**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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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/world/europe/16briefs-priest.html?pagewanted=print
Vatican City: Priest in Gay Sting an 'Exception'
By IAN FISHER
October 16, 2007
World Briefing | Europe
A leading cardinal described as an "isolated case" a 60-year-old Vaticanofficial caught on a hidden television camera declaring himself gay andmaking sexual advances to a younger man. The cardinal, Julián Herranz, headof the Vatican's disciplinary committee, told the newspaper La Repubblicathat such cases ause "sadness, assuredly, but we are aware that these casesare exceptions." The atican official, Msgr. Tommaso Stenico of theCongregation of the Clergy, was uspended last week after being filmed for aprogram shown on Italian television. He denied that he was gay, called thefilming "a trap" and said he was only pretending to be gay to gatherinformation about "those who damage the image of the church with homosexualactivity."
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-anglicans.html?pagewanted=print
New Anglican Row Emerges With Gay Blessing Request
October 15, 2007
By REUTERS
Filed at 11:40 a.m. ET
OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Ottawa branch of the Anglican Church of Canada hasthrown a challenge to the worldwide Anglican movement by asking the Ottawabishop to authorize the blessing of homosexual marriages.
In a weekend vote, the Ottawa diocese voted 177 to 97 to ask Bishop JohnChapman to allow clergy "to bless duly solemnized and registered civilmarriages between same-sex couples, where at least one party is baptized."
If Chapman, an advocate of such blessings, approves the request, it will bea red flag to the conservative branches of the church in Africa, LatinAmerica and Asia, and could hasten a split in the global Anglican church.
Chapman told a news conference it could take anywhere between a day to 10years to make his decision and that he would consult Canada's bishops laterthis month.
A group of conservative Canadian Anglicans, the Anglican Network in Canada,said they were deeply saddened by the vote of the Ottawa synod.
more....
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Local10.com
http://www.local10.com/print/14345527/detail.html
Gay Study Seeks Genetic Answers
Is Homosexuality A Choice?
POSTED: 5:22 pm EDT October 15, 2007
UPDATED: 6:18 pm EDT October 15, 2007
CHICAGO -- Julio and Mauricio Cabrera are gay brothers who are convincedtheir sexual orientation is as deeply rooted as their Mexican ancestry.
They are among 1,000 pairs of gay brothers taking part in the largest studyto date seeking genes that may influence whether people are gay. TheCabreras hope the findings will help silence critics who say homosexualityis an immoral choice.
If fresh evidence is found suggesting genes are involved, perhapshomosexuality will be viewed as no different than other genetic traits likeheight and hair color, said Julio, a student at DePaul University inChicago.
Adds his brother, "I think it would help a lot of folks understand usbetter."
The federally funded study, led by Chicago area researchers, will rely onblood or saliva samples to help scientists search for genetic clues to theorigins of homosexuality. Parents and straight brothers also are beingrecruited.
While initial results aren't expected until next year - and won't provide afinal answer - skeptics are already attacking the methods and disputing thepresumed results.
Previous studies have shown that sexual orientation tends to cluster infamilies, though that doesn't prove genetics is involved. Extended familiesmay share similar child-rearing practices, religion and other beliefs thatcould also influence sexual orientation.
Research involving identical twins, often used to study genetics since theyshare the same DNA, has had mixed results.
One widely cited study in the 1990s found that if one member of a pair ofidentical twins was gay, the other had a 52 percent chance of being gay. Incontrast, the result for pairs of non-twin brothers, was 9 percent. A 2000study of Australian identical twins found a much lower chance.
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The Detroit News
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071015/OPINION03/710150306
Protect the transgendered from job bias
Monday, October 15, 2007
Deb Price
A thirst to learn more about southeast Asia led my spouse Joyce and me to apinch-me moment: Chatting in a garden at Stanford University with abrilliant China expert.
"Would Vietnam have ended up pretty much as it is today if the 1956 electionhadn't been cancelled?"
"How do the economic systems of Vietnam and China differ?"
On and on, Joyce and I questioned our generous one-hour teacher. As the endof our time neared, the conversation turned personal, with scholar andformer CIA analyst Alice Miller alluding to her recent gender transition.
"Did it end up feeling the way you'd hoped?" Joyce asked.
"Oh yes, yes. I finally feel my true self," replied Miller, who so fearedlosing her career and livelihood that she waited until her early 60s totransition.
Watching the unfolding drama over whether legislation to ban anti-gay jobdiscrimination has a prayer of passing the House this year if it includestrangender people, I've wished each lawmaker could spend an hour with AliceMiller.
more....
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Forwarded from Bill Sterling
Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gaychurch14oct14,0,2395247,print.story?coll=la-home-center
Church divide over gays has a global audience
As the Anglican debate plays out, other denominations seek guidance forsimilar battles in their futures.
