**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/2007/06/23/us/23beliefs.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print
June 23, 2007
Beliefs
A Liberal Explains His Rejection of Same-Sex Marriage
By PETER STEINFELS
Could legalizing same-sex marriage actually strengthen marriage as a socialinstitution? "If I could believe this," writes David Blankenhorn, "I wouldsupport gay marriage without reservation."
Mr. Blankenhorn is a self-described liberal Democrat and "marriage nut," aveteran leader in the movement to strengthen marriage, and especiallyfatherhood, in the United States.
His book, "The Future of Marriage," published last month by Encounter Books,explains why he doesn't believe same-sex marriage will serve that cause. Butgiven the charged nature of the subject, his book may also set a record foroptimism about the human capacity for rational discussion.
Mr. Blankenhorn, who opposes same-sex marriage, believes that the nationaldebate about the issue can be rescued from the polarized clash of gutreactions, religious injunctions, emotional appeals and accusations ofbigotry. He even believes the debate could provide "an invaluableopportunity for Americans to have a serious national discussion aboutmarriage's meaning and future."
The problem with that debate until now, as he sees it, is that "almostalways, the main focus is 'gay,' not 'marriage.' "
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Gay-Pride.html?pagewanted=print
June 23, 2007
NYC Has Reason to Celebrate Gay Pride
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 6:58 a.m. ET
NEW YORK (AP) -- New York's gay pride parade is traditionally a mix ofpolitics and campy pageantry, and the state Assembly's move towardlegalizing same-sex marriage has heightened the atmosphere this year. Butparade organizers are smarting over the city's rejection of a request tohold a street fair in an area with the city's heaviest concentration ofgay-oriented businesses.
The parade, set for Sunday on Fifth Avenue, is one of dozens that take placeannually around the world. It commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising, inwhich patrons of a Greenwich Village gay bar resisted a police raid.
Dennis Spafford, a spokesman for parade organizers Heritage of Pride, saidhe expects a million marchers and spectators at this year's parade, whichcomes five days after the Democratic-controlled Assembly passed the gaymarriage bill, 85-61.
Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer supports the measure, but the Republican-ledstate Senate is not expected to act on it any time soon. Massachusetts isthe only U.S. state that has legalized same-sex marriage so far.
''We are now more sure than ever that New York will do the equal and justthing,'' said Cathy Marino-Thomas, co-executive director of MarriageEquality New York, a group that promotes legalizing gay marriage.
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washingtonpost.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062202015_pf.html
Changing Patterns in Social Fabric Test Netherlands' Liberal Identity
By Molly Moore
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, June 23, 2007; A12
AMSTERDAM -- For years, W.B. Kranendonk was a lone ranger in Dutchpolitics -- the editor of an orthodox Christian newspaper in a nation thathas legalized prostitution, euthanasia, abortion and same-sex marriage andallows the personal use of marijuana.
Today, with an orthodox Christian political party in the government for thefirst time, and with immigration anxieties fueling a national search foridentity, the country that has been the world's most socially liberalpolitical laboratory is rethinking its anything-goes policies.
And suddenly, Kranendonk no longer seems so all alone.
"People in high political circles are saying it can't be good to have asociety so liberal that everything is allowed," said Kranendonk, editor ofReformist Daily and an increasingly influential voice that resonates in theshifting mainstream of Dutch public opinion. "People are saying we shouldhave values; people are asking for more and more rules in society."
In cities across the Netherlands, mayors and town councils are closing downshops where marijuana is sold, rolled and smoked. Municipalities areshuttering the brothels where prostitutes have been allowed to ply theirtrade legally. Parliament is considering a ban on the sale of hallucinogenic"magic mushrooms." Orthodox Christian members of parliament have introduceda bill that would allow civil officials with moral objections to refuse toperform gay marriages. And Dutch authorities are trying to curtail theactivities of an abortion rights group that assists women in neighboringcountries where abortions are illegal.
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washingtonpost.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062200851_pf.html
Wyoming Governor Picks Surgeon for Senate Seat
By Zachary A. Goldfarb
Special to The Washington Post
Saturday, June 23, 2007; A04
Wyoming's governor yesterday appointed John A. Barrasso, a Republicanlegislator from Casper, to fill the Senate seat left vacant by the death ofSen. Craig Thomas (R).
The choice of Barrasso, 54, an orthopedic surgeon who was elected to theWyoming Senate in 2002, will not change the balance of power in the U.S.Senate. He will bring the same conservative approach to the job that Thomaspracticed.
"I believe in limited government, lower taxes, less spending, traditionalfamily values, local control and a strong national defense," he wrote in hisapplication for the Senate seat. "In the State Senate, in addition toreceiving an 'A' rating from the [National Rifle Association], I have votedfor prayer in schools, against gay marriage and have sponsored legislationto protect the sanctity of life."
Barrasso, who received his undergraduate and medical degrees from GeorgetownUniversity, wrote that his goals in the Senate would be to promote ruralhealth care, energy independence and the agriculture industry, among otherthings.
As state senator, Barrasso chaired the Committee on Transportation, Highwaysand Military Affairs. He is well known for introducing annual health fairsall over the state. "He runs a very good committee. He's bipartisan. Hebrings the committee along and provides real leadership," said John C.Schiffer (R), the state Senate president.
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washingtonpost.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062201818_pf.html
Shocked 'Straight': A Wrenching Treatment
By Jessica Dawson
Saturday, June 23, 2007; C02
At Conner, Mary Coble calls up the chilling prospect of sexualreorientation therapy in an occasionally lukewarm installation. A gripping21-minute video of young men and women -- actors, most likely, though theartist won't say for sure -- recounting tales of shock treatments aimed atturning gay people straight wrenches the heart and the psyche. The rest isicing; a video diptych closeup of Coble's hands during administration of thetreatment -- she received it at an opening performance -- is too subtle.Remnants of opening night -- the chair, electrodes and zapping equipment --set the clinical tone.
Mary Coble at Conner Contemporary Art, 1730 Connecticut Ave. NW,
Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 202-588-8750, to June 30; http://www.connercontemporary.com.
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washingtonpost.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062201715_pf.html
Ready for Bloomberg?
By David S. Broder
Sunday, June 24, 2007; B07
Six months ago, when I began hearing rumors of New York Mayor MichaelBloomberg's possible interest in an independent presidential campaign in2008, I went to see the mayor at his City Hall office.
He told me what he has said repeatedly ever since -- that his intention wasto finish his second term in 2009 as "the best mayor this city has ever had"and then devote himself to philanthropy and good works. He then steered theconversation to city issues and explained what he was trying to do onhousing, transportation and social services -- an impressive agenda.
I barely knew him, and I took him at his word about the presidency.
When I talked the next day to Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, the man who hadsteered the billionaire communications-company mogul to victory in citycampaigns, I got a rather different story.
Sheekey drew a picture of a country ready and willing to consider electing apresident without a party label. He cited the success of independentcandidates for governor in Maine and Minnesota, and most of all, he talkedabout what Arnold Schwarzenegger was doing in California -- governing as a"post-partisan" leader of that mega-state and winning praise for doing so.
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washingtonpost.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062201704_pf.html
Speech Police, Riding High In Oakland
By George F. Will
Sunday, June 24, 2007; B07
Marriage is the foundation of the natural family and sustains family values.That sentence is inflammatory, perhaps even a hate crime.
At least it is in Oakland, Calif. That city's government says those words,italicized here, constitute something akin to hate speech and can beproscribed from the government's open e-mail system and employee bulletinboard.
When the McCain-Feingold law empowered government to regulate the quantity,content and timing of political campaign speech about government, it waspredictable that the right of free speech would increasingly be sacrificedto various social objectives that free speech supposedly impedes. And it waspredictable that speech suppression would become an instrument of culturalcombat, used to settle ideological scores and advance political agendas bysilencing adversaries.
That has happened in Oakland. And, predictably, the ineffable U.S. Court ofAppeals for the 9th Circuit has ratified this abridgement of First Amendmentprotections. Fortunately, overturning the 9th Circuit is steady work for theU.S. Supreme Court.
