did not respond to a request for comment for this story.



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365Gay.Com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/10/101307taiwan.htm

Taiwan Gays Grow In Visibility
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: October 13, 2007 - 4:00 pm ET

(Taipei) Thousands of gays, lesbians and transsexuals marched through thestreets of Taipei Saturday in the capital's biggest pride celebration todate.

Five years ago only a handful of people turned out. This year some 10,000people took part, more than four-times the number from a year ago.

Like pride parades in Europe and America it was led off by the rainbow flagwith marchers decked out in often outrageous costumes. But uniquely Asian,the marchers also carried banners - red considered a symbol of sex, orangefor power.

And like parades elsewhere Taipei gays tied a message to the partying -"we're here, we're queer, and want our rights".

LGBT civil rights bills have been languishing for years in Parliament.

more....



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The Advocate

http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid49648.asp

October 09, 2007

What It Means to Be Trans

LGBT leadership just went on record in a big way by insisting that ENDAshould be trans-inclusive. Maybe now it's important to know what"transgender" really means

By Joanne Herman
An Advocate.com exclusive posted October 9, 2007

For months now, an amazing coalition of LGBT organizations has workedtirelessly toward passage of the first transgender-inclusive EmploymentNon-Discrimination Act bill in Congress. Yet in a weak moment at the veryend of September, key legislators got cold feet and threw us out. Reactionwas immediate and overwhelming. Almost all of the country's LGBTorganizations -- the list continues to grow -- spoke out loud and clear inopposition to this ejection. Legislators had no choice but to give atrans-inclusive ENDA another chance.

If the developments of the last few days have you wanting to know more aboutwhat "transgender" really means, you've come to the right place. In the next800 words I'll cover the key things you need to know. You may not be awarethat I've actually written 20 Advocate.com columns over the past two yearson transgender awareness -- you can find links to all of them on my own Website. But no matter; I'll include links below where my back columns providemore information on particular topics.

more....


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