By Rebecca Trounson
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
8:54 PM PDT, October 13, 2007
As Episcopalians and Anglicans wait to see if their fractious globalfellowship will splinter or hold together in a long-running conflict overhomosexuality and the Bible, other denominations are watching nervously.
The same or related issues are roiling many denominations, especially suchmainline Protestant churches as Evangelical Lutherans, Presbyterians andMethodists. And many church leaders and scholars predict that the way thesequestions play out in the Episcopal Church and the worldwide AnglicanCommunion will hold lessons for them all.
"The struggle going on inside the Anglican Communion. . . is not peculiar toAnglicanism," Sister Joan Chittister, a Roman Catholic nun, wrote in arecent column in the National Catholic Reporter newspaper. "The issue is inthe air we breathe. The Anglicans simply got there earlier than most."
Conservative Judaism has debated the issue as well, but the conflict isespecially pronounced among Protestant churches. Said John C. Green, seniorfellow at the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life: "They know it's going tohappen to them too."
Across faith groups, the controversies revolve broadly around homosexuality:whether to allow openly gay and lesbian clergy or bishops and whether toprovide official recognition to the unions of same-sex couples. Butfundamentally, the debate involves questions of scriptural interpretationand whether the Bible's teachings are to be seen as unchanging or incultural and historical context.
more....
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Gay Man Expelled from TV Show
Tbilisi, Georgia
2007-10-14 19:08:31
A contestant on GeoBar, a Georgian reality TV show, was expelled aftersaying on the first episode that he was gay.
Koba Davarashvili, the general director of Rustavi 2 TV, which broadcaststhe highly popular show, confirmed on October 14 that the decision to expelPako Tabatadze, 20, had been taken because of his on-air candour.
"GeoBar is a project, which first and foremost, should show young people's relationships and their drive for victory from a positive angle,"Davarashvili said.
Tabatadze's declaration is the first time anyone has come "out of thecloset" on Georgian TV. Although homosexuality is legal in Georgia, it isgenerally regarded as immoral.
Tabatadze's expulsion from the reality show has cost him the possibility ofwinning GEL 40,000, which he and eleven other participants were competingfor.
In July an outdoor event - All Different, All Equal - dedicated to tolerancewas canceled for fear of violence. Labelled by many as a gay parade, theGeorgian Orthodox Church warned that any participation by sexual minoritieswould lead to confrontation and clashes.
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ExpressGayNews.com
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003948834&zsection_id=2002111777&slug=gayrights14m0&date=20071014
Some gays oppose bill to prohibit bias on job
By Lornet Turnbull
Seattle Times staff reporter
From New York to Seattle, gays are divided over a workplace protection billin Congress, not because of whom it covers but because of whom it leavesout: transgender people.
At a rally on Seattle's Capitol Hill today, gay-rights activists will join anationwide call for defeat of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, orENDA, which would ban discrimination in the workplace against people who aregay.
This is huge for the gay community, which has waited nearly 30 years toreach this point. And when U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., first introducedthe measure earlier this year, it included protections for the entirecommunity - lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
But in recent weeks, Frank, who is gay, told the LGBT community that heneeded to strip gender identity from the measure, essentially excludingtransgender people, because with them he didn't have the votes to winpassage in the House of Representatives.
"What I have learned in the past month was that we weren't yet at the pointwhere we could wish away this prejudice" against transgender people, Franksaid in a speech before Congress last week.
more . . . . .
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/10/101507congress.htm
GOP Congressional Bleeding Continues
by The Associated Press
Posted: October 15, 2007 - 3:00 pm ET
(Washington) Rep. David Hobson, a nine-term Republican from Ohio, hasannounced plans to retire, the 12th member of his party to do so since thebeginning of the year.
"I wanted to go out on top," said Hobson, who said his health is good. Hewould have faced token opposition at best had he sought a new term.
The 71-year-old Hobson became the third member of the Ohio delegation toannounce retirement plans. Rep. Ralph Regula, who has been in Congress since1973, announced recently he will not run again. Rep. Deborah Pryce, whonarrowly won re-election in 2006, had previously said her current term willbe her last.
Hobson served two terms from his west-central Ohio district beforeRepublicans gained control of the House in 1994. His seniority soon enabledhim to become one of the so-called cardinals, chairmen of Appropriationssubcommittee with great authority over selected programs. He served aschairman of the panel with jurisdiction over military housing, then overenergy and water programs until Democrats gained their majority last year.
Hobson has a moderate to conservative, pro-business voting record. Mostrecently, he supported an expansion of children's health care that mostRepublicans opposed and that President Bush subsequently vetoed.
Hobson announced his retirement plans in a speech in his home district. In atelephone interview, he said he had been thinking about retiring for quite awhile, and "almost did not run last year."