Some African American Christian women working for Oakland's governmentorganized the Good News Employee Association (GNEA), which they announcedwith a flier describing their group as "a forum for people of Faith toexpress their views on the contemporary issues of the day. With respect forthe Natural Family, Marriage and Family Values."
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The Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-flasex0623nbjun23,0,6585040,print.story?coll=sfla-news-nationworld
Men have more sex partners, study says
By DAVID CRARY
The Associated Press
June 23, 2007
NEW YORK It's a question that often prompts a boastful answer or a bashfulone: How many sex partners have you had?
Now the federal government says it has authoritative statistics, documentingthat men are far more likely to play the field than women.
A new nationwide survey, using high-tech methods to solicit candid answerson sexual activity and illegal drug use, finds that 29 percent of Americanmen report having 15 or more female sexual partners in a lifetime, whileonly 9 percent of women report having sex with 15 or more men.
The median number of lifetime female sexual partners for men was seven; themedian number of male partners for women was four.
The survey, released Friday, is based on data collected from 1999 to 2002for the National Center for Health Statistics, a branch of the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention.
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The Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/467/story/148840.html
FORT LAUDERDALE/WILTON MANORS
GAY PRIDE PARADE, FESTIVAL SET FOR SUNDAY
Pride of Greater Fort Lauderdale will host the Eighth Annual StonewallStreet Festival and Parade from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in Fort Lauderdaleand Wilton Manors.
Gay pride weekend will kick off at 7:30 tonight at the War MemorialAuditorium, 800 NE Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale, with a comedy showfeaturing Jessica Kirson, Michele Balan and ANT from VH1's Celebrity FitClub.
The parade will begin at at 11 a.m. Sunday at Fort Lauderdale High, 1600 NEFourth Ave., and proceed along Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, followed by astreet festival with live entertainment and more than 100 local vendors.
For more information visit http://www.stonewallstreetfestival.com.
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Advocate.com
http://www.advocate.com/print_article_ektid46657.asp
June 23, 2007
Wal-Mart rescinds support of LGBT organizations
Heeding the threat of a boycott by Christian groups and the disapproval ofmany employees, mega-retailer Wal-Mart has opted to stop supporting LGBTorganizations, Fortune magazine's online site reported Friday.
"We are not currently planning corporate-level contributions to GLBTgroups," Mona Williams, Wal-Mart's senior vice president of corporatecommunications, told the magazine. She also cited a Wal-Mart policy pennedlast year that prohibits "support[ing] or oppos[ing] highly controversialissues."
The decision comes only a year after Wal-Mart joined the National Gay andLesbian Chamber of Commerce, an organization of 24,000 gay- andlesbian-owned businesses, and cosponsored the Out & Equal workplace rightsgroup.
"I thought the company was moving in the right direction," one Wal-Martemployee wrote in an e-mail to Fortune. "But last week changed everything.Pulling funding from GLBT organizations is a slap in the face to gayemployees, and it sends a very clear message. Diversity within Wal-Mart isonly partially inclusive."
Williams said that Wal-Mart will be no less supportive of its LGBTpersonnel. In fact, many sources indicated to Fortune that Wal-Mart isworking harder to educate employees about LGBT-related issues.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/06/062207jerusalem.htm
Jerusalem Gay Leaders Begin Preps For 2008 Parade
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: June 22, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(Jerusalem) LGBT leaders in Jerusalem have hailed Thursday's pride parade asuccess and say they have begun working on next year's event.
Jerusalem police, however, say any decision about 2008 is premature. Apolice spokesperson said there is no question that a gay event of some sortwill be held, but whether it is a parade requiring massive police protectionwill depend on circumstances at the time.
About 2,000 people took part in Thursday's parade, guarded by anunprecedented 7,000 police officers - many brought in from other citiesaround the country.
"We wanted to march at the heart of Jerusalem, and I'm very glad we did it,"Noa Satat, of Jerusalem Open House which organized the parade, toldYnetnews.
"We marched in the center of Jerusalem, and our pride flags, which representtolerance and equality, were flown through the streets, despite the mayor'sdiscontent and his attempt to sabotage the parade," said Jerusalem CityCouncilman Sa'ar Netanel.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/06/062307nyc.htm
Big Apple Prepares To Celebrate Pride
by The Associated Press
Posted: June 23, 2007 - 8:00 am ET
(New York City) New York's gay pride parade is traditionally a mix ofpolitics and campy pageantry, and the state Assembly's move towardlegalizing same-sex marriage has heightened the atmosphere this year.
But parade organizers are smarting over the city's rejection of a request tohold a street fair in an area with the city's heaviest concentration ofgay-oriented businesses.
The parade, set for Sunday on Fifth Avenue, is one of dozens that take placeannually around the world. It commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising, inwhich patrons of a Greenwich Village gay bar resisted a police raid.
Dennis Spafford, a spokesman for parade organizers Heritage of Pride, saidhe expects a million marchers and spectators at this year's parade, whichcomes five days after the Democratic-controlled Assembly passed the gaymarriage bill, 85-61.
Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer supports the measure, but the Republican-ledstate Senate is not expected to act on it any time soon. Massachusetts isthe only U.S. state that has legalized same-sex marriage so far.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/20/AR2007062002235.html
HHS Counters With Its Own Sex-Ed Critique
By Christopher Lee, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, June 21, 2007;A21
Liberal critics periodically complain that federally funded "abstinenceonly" sex-education materials are full of false or misleading statementsabout the effectiveness of condoms and other issues. Now the Bushadministration is firing back, charging that programs that endorse condomuse also are marred by imbalance and inaccuracies.
The latest round in the sex-ed culture war comes in a 40-page report by theDepartment of Health and Human Services that critiqued "comprehensivesex-education curricula" -- materials that teach about both abstinence andthe use of condoms and other protective methods. The analysis -- requestedtwo years ago by Sen. Tom Coburn (Okla.) and former senator Rick Santorum(Pa.), both conservative Republicans -- concluded that nine widely usedcurricula contained misleading statements about condom failure, focused toolittle on abstinence and were only marginally successful in persuading youngpeople to use condoms or, better yet, to delay having sex.
"This study shows that very little of the message is around abstinence,"said Harry Wilson, an associate commissioner in HHS's Administration onChildren, Youth and Families. "When it comes to what they actually do intheir curricula, this shows that it is kind of given the short end of thestick."
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
GLBT DIGEST June 22, 2007
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
=
Forwarded from Wayne Besen
http://www.waynebesen.com/
Weekly Column: Anything But Straight
Anything But Straight
June 19, 2007
Exodus' Tortured Chambers
Only a day before "ex-gay" leader Alan Chambers admitted that praying awaythe gay doesn't work, the Southern Baptist Convention was working to expandits ex-gay ministry program. The once slavery-loving church, hired Texaspastor Bob Stith as its National Strategist for Gender Issues, with the goalof promoting ex-gay programs within the denomination.
A church spokesperson told the Associated Baptist Press that the grandiosesounding strategist role "has been a culmination of many years of planningand praying." Well, as we are often reminded, God works in mysterious ways.The SBC press release barely cleared the media fax machines when ExodusInternational's President Alan Chambers told the Los Angeles Times, that hestill, at times, (like when he's awake or dreams) has attractions to men and"by no means would we ever say change can be sudden or complete."
This acknowledgment mirrored his infamous quote in my book, Anything ButStraight: "Put me in a bathhouse," said Chambers, "Would I find peopleattractive or would it stir me? It probably would."
If Exodus doesn't actually turn gay people straight, then what's the pointof the organization? How do they justify their million-dollar budget andstaff of twelve when the church money might be better spent on helping thepoor?
At its root, the ex-gay ministries are support groups designed to offerstrategies to keep people out of gay establishments or relationships thatthey desperately want to be in. In the old days, this was simply calledbeing in the closet. But Exodus figured out that misery likes company andthat they could profit by creating a communal closet where self-loathing andsexually frustrated homosexuals could whine to each other about theirunhappiness.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/opinion/22fri1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print
June 22, 2007
Editorial
Don't Veto, Don't Obey
President Bush is notorious for issuing statements taking exception tohundreds of bills as he signs them. This week, we learned that in a shockingnumber of cases, the Bush administration has refused to enact those laws.Congress should use its powers to insist that its laws are obeyed.