Republicans have been working to hold down the number of retirements inadvance of the 2008 elections, when they will be attempting to regain themajority they lost in 2006. Hobson has had no difficulty prevailing in hisdistrict, and it was not immediately clear how strong an effort Democratsmight mount for the seat.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/10/101507how.htm
Gay Marriage To Be Campaign Issue In Australian Election
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: October 15, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(Sydney, Australia) Australian Prime Minister John Howard has called ageneral election for November 24, despite polls showing his Liberal Partytrailing.
Howard has been Prime Minister for the past 11 years. Public opinion pollsshow that he will likely be denied a fifth consecutive term by Labor Partyleader Kevin Rudd.
But the small Green Party hopes to make gains and its leader, Bob Brown,says the party will campaign in support of same-sex marriage.
Howard has consistently opposed granting any rights to gay and lesbianpairs. Labor supports limited rights but opposes gay marriage.
Brown, who is openly gay, accused Howard and Rudd on Sunday of "pandering tohomophobia" to win votes.
more . . . . .
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/10/101507hit.htm
Gay Hit, Run Victim May Have Been Hate Crime Target
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: October 15, 2007 - 6:30 pm ET
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida) Nearly a month after Tommy Davis was nearlykilled by a hit and run driver in front of the Ramrod, the Fort Lauderdaleleather bar where he works, police are no further ahead in finding the caror the person behind the wheel.
Davis was on his way to work, September 18. As he approached NortheastFourth Avenue he was joined by two friends.
When they began crossing the intersection in front of the bar one of thefriends heard the engine of an approaching car rev. They ran, but the carswerved and Davis was struck down on the sidewalk.
Davis, 31, was rushed to hospital in critical condition and on life support.
In the past month Davis, who has no health insurance, has had six operationsand racked up a hospital bill over $165,000. A fundraiser last week at theRamrod helped raise about $10,000 to help with the bill.
more . . . . . .
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/10/101507ug.htm
Uganda Cleric Calls For Annihilation Of Gays
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: October 15, 2007 - 6:30 pm ET
(Kampala) Uganda's leading Muslim cleric has proposed to President YoweriMuseveni that gays be rounded up and marooned on an island in Lake Victoriauntil they die.
Sheikh Ramathan Shaban Mubajje told reporters of his plan following a muchpublicized meeting with Museveni.
"I asked President Museveni to get us an island on Lake Victoria and we takethese homosexuals and they die out there," Mubajje told a news conference.
"If they die there then we shall have no more homosexuals in the country."
Others at the meeting reportedly said that the president did not respond tothe suggestion.
more . . . . .
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Advocate.com
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid49774.asp
GOP Leader Faces Charges for Sexual Encounters With Minor
October 16, 2007
A noted Wisconsin Republican leader could face up to 52 years in prison iffound guilty of enticing a minor with drugs and alcohol last year. DonaldFleischman, chairman of the Brown County Republican Party, is accused offondling a 16-year-old runaway from a juvenile facility, according to theGreen Bay Press-Gazette. The preliminary hearing is set for October 29.
The teen told authorities that Fleischman took him to a hotel and then acabin in 2006. When he tried to sleep, he said, Fleischman would fondle him.On one occasion, according to the youth, he awoke to find Fleischmanmasturbating on the edge of the bed.
Police went to Fleischman's home on November 19, 2006, where they found theboy hiding in a closet, wearing nothing but a T-shirt and underwear.
The GOP leader appeared in court on September 28 and is free on a signaturebond. He faces three misdemeanor charges and two felony ones, includingcontributing to the delinquency of a child. Fleischman's attorney, JeffJazgar, said his client is innocent.
"Our plan is to get some witnesses to testify and present enough informationto dismiss the case," he said in the article.
Fleischman has stepped down from his post as the county's GOP chair. (TheAdvocate)
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The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101500603.html?hpid=sec-politics
Sen. Craig Appeals Judge's Decision
Lawmaker Wants To Withdraw His Guilty Plea
By Paul Kane
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 16, 2007; Page A04
Sen. Larry E. Craig yesterday appealed a Minnesota judge's decision to barhim from withdrawing his guilty plea to a disorderly-conduct charge stemmingfrom his June arrest in an airport men's room sex sting.
In addition to continuing his legal fight, the Idaho Republican also began apublic relations campaign by sitting for an interview with NBC News. In aconversation scheduled to air tonight, Craig said he told his wife about theincident on Aug. 27, moments before the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Callbroke the story of his arrest and guilty plea. He also said he was a victimof profiling and vowed not to resign.
more....
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/opinion/16tue3.html?ref=opinion
When 'Tough Love' Is Too Tough
October 16, 2007
Editorial
Parents who come to wit's end with troubled teenagers sometimes enroll themin residential treatment programs - so-called boot camps or wildernesscamps - that offer challenging activities, like hiking and climbing, andmilitary-style discipline that is supposed to help set youngsters straight.Juvenile-justice researchers have long shown that the camps are lesseffective at curbing delinquency than boosters claim. Now an alarming studyby the Government Accountability Office shows that the "tough love"strategy, as practiced in this largely unregulated industry, can placechildren at risk of abuse, injury or even death.
The study, unveiled at Congressional hearings last week, found thousands ofallegations of abuse and neglect at residential treatment programs over thelast 17 years. The numbers are sketchy because no federal agency collectsnational data, and in far too many states, monitoring of the camps is lax. Anumber of states regulate publicly funded programs, but don't license orregulate the private programs.
The G.A.O. report focuses on the heart-rending deaths of 10 teenagers. Inone of the most outrageous cases, parents enrolled their 15-year-olddaughter in a Utah wilderness program after she was the victim of a daterape. They hoped the experience would help build confidence and improve herself-esteem. Instead, the girl died of dehydration while on a five-daymarch. The staff members - advertised as a group of "highly trained survivalexperts" - accused her of faking and pushed her onward until she finallycollapsed. No one could even call for help because the counselors were notcarrying radios.
more....
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/us/16juvenile.html?pagewanted=print
Troubles Mount Within Texas Youth Detention Agency
October 16, 2007
By SOLOMON MOORE
AUSTIN, Tex. - Juvenile detainees as young as 13 years old slept on filthymats in dormitories with broken, overflowing toilets and feces smeared onthe walls. Denied outside recreation for weeks at a time, they atebug-infested food, did school work that consisted of little more thancrossword puzzles and defecated in bags.
After months of glowing state reports, the squalid conditions were disclosedon Oct. 1 by state inspectors at the Coke County Juvenile Justice Center inBronte. They are another sign of the deep disarray of the Texas YouthCommission, the nation's second-largest, after Florida's, and most troubledjuvenile corrections agency.
The agency already faces state and federal investigations into accusationsof sexual abuse by juvenile corrections officers. In March, the commission'sboard of directors resigned under pressure, and many other top officialshave been ousted. After a review by an expert panel, more than 200 inmateswere released from some of the state's 13 residential confinement centersbecause their sentences had been improperly extended.
There are also reports of endemic violence at some centers. At least 11,000youth-on-youth assaults occur every year, according to state figures, and inthe last 12 months there were 14,000 assaults on staff members.
more....
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The Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/272923.html
Now boarding only the modestly dressed
Posted on Tue, Oct. 16, 2007
Some airlines are risking going down the slippery slope of becoming moralitypolice by defining what is or isn't ''obscene,'' a judgment that, if thepast is a guide, has confounded even the nation's best legal minds. Ratherthan decide arbitrarily what passengers can or cannot wear, airlines wouldbe better off focusing on delivering good service.
Clothing criticized
What raises this issue are incidents on two recent Southwest Airlineflights. In one case, a flight supervisor told a woman that her miniskirtand tight sweater were inappropriate, and asked her to cover up. In order tomake the flight, the passenger complied. In the other, a man boarded a planewearing a T-shirt with the words ''Master Baiter'' on the back. An airlinesupervisor gave him three choices: Change shirts, wear the T-shirt insideout or get off the plane. He changed shirts.
The two targeted passengers took their stories to the media. They said thatno one else -- other than the airline supervisors -- voiced an objections totheir clothing. Embarrassed -- and rightly so -- Southwest Airlinesapologized to them.
Southwest and other air carriers claim not to have passenger dress codes.But Southwest's rules give employees discretion on passengers' apparel. Itreserves the right to deny service to passengers whose clothing is ``lewd,obscene or patently offensive.''
But what constitutes ''lewd, obscene or patently offensive'' is entirely inthe eyes of the individual. On what grounds did the Southwest supervisordeem ''Master Baiter'' objectionable? It is a crude, obnoxious (to some)double entendre that identifies the shirt's owner as a fisherman. The otherword it represents -- masturbator -- isn't used in polite company. But is it''patently offensive''? No.
more....
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16 October 2007
ILGA-Europe and COC Netherlands Release Report on the Position of LGBTPeople in Georgia and Azerbaijan
Georgia and Azerbaijan must stop discrimination and incitement to hatred andput in place an inclusive anti-discrimination law in line with Council ofEurope and EU standards if they aspire to EU membership. This is accordingto the joint ILGA-Europe and COC Netherlands reports on the position ofLesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people in the two SouthCaucasian countries.
The comprehensive reports are the result of a joint fact-finding mission andreflect the vulnerable social and legal situation of LGBT people. They alsoreflect the position of national authorities and internationalorganisations. Finally, the reports give a particular focus to lesbian andbisexual women and transgender people and give examples of human rightsviolations on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The reports seek to raise awareness of European and internationalorganisations, put pressure for positive change on national governments andencourage donors to support LGBT organising in these countries.
more....
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To Form a More Perfect Union: Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to the website, above, for the following articles:
--
The struggling re-election campaign of Gov. Ernie Fletcher yesterday accusedDemocratic challenger Steve Beshear of condoning gay marriage by signing acampaign-finance report that included a contribution from an apparentsame-sex couple. The campaign said Beshear's signature showed his supportfor a partnership that violates the state constitution, since Kentucky onlyrecognizes marriages between a man and a woman.