The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan arm of Congress,investigated 19 provisions to which Mr. Bush objected. It found that six ofthem, or nearly a third, have not been implemented as the law requires. TheG.A.O. did not investigate some of the most infamous signing statements,like the challenge to a ban on torture. But the ones it looked into aredisturbing enough.
In one case, Congress directed the Pentagon in its 2007 budget request toaccount separately for the cost of military operations in Iraq andAfghanistan. It was a perfectly appropriate request, but Mr. Bush issued asigning statement critical of the rule, and the Pentagon withheld theinformation. In two other cases, federal agencies ignored laws requiringthem to get permission from Congressional committees before takingparticular actions.
The Bush administration's disregard for these laws is part of itsextraordinary theory of the "unitary executive." The administration assertsthat the president has the sole authority to supervise and direct executiveofficers, and that Congress and the courts cannot interfere. This theory,which has no support in American history or the Constitution, is a formulafor autocracy.
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The New York Times
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/opinion/22brooks.html?pagewanted=print
June 22, 2007
Op-Ed Columnist
When Preaching Flops
By DAVID BROOKS
A little while ago, a national study authorized by Congress found thatabstinence education programs don't work. That gave liberals a chance tofeel superior because it turns out that preaching traditional morality tostudents doesn't change behavior.
But in this realm, nobody has the right to feel smug. American schools areawash in moral instruction - on sex, multiculturalism, environmentalawareness and so on - and basically none of it works. Sex ed doesn't changebehavior. Birth control education doesn't produce measurable results. Thefact is, schools are ineffectual when it comes to values education. You canput an adult in front of a classroom or an assembly, and that adult can emitwords, but don't expect much impact.
That's because all this is based on a false model of human nature. It'sbased on the idea that human beings are primarily deciders. If you pour themfull of moral maxims, they will be more likely to decide properly whentemptation arises. If you pour them full of information about theconsequences of risky behavior, they will decide to exercise prudence andforswear unwise decisions.
That's the way we'd like to think we are, but that's not the way we reallyare, and it's certainly not the way teenagers are. There is no centralexecutive zone in the brain where all information is gathered and decisionsare made. There is no little homunculus up there watching reality on ascreen and then deciding how to proceed. In fact, the mind is a series ofparallel processes and loops, bidding for urgency.
We're not primarily deciders. We're primarily perceivers.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Canada-Anglicans.html
June 22, 2007
Canadian Anglicans Voting on Gay Couples
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 3:49 a.m. ET
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) -- Canada's Anglicans are debating whether to allowtheir churches to bless gay couples at a time when divisions over the Bibleand homosexuality are tearing at the world Anglican fellowship.
The Anglican Church of Canada is scheduled to vote in its national meetingSaturday whether to allow priests to bless same-sex unions -- a step shortof performing gay marriage, which is legal in Canada. Before that vote,delegates will choose a new leader on Friday from a field of fourcandidates, including a woman, who could become the first female elected tolead the Canadian church.
The world Anglican Communion is already in an uproar over the U.S. EpiscopalChurch's 2003 consecration of the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinsonof New Hampshire.
The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the United States. Anglicanleaders have given the U.S. denomination until Sept. 30 to unequivocallypledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or authorize officialprayers for same-sex couples. If Episcopalians fail to agree to the demands,they risk losing their full membership in the communion.
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Istanbul Police Department Must Eliminate Arbitrary Practices
Press Release
19.07.2007
Commission for Monitoring Human Rights of LGBTT Persons and Law
Gays, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals are Subjected toIll-Treatment and Torture through Police Raids in Gay andTransvestite-Transsexual Places
We, as the Commission for Monitoring Human Rights of LGBTT Persons and Law,had stated in our press release on 15 June 2007 that we are concerned aboutan increase in violations targeting LGBTT persons as a result of theamendments made in Police Duties and Authorities Law.
We had declared that the right to life, the right to security and freedoms,the right to privacy of home, the right to privacy and the right toassociation would be violated more with the amendments made in Police Dutiesand Authorities Law.
Even before 24 hours after the press release, the police raided gay andtransvestite bars in Istanbul.
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Jerusalem Gay Pride defies fundamentalist threats
Israeli Supreme Court rejects bid to ban gay march
Knesset vote to outlaw Gay Pride "bigoted and dangerous"
London - 21 June 2007
"We applaud the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court to reject anapplication to ban the Jerusalem Gay Pride parade," said Brett Lock,spokesperson for the London-based LGBTI human rights group, OutRage!
He was commenting on the court judgement, ahead of today's Gay Pride march.
"This is a big victory, not only for gay rights but also for the rightto protest of all Israelis - gay and straight, Jew and Arab," added MrLock.
"The judges' refusal to succumb to threats of violence by homophobicJewish fundamentalists is a gain for all Israelis who cherish freedomand liberty.
"The fundamentalists had been given official encouragement by thedeplorable vote in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, which soughtto ban Gay Pride marches.
"This bigoted and dangerous restriction on the right to freedom ofexpression was carried on its first reading in early June by 41 votesto 21. It was backed by a cowardly, bigoted alliance of religious andright-wing parties, led by Shas and the National Religious Party.
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http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/news/detail.php?ID=9420
22.06.2007 11:37:25
Homophobic Duma Deputy Outed On National TV By Moscow Gay Pride Organizer
This is a first "outing" of a hypocrite gay politician in Russia's history
Organizer of the Moscow Gay Pride Nikolai Alekseev said during live TV showon Thursday that notorious homophobic deputy of State Duma Alexander Chuevwas gay. This happened in the Vladimir Solovyev's talk show "K baryeru!" onNTV channel widely watched across all Russia.
Deputy Chuev belongs to the conservative and clerical faction in Duma called"Fair Russia". During the TV show he accused LGBT activists and Moscow GayPride organizers that they performed the task of "Western countries" whowanted to make Russia collapse through "gay propaganda".
Mr. Chuev is also well known through his everlasting parliamentary proposalsto ban "gay propaganda" and to prohibit people who "propagated homosexuality" to be employed in various spheres.
Gay activist Nikolai Alekseev said during the TV show that Mr. Chuev wasalso gay, hypocrite and coward. He said that Chuev's homosexualrelationships were well known for gay community during 90s, before he becamea deputy of Russian Parliament. Alekseev stressed that Chuev just wanted tohide himself behind the moral values.
Mr. Chuev responded that he would apply against Alekseev at the persecutionoffice for libel. But Nikolai Alekseev only welcomed such a claim.
Alekseev's statement during the TV show was the first "outing" in thehistory of Russian politics. A latent gay politician has been finally outed.After TV show Mr. Chuev started to threaten Gay Pride organizer withpersecution.
"We reached the most important thing during this TV show", said NikolaiAlekseev. "We showed all hypocrisy of the representatives of the presentRussian authorities.
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Dutch Embassies Checking Gay Rights in Partner Countries
NIS News Bulletin
http://www.nisnews.nl/public/220607_2.htm
THE HAGUE, 22/06/07 - Dutch embassies in the 36 countries that receivedevelopment aid from The Hague are starting an investigation of the positionof homosexuals. They are doing so at the request of Labour (PvdA)Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders.
The Netherlands maintains a close relationship with the 36 "partnercountries". In half of them, homosexuality is formally a criminal offence.The intention is that the Dutch embassies primarily investigate whetherpunishment of homosexual behaviour is really carried out in their post. Theywill also have to look at the degree of social acceptance of homosexuals andrecent changes.
Koenders has urged the embassies to press the authorities to abolishhomosexuality as a criminal offence. The governments must also be urged toimprove the position of sexual minority groups in society.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6225444.stm
Arrests at Jerusalem gay parade
A Gay Pride march in Jerusalem has taken place amid tight security, sparkingfierce protests among the holy city's religious communities.
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man was arrested for planning to bomb the parade,Israeli police said.
At least 18 other people were arrested during the march, which came afterIsrael's High Court rejected an appeal by religious groups to ban it.