"Beshear signed his name to the document under the penalty of perjury,swearing that he believed the contents of the report were accurate," theFletcher campaign charged in a press release issued Thursday.
--
Interview: John Naisbitt - What's something that totally surprised you? Iwas totally surprised by the spread of the legalization of same-sexmarriage. In just my lifetime we have gone from a taboo to even talk abouthomosexuality, to the sanction by governments of homosexual marriage. Fewsuch large social considerations have ever before been turned over in such ashort time. John Naisbitt has worked as assistant secretary of education toPresident John Kennedy, special assistant to President Lyndon Johnson and asan executive with IBM and Eastman Kodak. He is a faculty member at theNanjing University in China.
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The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101500603.html?hpid=sec-politics
Sen. Craig Appeals Judge's Decision
Lawmaker Wants To Withdraw His Guilty Plea
By Paul Kane
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 16, 2007; Page A04
Sen. Larry E. Craig yesterday appealed a Minnesota judge's decision to barhim from withdrawing his guilty plea to a disorderly-conduct charge stemmingfrom his June arrest in an airport men's room sex sting.
In addition to continuing his legal fight, the Idaho Republican also began apublic relations campaign by sitting for an interview with NBC News. In aconversation scheduled to air tonight, Craig said he told his wife about theincident on Aug. 27, moments before the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Callbroke the story of his arrest and guilty plea. He also said he was a victimof profiling and vowed not to resign.
more....
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16 October 2007
ILGA-Europe and COC Netherlands Release Report on the Position of LGBTPeople in Georgia and Azerbaijan
Georgia and Azerbaijan must stop discrimination and incitement to hatred andput in place an inclusive anti-discrimination law in line with Council ofEurope and EU standards if they aspire to EU membership. This is accordingto the joint ILGA-Europe and COC Netherlands reports on the position ofLesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people in the two SouthCaucasian countries.
The comprehensive reports are the result of a joint fact-finding mission andreflect the vulnerable social and legal situation of LGBT people. They alsoreflect the position of national authorities and internationalorganisations. Finally, the reports give a particular focus to lesbian andbisexual women and transgender people and give examples of human rightsviolations on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The reports seek to raise awareness of European and internationalorganisations, put pressure for positive change on national governments andencourage donors to support LGBT organising in these countries.
more....
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National Center for Transgender Equality
October 15, 2007
House committee meets Tuesday to decide whether or not a version of ENDAthat cuts out protections for transgender people will advance in Congress
Your Representative needs to hear from you TODAY
The House Education and Labor Committee is holding a special meeting onTuesday to discuss the strategy proposed by some House leaders to pass anENDA that cuts out protections for transgender people. A committee vote onthe bill is tentatively scheduled for Thursday.
A list of Committee members is available at:
http://edlabor.house.gov/about/members.shtml
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
October 15, 2007
Contact: Cathy Renna, 917-757-6123, cathy@rennacommunications.com
EQUALITY FEDERATION CONTINUES NATIONWIDE PRESSURE ON CONGRESS
State organizations across the country insist on civil rights legislationwith full protections, nothing less
San Francisco, CA - Equality Federation, the national alliance of 55 stateequality groups representing nearly a million lesbian, gay, bisexual, andtransgender (LGBT) people in 43 states, continues to voice its opposition toany version of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act that fails tofully protect workers based on both sexual identity and gender identity orgender expression. Tens of thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, andtransgender voters and their allies have contacted their representatives inCongress to express dismay over a two-bill strategy proposed byCongressional leaders that divides the LGBT community and leaves our mostvulnerable members unprotected.
House leaders intend to schedule HR 3685 for mark-up in the House Education and Labor Committee on Thursday, October 18, with a floor vote as soon asOctober 23. HR 3685 is an employment non-discrimination bill that does NOTban discrimination based on gender identity; it also includes a far moresweeping religious exemption than we have seen in any other civil rightslegislation of this kind. This bill is opposed by over 300 organizations inthe United ENDA coalition, including Equality Federation. EqualityFederation member organizations have sent letters, emails,faxes, and made countless phone calls to their representatives in Congress, and have heldvigils and educational meetings outside district Congressional offices.
more....
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
[euro-queer] "The Telegraph" (London):
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2007/10/15/noindex/nwilde115.xml
Oscar Wilde voted greatest British wit
By Laura Clout
Last Updated: 11:01am BST 15/10/2007
One a playwright feted for his literary genius, the other a rock starrenowned for his foul mouth: but Oscar Wilde and Liam Gallagher now sharethe accolade of being voted among Britain's greatest wits.
Wilde, who even on his deathbed remarked, "either those curtains go or Ido", was voted number one in the list of comic masters, ahead of comedianSpike Milligan, who had engraved on his tombstone the epitaph "I told you Iwas ill".