More than 7,000 police were deployed to secure the parade to preventclashes.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said officers found an explosivedevice in the bag of the alleged bomb plotter.
"He admitted he planned on planting it on the route of the parade today," MrRosenfeld said.
At least 15 people were arrested for throwing stones at police on Wednesdaynight after the court appeal was rejected.
Parade protests
About 2,000 people joined the march, holding bright balloons, singing andholding posters of Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama, the Associated Pressnews agency reported.
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"EU must recognise gay marriage"
21 June 2007
Expatica
http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=1&story_id=41136
AMSTERDAM - Homosexual couples that marry in the Netherlands and move toanother EU country should be recognised there as legally married.
Dutch members of the European Parliament Sophie in 't Veld (Democrat D66)and Kathalijne Buitenweg (green-left GroenLinks), who work to promote gayrights throughout Europe, are insisting that the EU do more to protect therights of homosexuals.
If a couple that married in the Netherlands moves to Italy, for instance,they are not officially regarded as a married couple. A partner canconsequently miss out on his or her inheritance if the other dies.
Heterosexual couples are not faced with this problem since other EUcountries do recognise their status as married. "It is unacceptable thatonly some of the marriages performed in the Netherlands are recognisedabroad," Buitenweg says.
The struggle for equal treatment for homosexuals is toughest at the momentin the Eastern European countries that joined the EU over the past fewyears, say the two MPs. Gay Pride demonstrations in Latvia and Poland havebeen met with fierce and sometimes violent counter-demonstrations over thepast years.
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The Science of Gaydar By David France New York Magazine:
http://nymag.com/news/features/33520/
June 25, 2007
Some scientists believe gay men and lesbians share a number ofbiological characteristics, including the length of fingers, densityof fingerprint ridges, direction of hair whorl and other traits.
If sexual orientation is biological, are the traits that make peopleseem gay innate, too? The new research on everything from voice pitch to hair whorl.
As a presence in the world-a body hanging from a subway strap orpressed into an elevator, a figure crossing the street-I am neithermarkedly masculine nor notably effeminate. Nor am I typicallyperceived as androgynous, not in my uniform of Diesels and boots, noteven when I was younger and favored dangling earrings and bright JackPurcells. But most people immediately read me (correctly) as gay. Ittakes only a glance to make my truth obvious. I know this fromstrangers who find gay people offensive enough to elicit a remark-catcalls from cab windows, to use a recent example-as well as fromcountless casual social engagements in which people easily assume myorientation, no sensitive gaydar necessary. I'm not so much out-of-the-closet as "self-evident," to use Quentin Crisp's phrase, althoughbeing of a younger generation, I can't subscribe to his belief thatit is a kind of disfigurement requiring lavender hair rinse.
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From Donald Cavanaugh
I DIDN'T BUY YOUR PRODUCTS TODAY.
When Exxon and Mobil merged, forming the largest corporation in theworld, the Exxon senior management canceled partner benefits for Mobil LGBTemployees, becoming the first, and so far only, US corporation to cancelbenefits. HRC and other organizations mounted campaigns to try to persuadethem to reconsider but they held fast.
I have been conducting a personal boycott since then but a boycott ofone is hardly noticeable to a company like ExxonMobil. So I decided thatevery time I buy gasoline I am going to send an email to the CEO ofExxonMobile - rex.tillerson@exxonmobil.com - and tell him that I didn't buyany of his products. Below are the two messages I have sent so far. Emailhas not come back so I'm assuming it's getting at least to a secretary. Ifound the ExxonMobil address scheme on a website with several of theirexecutives' names and addresses.
Won't you join me? Boycott ExxonMobil products and let them know thatyou are doing so. It takes but a few seconds to write one of these notes.Once a week or so should be fine. If you don't buy gasoline tell them youdidn't buy a bag of pretzels from their food mart.
The subject line is: "I didn't buy your products today"
Dear Sir:
Today I passed two Mobil stations and although I needed gasoline, Ididn't purchase it from you because of your wretched record on human rightsfor your lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Sincerely
Donald Cavanaugh
Lake Worth, FL
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Reminder from: TheDolphinDemocrats Yahoo! Group
Title: The 8th Annual Stonewall Street Festival and Parade
Date: Sunday June 24, 2007
Time: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Next reminder: The next reminder for this event will be sent in 2 days, 4minutes.
Location: Downtown Wilton Manors
City State Zip: Wilton Manors, Florida
Notes: This year's event, "Pride Island" will be held onSunday, June 24th , 2007 in downtown Wilton Manors. The parade kicks off at11 a.m. with the festival following until 6 p.m.
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/902/176/
Smells Like Gay Spirit
By William Butte
There's something new in the air this year, mingling with theangst about Iraq and the schadenfreude about Paris Hilton's jail stint. Ifirst noticed it when now-fired Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washingtonsingle-handedly changed the word "faggot" to "the new f-word" amongmainstream media, after using it to slur gay costar T. R. Knight, thendenying using the word while using it again, only to admit later on that theinitial incident did occur.
So now, in the midst of Gay Pride Month, I'm not surprised bythis breath of fresh air: Just released figures from Gallup's annual Valuesand Beliefs survey, conducted last month, reveal increasing publicacceptance of homosexuality.
Since the 2003 Supreme Court decision that struck down existingsodomy laws as unconstitutional, Gallup's annual surveys had found lowersupport for gay rights than before the ruling.
However, the latest survey, conducted last month, found that 59percent of Americans believe homosexual relations should be legal; that'ssimilar to the 60 percent who believed so a month before the Supremes'decision, and up from 46 percent who believed so a month after the ruling.
The figure also tracks the 57 percent who answered affirmativelywhen asked if they felt "that homosexuality should be considered anacceptable lifestyle," the highest percentage of affirmation Gallup has everrecorded for this question, which showed a majority of men and women, 53percent and 61 percent respectively, answering affirmatively, as well as awhopping 75 percent of those between 18 and 34 years old.
(Note to Gallup: people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual ortransgender live lives, not a "lifestyle.")
Why are public attitudes toward homosexuality changing? Thereasons can be found in a recently published Pew poll, which showed that 4in 10 Americans, as well as about half of all women, young people, collegegraduates, mainline Protestants and political liberals said they have closefriends or relatives who are gay. The figures include 59 percent of liberalDemocrats and 33 percent of conservative Republicans. The poll also revealedthat people who know gay people overwhelmingly support gay civil rights.
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/899/173/
Governor Quietly Appoints Gays
You won't find gay-marriage vetoer Governor ArnoldSchwarzenegger in any Pride parades. At some Prides you won't even see theRepublican governor's Pride letter, due to his ongoing stance againstsigning a marriage equality bill.
But that doesn't mean the Governator hasn't made some decisionsworthy of praise this Pride season. In fact, Schwarzenegger in recent monthshas quietly appointed gays and lesbians to state boards, commissions, andadministration-level posts.
Read More...
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National Gay News
Sun-Sentinel.com
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-flapeople0622nbjun22,0,7785417,print.story?coll=sfla-news-nationworld
People: Isaiah Washington says 'They fired the wrong guy'
sun-sentinel.com staff & wires
June 22, 2007, 10:56 AM EDT
Isaiah Washington, fired this month from "Grey's Anatomy" following thefirestorm he started with a homophobic invective, hit back at the networkThursday.
"They fired the wrong guy," the 43-year-old actor said in an interview withthe Houston Chronicle.
He blames former cast mate T.R. Knight for stoking the scandal that led himto lose his role in the ABC hit. Knight is the one who should have been letgo, he told the newspaper.
"I have to clear my name," said Washington. "I'll start from the beginning.
I'm telling everything. So here's the truth."
Washington, who said he is considering a lawsuit, accused Knight ofexploiting the controversy in order to get a salary increase and to enhancehis role.
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The Sun-Sentinel.com
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-wyoming-senator,0,2070103,print.story
Conservative Wyoming Surgeon Named Senator
By BOB MOEN
Associated Press Writer
June 22, 2007, 2:29 PM EDT
CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Republican John Barrasso, a surgeon and conservativeWyoming legislator, was named as the country's newest U.S. senator Friday toreplace the late Craig Thomas.
The temporary appointment, announced by Wyoming's governor, is immediate butwon't change the Senate's party breakdown since Thomas was also aRepublican. He died June 4 while being treated for leukemia.
Barrasso, 54, will serve in Thomas' place until the beginning of 2009. Hesaid on his application that he also intends to then run in a November 2008special election to serve out the remainder of Thomas' term, which ends in2013.
Barrasso also left no doubt that he will be a conservative voice inWashington.
"I believe in limited government, lower taxes, less spending, traditionalfamily values, local control and a strong national defense," the orthopedicsurgeon and state senator from Casper wrote in his application.
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Sun-Sentinel.com
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-obama-religion,0,2289652,print.story
Obama to Speak on Religion, Policy
By RACHEL ZOLL
AP Religion Writer
June 22, 2007, 2:08 PM EDT
In the constellation of Protestant churches, the United Church of Christ isfar from the biggest, wealthiest or best-known.
But Democrat Barack Obama is making time in his presidential campaignSaturday to address the denomination he joined two decades ago in Chicago,hoping his presence will signal to a broader audience of churchgoingAmericans that he's truly one of them.
"If he's a nominee, he's going to have to reach out to people of faithsomehow and he has to do that in a way that doesn't alienate the secular,liberal crowd," said Laura Olson, a Clemson University professor whospecializes in religion and politics. "If people can say, 'Here's what Obamasaid to the UCC,' and quote from that down the road, that could help him winover people from moderate to progressive faith."
There's no question that he'll get a rousing welcome at the national meetingin Hartford, Conn. -- and not just because he's the best-known face in thedenomination.
The church, with about 1.2 million members, is considered the most liberalof the mainline Protestant groups. In 1972, the UCC was the first to ordainan openly gay man. And two years ago, the church endorsed same-sex marriage,the largest Christian denomination to do so.
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The Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/367/v-print/story/147822.html
Posted on Fri, Jun. 22, 2007
Canadian Anglicans voting on gay couples
By CHARMAINE NORONHA
Canada's Anglicans are debating whether to allow their churches to bless gaycouples at a time when divisions over the Bible and homosexuality aretearing at the world Anglican fellowship.
The Anglican Church of Canada is scheduled to vote in its national meetingSaturday whether to allow priests to bless same-sex unions - a step short ofperforming gay marriage, which is legal in Canada. Before that vote,delegates will choose a new leader on Friday from a field of fourcandidates, including a woman, who could become the first female elected tolead the Canadian church.
The world Anglican Communion is already in an uproar over the U.S. EpiscopalChurch's 2003 consecration of the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinsonof New Hampshire.
The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the United States. Anglicanleaders have given the U.S. denomination until Sept. 30 to unequivocallypledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or authorize officialprayers for same-sex couples. If Episcopalians fail to agree to the demands,they risk losing their full membership in the communion.
Separately, the Anglican Church of Canada came under fire in 2002, afterBishop Michael Ingham of the Diocese of New Westminster in British Columbiaallowed parishes in his region to bless gay couples. In 2004, the Diocese ofNiagara voted to follow suit, but its bishop has barred the ceremonies fornow.
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Gay Peoples Chronicle
http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories07/june/0622073.htm
June 22, 2007
Strickland is first governor to speak at HRC dinner
by Kaizaad Kotwal
Columbus--Twenty-four years ago, the first Columbus Human Rights Campaigndinner was held in the reception room of the Americana apartments with 100guests raising a then-phenomenal $6,000. Since then, the HRC dinner inColumbus has become bigger with every ensuing year.
This year's dinner raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, with over 600people in the Hyatt Regency ballroom--including Gov. Ted Strickland.
Strickland is the first sitting Ohio governor to attend and address thedinner. He was strongly supported in his election last November by the LGBTcommunity. Last month he signed an executive order protecting stateemployees from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or genderidentity. The action reestablished protections that had been in place untilformer governor Bob Taft eliminated them in 1999.
In addition to Strickland, speakers at the June 16 event included ColumbusMayor Michael Coleman and HRC President Joe Solmonese.
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CNN.com
http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/22/magazines/fortune/pluggedin_gunther_walmart.fortune/index.htm?section=money_latest
Plugged-in: Wal-Mart shuns gay groups
World's largest retailer stops donating to gay-rights organizations.
Fortune's Marc Gunther reports.
By Marc Gunther, Fortune senior writer
June 22 2007: 11:52 AM EDT
NEW YORK (FORTUNE) -- Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has decided tocurb its support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT)organizations after conservative Christian groups threatened a boycott, andafter some of its own employees expressed disapproval.
The move comes a year after Wal-Mart (Charts, Fortune 500) had put on agay-friendly smile. The company joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamberof Commerce. It sponsored the annual convention of Out & Equal, a group thatpromotes gay rights in the workplace, and sold gay-themed jewelry in stores.
Jury awards $2M to ex-Wal-Mart worker
"We are not currently planning corporate-level contributions to GLBTgroups," said Mona Williams, the company's senior vice president ofcorporate communications. Individual stores can still donate to gay groups.
By way of explanation, Ms. Williams cited a policy adopted last fall sayingthat Wal-Mart would not make corporate contributions "to support or opposehighly controversial issues" unless they directly relate to the company'sability to serve its customers.
How significant is the pullback? Williams says it does not signal any lesssupport for its GLBT employees or for Wal-Mart Pride, a network of gayemployees at the company. She's an executive sponsor of the group, which wassanctioned in 2005. "We certainly don't feel that it's a retrenchment," shesaid.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/06/062107calmar.htm
Calif. Supreme Court Wants Answers On Gay Marriage
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: June 21, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET
(San Francisco, California) The California Supreme Court has asked bothsides in a lawsuit over same-sex marriage for more information on theirpositions.
The justices on Wednesday asked lawyers for gay and lesbian couples seekingthe right to marry and the state which wants to maintain the status quo toanswer three questions the court felt were unanswered in briefs submittedearlier this year.
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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SAN FRANCISCO
Elizabeth Edwards scheduled to speak at Gay Pride event
Presidential race hopeful's wife seen as breaking barrier
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Friday, June 22, 2007
Elizabeth Edwards' scheduled appearance Sunday at a major San Francisco GayPride event represents a first for a major presidential candidate orspouse -- one that activists said reflects the growing clout of gay andlesbians as voters and their continued move into the political mainstream.
Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards,is scheduled to speak Sunday morning at the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian GayBisexual and Transgender Democratic Club breakfast at the Sir Francis DrakeHotel. Organizers say it marks the highest level of presidential campaigningat the annual Gay Pride Parade.
"It certainly is another barrier falling,'' said author and gay activistDavid Mixner, a Clinton administration adviser who backs Edwards in the 2008race.
"There's been a taboo on any (candidate)-related Gay Pride events,'' hesaid, with major presidential hopefuls steering away because the event hasbeen viewed largely in the mainstream media as a no-holds-barred celebrationof the gay lifestyle.
But Mixner -- whom Newsweek once called "the most powerful gay man inAmerica'' -- said Democratic politicians particularly are realizing that"just like straights at Mardi Gras, there's a wide range of differentevents, from picnics and political clubs to the parade,'' many of themfamily-oriented and many stocked with potential voters.
"The myth of what Pride is will be exploded ... and that taboo will now beremoved,'' he said. "And I can't think of a better person to do it thanElizabeth Edwards. She won't let people tell her where she can go and whoshe can talk to.''
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Newswire.ca
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2007/22/c8133.html?view=print
Canadian Gay Travel Market $9.4 Billion Annually
83% of gay Canadians believe Canada "goes out of its way" for gay travelers
TORONTO, June 22 /CNW/ - The Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce announced today the findings of Canada's first lesbian, gay, bisexual,trans-identified (LGBT) travel study showing a market size of $9.4 billionannually. An estimated market of 1.8 million gay, bisexual, lesbian andtransgender travelers spent on average $1,166 per trip last year. The studydetermined the size of the Canadian gay travel market at $5.4 billion inCanada; $2.4 billion traveling in the US and $1.7 billion elsewhere. The study also found that 83% of gay travelers believe Canada to be aplace that goes out of its way to welcome gay travelers. Canada was rankedhighly along with Netherlands, Australia, Great Britain and France.