Third was Stephen Fry, who played Wilde in the 1997 eponymous film ofhis life. He once quoted the playwright when passing through airportcustoms, announcing: "I have nothing to declare but my genius."
And in reference to his homosexuality, the comedian, actor, and quizshow host declared: "My first words, as I was being born.... I looked up atmy mother and said, 'that's the last time I'm going up one of those.'"
The poll of 3,000 comedy fans placed Liam Gallagher tenth. The Oasissinger, famed for his drunken antics and abrasive attitude, once said of hisbrother Noel, "I'd do time for him. I love him. Me and him are cool. Ifanyone stepped on his toes, I'd cut them off."
In fourth place was the columnist and host of the motoring programme TopGear, Jeremy Clarkson.
The self-confessed petrolhead is unafraid of stirring up controversywith his caustic comments.
"Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary.. That'swhat gets you," he once declared.
Wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, famed for his wittyput-downs came in fifth.
more....
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
News.cincypost.com
http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071015/NEWS01/710150383
Surgeon general nominee on hold
By Justin Thompson
Scripps Howard News Service
WASHINGTON - Three months after Dr. James Holsinger answered some sharpquestions from senators, his nomination to be the next surgeon generalappears to be on life support.
The 68-year-old Kentuckian, whose critics cried foul about a paper he wroteyears ago condemning homosexual sex, needs Senate confirmation to become thenation's 18th surgeon general.
Melissa Wagoner, a spokeswoman for Sen. Edward M. Kenned! y, D-Mass., whochairs the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said members arewaiting for the nominee to answer follow-up questions. Wagoner said shecould not release the questions while Holsinger continues to work on them.
Craig Orfield, the committee's communications director, said he knows of nodate for a vote.
A spokeswoman for the White House said Holsinger is working on the questionsbut could not say when he would respond.
The questions are related to his views on homosexuality, his record at theDepartment of Veterans Affairs and his plans to deal with childhood obesity,which he said would be his highest priority as surgeon general, speculatedRebecca Fox, director of the National Coalition for LGBT Health, which workson lesbian, gay and bisexual health issues.
more....
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Dear HIV Educators, Clinicians, Researchers, Colleagues, and Friends:
The Fall 2007 issue of "mental health AIDS," a quarterly biopsychosocialresearch update on HIV and mental health, is available online athttp://mentalhealthAIDS.samhsa.gov.
This issue's "tool box":
"Enlisting Service Consumers as Active Participants in HIV-RelatedAssessment & Care"
When equipped with the proper tools and training, as well as support andself-confidence, people living with HIV/AIDS can play an integral role inmonitoring their own risk behavior as well as managing the symptoms andmedication regimens associated with HIV disease.
This tool box opens with the examination of a novel, clinic-based approachto repeated risk assessment by clinic attendees, an intervention strategyfor reducing sexual and substance use risk behaviors. The focus then shiftsto chronic disease self-management and the enhancement of self-efficacy. Thedesign of a foundational model in this arena, the Positive Self-ManagementProgram, is highlighted, along with its supporting research and a recentappraisal of its utility by a team of British investigators. Variations inself-management models specific to HIV disease are also presented for theconsideration of service planners, providers, and consumers.
more....
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1192179805245
Law Professor's Suspension Prompts Debate Over Academic Freedom
Thomas B. Scheffey
The Connecticut Law Tribune
10-15-2007
The University of Connecticut School of Law and veteran professor Robert L.Birmingham have agreed that he should take an immediate leave of absenceafter he showed a provocative film clip in class from "Really Really Pimpin'in Da South," a documentary that has been used as a training film forprostitution.
But whether the incident was exacerbated by a mishandling of videotechnology remains a subject of at least some debate.
UConn Law Dean Jeremy Paul confirmed Oct. 2 that he and Birmingham had a"discussion following an incident in one of his classes," and decided it was"in the best interests of the school" for Birmingham to leave for the restof the semester, which ends in December.
Paul called it "a difficult situation" and said he and his administrationare concerned with fostering academic freedom, while preserving "awelcoming, diverse and tolerant environment for students."
According to three students who were either present in Birmingham's remediesclass on Friday, Sept. 21, or spoke with students who were, the sometimescontroversial professor asked students to make a case for slaveryreparations in light of the fact that much of Africa is beset by war, famineand AIDS. Some students were so upset and offended by the topic -- andimages of barely-clad exotic dancers in the film clip -- that they stood upand walked out of the class.
The legal case under discussion was the 2004 11th U.S. Circuit Court ofAppeals case of U.S. v. Charles Floyd Pipkins, a.k.a. Sir Charles, andAndrew Moore Jr., a.k.a. Batman. Pipkins and Moore were appealing theirconvictions on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act charges asAtlanta pimps of juvenile girls as young as 12 years old. In the documentaryfilm, Pipkins explains and defends the rules of "The Game."
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Tulsaworld.com
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071013_1_A1_hItal21002
Synopsis of story: Three former Oral Roberts University professors madepublic on Friday what their lawsuit against ORU describes as "the exactpacket of information" that they allege got two of them fired andresulted in one's resignation.
It alleges documents were destroyed and a "sexual deviant" had access tocampus.
Three former Oral Roberts University professors made public on Friday whattheir lawsuit against ORU describes as "the exact packet of information"that they allege got two of them fired and resulted in one's resignation.
Previous versions of their lawsuit contained only a summary of the report,which was at least partially written by Stephanie Cantees, the sister-in-lawof ORU President Richard Roberts.
Cantees, Roberts' community and government liaison, gives him reports ofwhat she hears -- including rumors -- in the community and government,Roberts has said. He claimed earlier this week that the report referenced inthe lawsuit contained a report by Cantees plus additional information he hadnot seen before.
He said Cantees' report consisted of untrue rumors.
The full, unsubstantiated report now attached to the lawsuit contains newallegations that Lindsay Roberts, Richard Roberts' wife, spent the night inan ORU guest house with an underage male nine times, was photographed 29times in her car with an underage male after midnight and after minors'curfew, visited Victory Christian School with an underage male 81 times in2004, smoked with an underage male at her house and repeatedly moved her"male 16-year-old friend" into her family's house.
The summary of the report in the first version of the lawsuit stated thatLindsay Roberts had sent text messages to underage males late at night. Shesaid earlier this week that one of her daughters used her cell phone andthat the family sends cell phones home with the daughters' friends to ensurethat they get home safely.
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Mark My Words
By Mark Segal
C 2007 Philadelphia Gay News
Republicans form restroom caucus?
Move over, Larry Craig: You'll have to make room for more Republicans inthat small men's room. Seems it's getting very crowded in those men's rooms.There's a gaggle of Republican elected officials engaged in such action.
St. Bernard Parish Councilman and father of two Joey DiFatta abandoned hiscampaign for state Senate this month when it was discovered by TheTimes-Picayune (New Orleans) that he was stopped and questioned by policetwice since 1996 for "suspicion of lewd behavior in restrooms."
According to a story in the Orlando Sentinel, state Rep. Bob Allen ofMerritt, Fla., married to Beth Ann, was arrested July 11 for solicitation tocommit prostitution in a public park restroom after offering an undercoverofficer $20 for oral sex. His defense: He was intimidated into offering sex.
It gets better, or - if you have any sense of morals, which it seemsRepublicans don't - worse. According to The Associated Press, a formermember of the South Dakota House, Ted A. Klaudt, was arrested last Friday oncharges of rape and other offenses against two girls who were his fosterchildren.
There's almost enough of them to form a Republicanrestroom/sexual-misconduct caucus.
And if we wanted to go on, PageOneQ reports that Congressman Patrick T.McHenry (R-N.C.) bought a house in Washington, D.C., with another man, ScottG. Stewart, and then the two filed for eligibility in the District ofColumbia's Homestead Tax Deduction program. The problem is that McHenry isregistered to vote in North Carolina and therefore not a resident of D.C. From the congressman's own Web site, McHenry maintains his residence is inthe 10th District and commutes to Washington each week from his home inCherryville, N.C.
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LGBT Human Rights and Mental Health:
Psychiatric Abuse of Same-Sex Sexualities and Tongzhi Well-Being in China
Aizhixing Institute of Health Education
Research Institute Without Walls (RIWW)
Sponsored by International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
When: October 23rd, 2007, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Where: IGLHRC, 80 Maiden Lane, Suite 1505, New York, NY 10038
We are honored to invite you to a forum, "LGBT Human Rights and MentalHealth: Psychiatric Abuse of Same-Sex Sexualities and Tongzhi Well-Being inChina" The invited forum will focus on the issues of human rights, mentalhealth, and sexual orientation conversion therapies in China.
Human rights of sexual minorities and their violation have a direct impacton the mental health of these populations. Over the past decade, theinternational human rights movement for sexual minorities has established astrong network that has been active in promoting and protecting sexualminorities in developing countries. The Yogyakarta Principles on theApplication of International Law in Relation to Issues of Sexual Orientationand Gender Identity are the most impressive example of such a successfulglobal collaboration between experts from around the world.
The Yogyakarta Principles was launched in March of 2007 at the UN HumanRights Council's session in Geneva, where 54 states had called for thecouncil to act against egregious violations of the rights of sexualminorities. They confirm legal standards for how governments and otheractors should end violence, abuse, and discrimination against sexualminorities, and ensure full equality. Principle 18 of the document calls forthe protection of sexual minorities from medical abuses. With regard tomental health, the Yogyakarta Principles call on the human rights, medical,and mental health communities to: "Ensure that any medical or psychologicaltreatment or counseling does not, explicitly or implicitly, treat sexualorientation and gender identity as medical conditions to be treated, curedor suppressed."