The study, conducted by the Bay Charles Consulting Company, surveyedCanadian LGBT travelers through early 2007. When compared to the generaltravel market the following was found:
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ktvu.com
http://www.ktvu.com/print/2289015/detail.html
KTVU.com
2007 Gay Pride Parade and Festival
San Francisco celebrates diversity with the 37th annual Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade & Festival this weekend. Dozens ofpride-related events take place throughout the Bay Area during the week toentertain the thousands of celebrants making the pilgramage to SanFrancisco, but the big weekend party at Civic Center Plaza has been known todraw crowds estimated in the hundreds of thousands.
The Civic Center will welcome a wide variety of entertainment to multiplestages featuring everything from political speakers to live bands to avariety of DJ areas. This year's performance areas include the Trans Stage(focusing on transgender entertainers), the Soul of Pride African AmericanStage, the Asian and Pacific Islander Stage (headlined by American Idolfinalist Jasmine Trias) and the Homo Hip Hop Stage. In addition to the manylive acts performing, there will be no less than eight different soundsystems pumping everything from house and techno to swing and country music.
Sunday's action begins with the Pride Parade up Market Street from DavisStreet to the Civic Center. Traditional parade leaders, the SF Women'sMotorcycle Contingent (aka Dykes on Bikes), kicks things off at 10:30 a.m. Acavalcade of over two hundred organized groups of marchers and floats willfollow, taking the festivities into the afternoon. The Sunday crowd will gettreated to main stage performances by pop vocal group Exposé, R&B and discodiva Linda Clifford, and a healthy contingent of local rock band includingScissors for Lefty, Pansy Division and Sistas in the Pit.
Celebrity Grand Marshals this year include members of the cast of the Logotelevision network hit 'Noah's Arc,' decorated Iraq war veteran and vocalactivist against the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy EricAlva, and local film critic and SF fashion institution Jan Wahl will bejoined by honorees like Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal Pat Norman, whois being recognized for her contributions to public health.
Though the Civic Center festivities are definitely the main event of theweekend, there's also the more politically minded Dyke March at Delores Parkin the Mission Saturday starting at 3 p.m. with live music and speakers (theactual march is at 7 p.m.). And don't forget the Pink Saturday, the annualCastro Street dance party hosted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence withDJs and bands from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, please visit theofficial SF Pride Web Site.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://images1.americanprogress.org/il80web20037/dia/John/CP%20logo.JPG>
For Immediate Release
June 21, 2007
Contact
Theo LeCompte, (202) 682.1611
tlecompte@americanprogress.org
Gay Rights Panel to Highlight 2007 National Student Conference
Washington, D.C. - Young activists have been working to make schools, faithcommunities, workplaces, government and society at large more accepting ofqueer individuals and more open to their full public participation. RobAnderson, a blogger from The Washington Post, will moderate a paneldiscussion of queer activists and journalists at the 2007 Campus ProgressNational Student Conference on Tuesday, June 26, 2007. Panelists willdiscuss how young progressives are transforming institutions to honor thefull spectrum of gender and sexual identities, and how to make the largerprogressive movement more responsive to the concerns of the queer community.
The Conference, themed "Our Time is Now," will bring together 1000 studentsfrom all 50 states and over 275 universities. It will feature major speechesfrom a diverse group of notable speakers, including Keynote Nancy Pelosi,panel discussions and skill seminars, and networking opportunities forattendees.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://newyorklawschool.typepad.com/leonardlink/2007/06/our_mindless_ju.html
Our Mindless Judges - NY App Div, 2nd Department
by New York Law School Professor Arthur S. Leonard, Leonard Link, June 15,
2007 in Legal Issues
Here's the issue. Is it defamatory to falsely imply that somebody is gay?That is to say, if you falsely imply, in print, that a person is gay, shouldthe law assume that this is damaging to their reputation in the community?
The traditional answer of the common law to that question has been yes, onthe ground that homosexuality is associated with criminal acts -- sodomy --and thus has unsavory connotations. In addition, of course, it was longbelieved by many that homosexuality represents moral perversion, withcertain homosexual acts labelled as capital offenses in the Biblical book ofDeuteronomy, or -- a popular theory in some quarters during the 20th century-- that homosexuality was the product of mental illness or defect (a popularview enacted into statutory law by Congress in the 1950s by includinghomosexuality -- or, as they called it "psychopathic personality" or "sexualdeviation" -- among the medical grounds for exclusion of potentialimmigrants from the United States, a ban repealed in 1990). Put togetherall the social stereotypes about homosexuals, the religious condemnations,the criminal injunctions, etc., and common law judges figured that callingsomebody gay would naturally tend to damage their reputation, and thus --following common law rules -- should be considered defamatory "per se" whendone in writing as actionable libel. (Non-written statements weretraditionally governed by a separate body of law - the law of slander -although during the 20th century many common law courts began to blur thedistinctions between the two.)
OK - so how should common law courts react today in light of theaccomplishments of the movement for LGBT rights over the past 40-50 years?In New York State, for example, the sodomy law was declared unconstitutionalas applied to consenting adults in 1980, and has since been repealed.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2007/06/19/3
U.S. circumcision rate plummets
Planet Out, Tuesday, June 19, 2007 / 11:37 AM
SUMMARY: In 2004, the last year with good statistics, only 57 percent of allboys born in U.S. hospitals were circumcised, down from 90 percent in the1970s.
On the eighth day of her son's life, Julia Query welcomed friends and familyto celebrate his birth and honor their Jewish heritage.
But there was no crying, no scalpel, no blood, no mohel, the person whotraditionally performs Jewish ritual circumcisions.
In fact, Elijah Rose's bris differed markedly from the ceremony long used toinitiate Jewish boys into a covenant with God: There was no circumcision.
"I knew before I was even pregnant that I would not circumcise," said Query,39, a San Francisco filmmaker whose son was born in 2002.
It's not like you're just cutting a piece of paper off a pad -- there's no'cut here' line. It's not made to be cut off, and I would never, ever dothat to my baby."
Query is among a growing number of American parents refusing circumcision,in which the foreskin is removed from the penis.
According to data from the National Health and Social Life Survey, the U.S.circumcision rate peaked at nearly 90 percent in the early 1960s but begandropping in the 1970s. By 2004, the most recent year for which governmentfigures are available, about 57 percent of all male newborns delivered inhospitals were circumcised. In some states, the rate is well below 50percent.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
AUSTRALIAN COALITION FOR EQUALITY
Media Release
Thursday June 21st, 2007
POLLS ON AUSSIE GAY PARTNER RIGHTS SHOW NATIONAL LEADERS "OUT OF TOUCH"
"Ordinary Australians have opened their hearts to the needs and aspirationsof same-sex couples in a way our national leaders have yet to do" -Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Rodney Croome.
Gay advocates have welcomed poll results showing Australians stronglysupport legal equality for same-sex couples.
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that theGalaxy poll of 1100 Australians, commissioned by progressive politicalcampaign group, Get Up!, highlights how out of touch both major parties arewith community opinion in the lead up to the national election later thisyear.
"These polls show that ordinary Australians have opened their hearts to theneeds and aspirations of same-sex couples in a way our national leaders haveyet to do", Mr Croome said.
"In the light of these results, only a foolhardy politician would continueto oppose, ignore or delay legal equality for same-sex couples."
The Get Up! poll shows 71% support for full spousal entitlements forunmarried or de facto same-sex couples, and, 57% support for same-sexmarriage, the first time polls have returned majority support for thatissue.
The public's thumbs up to same-sex couple spousal rights comes ahead of areport on the issue by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission(HREOC) expected to be tabled in the Australian Parliament this afternoon.
Mr Croome said the polls will make it more likely politicians take notice ofthe HREOC report's predicted recommendation that same-sex de facto couplesare given equal spousal entitlements.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Exhibit Examines History of Gay Veterans
By LISA LEFF
The Associated Press
Thursday, June 21, 2007; 3:51 AM
SAN FRANCISCO -- The airman's dress blues are faded, the footlocker hecarried through three tours in Vietnam has gone to rust. Yet the epitaph hechose to mark his grave is still as fresh as today's headlines: "When I wasin the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge forloving one."
Leonard Matlovich's medals, uniform and other personal effects make up thecenterpiece of "Out Ranks," a new exhibit that documents the torturedrelationship between gay troops and the U.S. military from World War II tothe present.
Matlovich, who died in 1988, was a decorated Air Force sergeant who came outto his commanding officer a month before the fall of Saigon, hoping tochallenge the government's ban on gay service members. In 1975, the idea ofan openly gay combat veteran was incongruous enough to land him on the coverof Time magazine.
The goal of the show is to illustrate that gays have always served theircountry, often with honor and always under the threat of dishonorabledischarge. It opened at the GLBT Historical Society on June 14, Flag Day, asmomentum builds in Congress for repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don'tPursue" policy adopted under President Bill Clinton.
"People are afraid of change. This is not a change," said Steve Clark Hall,a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and retired nuclear submarine captain whosestory also is told in the exhibit.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-06-19-domestic-couples_N.htm?csp=1
USA TODAY
June 19, 2007
States that have banned gay marriage are beginning to revoke the benefits ofdomestic partners of public employees.
Michigan has gone farthest, prohibiting cities, universities and otherpublic employers from offering benefits to same-sex partners. In all, 27states have passed constitutional amendments defining marriage as thelegally sanctioned union of a man and a woman.
A Michigan court ruled in February that public employers may not offerbenefits to unmarried partners, gay or straight, because of a 2004 amendmentdefining marriage. Government employers there had offered benefits only togay couples.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Senate Subcommittee Cuts Funds for Abstinence Education
Legislation Contains Critical but Minimal Increase for Ryan White
WASHINGTON -Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor,Health and Human Services, and Education approved a fiscal year 2008appropriations bill that reduces funding for the Community Based AbstinenceEducation (CBAE) programs by $28.5 million.
These programs have been found to routinely teach medically inaccurateinformation about contraception and HIV/AIDS and mandate teaching that sexoutside of a heterosexual marriage "is likely to have harmful psychologicaland physical effects." In April 2007, the Department of Health and HumanServices released a federally funded report conducted by Mathematica PolicyResearch Inc. that found that these programs have no impact, as youth whoparticipated in these programs showed no difference in either the age theyfirst had sex or in the number of partners from those who had notparticipated in an abstinence-only until marriage program.
"We applaud Chairman Harkin and the Subcommittee for listening to theoverwhelming evidence that these programs are ineffective and based onnarrow right wing ideology," said Human Rights Campaign President JoeSolmonese. "We urge the Senate to maintain these funding cuts forabstinence education and instead fund HIV prevention based on science andproven effectiveness."
The bill also provides approximately $31 million in additional funding forthe Ryan White CARE Act, including $25 million for the AIDS Drug AssistanceProgram.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/health/la-sci-firstborn22jun22,0,7852115,print.story?coll=sfla-news-health
Firstborns found to have higher intelligence
A study of 240,000 Norwegian men says eldest children have IQs 2 to 3 points
greater than younger siblings'.
By Denise Gellene
Times Staff Writer
June 22, 2007
Wading into an age-old debate, researchers have found that firstbornchildren are smarter than their siblings - and the reason is not genetics,but the way their parents treat them, according to a study published today.
The study of 240,000 Norwegian men in the journal Science found the IQs offirstborns were 2 to 3 points higher than that of younger siblings. (Theaverage IQ is 100.)
Though that may not sound like a lot, experts said even a few IQ pointscould make a big difference over the course of a lifetime - and setfirstborns on a trajectory for success.
UC Berkeley researcher Frank J. Sulloway, who wrote a commentaryaccompanying the study, said 2 to 3 IQ points could translate to an added 20to 30 points on an SAT college entrance exam.
"You go to a certain school, meet a famous professor, and the next thing youknow, you've gone on to medical school, made a great discovery and won theNobel Prize," said Sulloway, who writes about family dynamics andpersonality development.
The research is the latest twist in a phenomenon that scientists have longnoticed but have been at a loss to explain.
Year after year, more Nobel Prizes go to firstborn scientists and authors.Firstborns garner more than their share of National Merit scholarships andfill American colleges in disproportionate numbers.
Theories for the so-called birth-order effect abound: genetics, familyinteractions or socioeconomic factors.
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
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Forwarded from Wayne Besen
http://www.waynebesen.com/
Weekly Column: Anything But Straight
Anything But Straight
June 19, 2007
Exodus' Tortured Chambers
Only a day before "ex-gay" leader Alan Chambers admitted that praying awaythe gay doesn't work, the Southern Baptist Convention was working to expandits ex-gay ministry program. The once slavery-loving church, hired Texaspastor Bob Stith as its National Strategist for Gender Issues, with the goalof promoting ex-gay programs within the denomination.
A church spokesperson told the Associated Baptist Press that the grandiosesounding strategist role "has been a culmination of many years of planningand praying." Well, as we are often reminded, God works in mysterious ways.The SBC press release barely cleared the media fax machines when ExodusInternational's President Alan Chambers told the Los Angeles Times, that hestill, at times, (like when he's awake or dreams) has attractions to men and"by no means would we ever say change can be sudden or complete."
This acknowledgment mirrored his infamous quote in my book, Anything ButStraight: "Put me in a bathhouse," said Chambers, "Would I find peopleattractive or would it stir me? It probably would."
If Exodus doesn't actually turn gay people straight, then what's the pointof the organization? How do they justify their million-dollar budget andstaff of twelve when the church money might be better spent on helping thepoor?
At its root, the ex-gay ministries are support groups designed to offerstrategies to keep people out of gay establishments or relationships thatthey desperately want to be in. In the old days, this was simply calledbeing in the closet. But Exodus figured out that misery likes company andthat they could profit by creating a communal closet where self-loathing andsexually frustrated homosexuals could whine to each other about theirunhappiness.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/opinion/22fri1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print
June 22, 2007
Editorial
Don't Veto, Don't Obey
President Bush is notorious for issuing statements taking exception tohundreds of bills as he signs them. This week, we learned that in a shockingnumber of cases, the Bush administration has refused to enact those laws.Congress should use its powers to insist that its laws are obeyed.
The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan arm of Congress,investigated 19 provisions to which Mr. Bush objected. It found that six ofthem, or nearly a third, have not been implemented as the law requires. TheG.A.O. did not investigate some of the most infamous signing statements,like the challenge to a ban on torture. But the ones it looked into aredisturbing enough.
In one case, Congress directed the Pentagon in its 2007 budget request toaccount separately for the cost of military operations in Iraq andAfghanistan. It was a perfectly appropriate request, but Mr. Bush issued asigning statement critical of the rule, and the Pentagon withheld theinformation. In two other cases, federal agencies ignored laws requiringthem to get permission from Congressional committees before takingparticular actions.
The Bush administration's disregard for these laws is part of itsextraordinary theory of the "unitary executive." The administration assertsthat the president has the sole authority to supervise and direct executiveofficers, and that Congress and the courts cannot interfere. This theory,which has no support in American history or the Constitution, is a formulafor autocracy.
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The New York Times
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/opinion/22brooks.html?pagewanted=print
June 22, 2007
Op-Ed Columnist
When Preaching Flops
By DAVID BROOKS
A little while ago, a national study authorized by Congress found thatabstinence education programs don't work. That gave liberals a chance tofeel superior because it turns out that preaching traditional morality tostudents doesn't change behavior.
But in this realm, nobody has the right to feel smug. American schools areawash in moral instruction - on sex, multiculturalism, environmentalawareness and so on - and basically none of it works. Sex ed doesn't changebehavior. Birth control education doesn't produce measurable results. Thefact is, schools are ineffectual when it comes to values education. You canput an adult in front of a classroom or an assembly, and that adult can emitwords, but don't expect much impact.