In academia, scholars traditionally have shared research interests insexuality and gender mostly through international meetings and emailexchanges (e.g. listservs). However, relatively little effort has been madeto create community and academic partnerships that conduct systematic andparticipatory research on the relationship between human rights and mentalhealth. In part, the dearth of participatory research is due to thedifficulties of establishing the rapport required to conduct research in itsnatural environment and the absence of mental health research capacity inmany developing countries.
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News.com.au
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,22586497-23272,00.html?prom=public_rss
Buddy sex has pitfalls
October 15, 2007 12:00am
HAVING "no strings attached" sex with someone you are not involved withromantically is becoming a cultural phenomenon with young people.
With the growing trend towards commitment and marriage coming later in life,people are now single for much longer periods than before.
While there are many aspects of single life to be enjoyed, having no sexlife possibly isn't one of them.
To overcome this obstacle many 20 and 30-somethings are jumping on board theno-strings-attached sex idea with their friends.
This means rather than picking up a stranger in a bar to take home at theend of the evening, why not snuggle in for a night of passion with a trustedfriend.
In this way you get sex when you need it, still enjoy the benefits of singlelife and can continue your quest for Mr or Ms Right.
Sounds idyllic, doesn't it?
Some potential enthusiasts, however, are not coming through completelyunscathed, as the reality of being a "friend with benefits" may not suit alltrendsetters. Monica Wain, 34, of Kelvin Grove, has worked with Tom for twoyears.
They became very good friends and started car pooling to work each day.
"One Friday night after many drinks, I decided to go for it," she says.
"He responded enthusiastically, so I thought his feelings may be starting tochange too.
"Within an hour, we were back at my place in bed. Afterwards he cuddled meand we fell asleep.
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GreenBayPressGazette.com
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071013/GPG0101/710130528/1207/GPGnews
Mark Foley, Wisconsin style: GOP chair accused ofoffering alcohol, pot, "hospitality" to teen boy...
Wisconsin GOP chair faces charges in enticement of teenage boy
by PageOneQ
Brown County GOP Chairman Donald Fleischman has resigned his post, says aspokesperson, after being accused of enticement and fondling of an underageboy, reports the Green Bay Press-Gazette Saturday. .
Fleischman, 37, is free after posting a $20,000 bond on September 28. "Myclient is innocent of the charges," says attorney Jeff Jazgar, who "declinedto discuss specifics."
"Our plan is to get some witnesses to testify and present enough informationto dismiss the case."
The boy was found by police in Fleischman's home on two occasions in late2006 while being sought as a runaway from Ethan House, a home for at-riskyouth. Now 17, he says he stayed with Fleischman at his house and a cabin,where he was provided with alcohol and cannabis, and regularly fondled.
On November 19, 2006, according to a September 7thCourtwatch Blog, the boy in question was found hiding in a bedroomcloset, and a pipe was found in the house, which tested positive for THC.Shortly after, on December 8, 2006, Fleischman said he was trying toconvince the boy, discovered again in the home, to turn himself in as arunaway.
Fleischman faces two counts of child enticement, two counts of contributingto the delinquency of a child, and one count of exposing himself to a child.He returns to court on October 29.
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AZCentral.com
http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/1014sexparty-ON.html
Canada's Sex party sues over pamphlet censorship
Oct. 14, 2007 02:51 PM
VANCOUVER - The Sex party will face off against Canada Post on Monday aslegal arguments begin in Federal Court over a pamphlet that was refuseddelivery because it contained a photo of a penis sculpture and a paintingthat suggested two people having sex.
The Sex party, registered as a political party in B.C., tried to have itspamphlet mass-delivered during the 2006 federal election campaign but CanadaPost rejected the material, saying it was offensive.
A section under the post office's Unaddressed Admail Customer Service Guideprohibits delivery of "offensive articles that contain sexually explicitmaterial."
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HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGES ARE A DANGER OF GLOBALIZATION - METROPOLITAN VLADIMIR
Chisinau, October 15 ( INFOTAG ). Homosexual marriages are one of thedangers of globalization, the Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova,Vladimir, stated at a theological conference of globalization challengesheld here today.
The Metropolitan said that many countries adopt laws that legalizehomosexual marriages on an equal footing with normal marriages, and thatthis goes contrary to Christian convictions.
He believes this adversity may attack any nation, and Moldova is noexception. In his opinion, a national idea and globalization areincompatible, for the latter one ruins any nationality.
Vladimir believes that yet another hazard of globalization are attempts ofinterference into a person's intimate life.
"A genuine worshipper remains such both at home and at the job. He/shecannot take professional decisions contradicting to his/her religiousconvictions, and the so-called political loyalty marginalizes religion,restricting it to the private life sphere only", said the Metropolitan ofChisinau and All Moldova.
In his opinion, the introduction of the new control system with anidentification code is dangerous, for a man thus becomes a slave to thesystem that disposes of full information about the person and can conduct atotal control over the person.
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