That's because all this is based on a false model of human nature. It'sbased on the idea that human beings are primarily deciders. If you pour themfull of moral maxims, they will be more likely to decide properly whentemptation arises. If you pour them full of information about theconsequences of risky behavior, they will decide to exercise prudence andforswear unwise decisions.
That's the way we'd like to think we are, but that's not the way we reallyare, and it's certainly not the way teenagers are. There is no centralexecutive zone in the brain where all information is gathered and decisionsare made. There is no little homunculus up there watching reality on ascreen and then deciding how to proceed. In fact, the mind is a series ofparallel processes and loops, bidding for urgency.
We're not primarily deciders. We're primarily perceivers.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Canada-Anglicans.html
June 22, 2007
Canadian Anglicans Voting on Gay Couples
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 3:49 a.m. ET
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) -- Canada's Anglicans are debating whether to allowtheir churches to bless gay couples at a time when divisions over the Bibleand homosexuality are tearing at the world Anglican fellowship.
The Anglican Church of Canada is scheduled to vote in its national meetingSaturday whether to allow priests to bless same-sex unions -- a step shortof performing gay marriage, which is legal in Canada. Before that vote,delegates will choose a new leader on Friday from a field of fourcandidates, including a woman, who could become the first female elected tolead the Canadian church.
The world Anglican Communion is already in an uproar over the U.S. EpiscopalChurch's 2003 consecration of the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinsonof New Hampshire.
The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the United States. Anglicanleaders have given the U.S. denomination until Sept. 30 to unequivocallypledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or authorize officialprayers for same-sex couples. If Episcopalians fail to agree to the demands,they risk losing their full membership in the communion.
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Istanbul Police Department Must Eliminate Arbitrary Practices
Press Release
19.07.2007
Commission for Monitoring Human Rights of LGBTT Persons and Law
Gays, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals are Subjected toIll-Treatment and Torture through Police Raids in Gay andTransvestite-Transsexual Places
We, as the Commission for Monitoring Human Rights of LGBTT Persons and Law,had stated in our press release on 15 June 2007 that we are concerned aboutan increase in violations targeting LGBTT persons as a result of theamendments made in Police Duties and Authorities Law.
We had declared that the right to life, the right to security and freedoms,the right to privacy of home, the right to privacy and the right toassociation would be violated more with the amendments made in Police Dutiesand Authorities Law.
Even before 24 hours after the press release, the police raided gay andtransvestite bars in Istanbul.
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Jerusalem Gay Pride defies fundamentalist threats
Israeli Supreme Court rejects bid to ban gay march
Knesset vote to outlaw Gay Pride "bigoted and dangerous"
London - 21 June 2007
"We applaud the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court to reject anapplication to ban the Jerusalem Gay Pride parade," said Brett Lock,spokesperson for the London-based LGBTI human rights group, OutRage!
He was commenting on the court judgement, ahead of today's Gay Pride march.
"This is a big victory, not only for gay rights but also for the rightto protest of all Israelis - gay and straight, Jew and Arab," added MrLock.
"The judges' refusal to succumb to threats of violence by homophobicJewish fundamentalists is a gain for all Israelis who cherish freedomand liberty.
"The fundamentalists had been given official encouragement by thedeplorable vote in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, which soughtto ban Gay Pride marches.
"This bigoted and dangerous restriction on the right to freedom ofexpression was carried on its first reading in early June by 41 votesto 21. It was backed by a cowardly, bigoted alliance of religious andright-wing parties, led by Shas and the National Religious Party.
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http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/news/detail.php?ID=9420
22.06.2007 11:37:25
Homophobic Duma Deputy Outed On National TV By Moscow Gay Pride Organizer
This is a first "outing" of a hypocrite gay politician in Russia's history
Organizer of the Moscow Gay Pride Nikolai Alekseev said during live TV showon Thursday that notorious homophobic deputy of State Duma Alexander Chuevwas gay. This happened in the Vladimir Solovyev's talk show "K baryeru!" onNTV channel widely watched across all Russia.
Deputy Chuev belongs to the conservative and clerical faction in Duma called"Fair Russia". During the TV show he accused LGBT activists and Moscow GayPride organizers that they performed the task of "Western countries" whowanted to make Russia collapse through "gay propaganda".
Mr. Chuev is also well known through his everlasting parliamentary proposalsto ban "gay propaganda" and to prohibit people who "propagated homosexuality" to be employed in various spheres.
Gay activist Nikolai Alekseev said during the TV show that Mr. Chuev wasalso gay, hypocrite and coward. He said that Chuev's homosexualrelationships were well known for gay community during 90s, before he becamea deputy of Russian Parliament. Alekseev stressed that Chuev just wanted tohide himself behind the moral values.
Mr. Chuev responded that he would apply against Alekseev at the persecutionoffice for libel. But Nikolai Alekseev only welcomed such a claim.
Alekseev's statement during the TV show was the first "outing" in thehistory of Russian politics. A latent gay politician has been finally outed.After TV show Mr. Chuev started to threaten Gay Pride organizer withpersecution.
"We reached the most important thing during this TV show", said NikolaiAlekseev. "We showed all hypocrisy of the representatives of the presentRussian authorities.
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Dutch Embassies Checking Gay Rights in Partner Countries
NIS News Bulletin
http://www.nisnews.nl/public/220607_2.htm
THE HAGUE, 22/06/07 - Dutch embassies in the 36 countries that receivedevelopment aid from The Hague are starting an investigation of the positionof homosexuals. They are doing so at the request of Labour (PvdA)Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders.
The Netherlands maintains a close relationship with the 36 "partnercountries". In half of them, homosexuality is formally a criminal offence.The intention is that the Dutch embassies primarily investigate whetherpunishment of homosexual behaviour is really carried out in their post. Theywill also have to look at the degree of social acceptance of homosexuals andrecent changes.
Koenders has urged the embassies to press the authorities to abolishhomosexuality as a criminal offence. The governments must also be urged toimprove the position of sexual minority groups in society.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6225444.stm
Arrests at Jerusalem gay parade
A Gay Pride march in Jerusalem has taken place amid tight security, sparkingfierce protests among the holy city's religious communities.
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man was arrested for planning to bomb the parade,Israeli police said.
At least 18 other people were arrested during the march, which came afterIsrael's High Court rejected an appeal by religious groups to ban it.
More than 7,000 police were deployed to secure the parade to preventclashes.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said officers found an explosivedevice in the bag of the alleged bomb plotter.
"He admitted he planned on planting it on the route of the parade today," MrRosenfeld said.
At least 15 people were arrested for throwing stones at police on Wednesdaynight after the court appeal was rejected.
Parade protests
About 2,000 people joined the march, holding bright balloons, singing andholding posters of Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama, the Associated Pressnews agency reported.
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"EU must recognise gay marriage"
21 June 2007
Expatica
http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=1&story_id=41136
AMSTERDAM - Homosexual couples that marry in the Netherlands and move toanother EU country should be recognised there as legally married.
Dutch members of the European Parliament Sophie in 't Veld (Democrat D66)and Kathalijne Buitenweg (green-left GroenLinks), who work to promote gayrights throughout Europe, are insisting that the EU do more to protect therights of homosexuals.
If a couple that married in the Netherlands moves to Italy, for instance,they are not officially regarded as a married couple. A partner canconsequently miss out on his or her inheritance if the other dies.
Heterosexual couples are not faced with this problem since other EUcountries do recognise their status as married. "It is unacceptable thatonly some of the marriages performed in the Netherlands are recognisedabroad," Buitenweg says.
The struggle for equal treatment for homosexuals is toughest at the momentin the Eastern European countries that joined the EU over the past fewyears, say the two MPs. Gay Pride demonstrations in Latvia and Poland havebeen met with fierce and sometimes violent counter-demonstrations over thepast years.
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The Science of Gaydar By David France New York Magazine:
http://nymag.com/news/features/33520/
June 25, 2007
Some scientists believe gay men and lesbians share a number ofbiological characteristics, including the length of fingers, densityof fingerprint ridges, direction of hair whorl and other traits.
If sexual orientation is biological, are the traits that make peopleseem gay innate, too? The new research on everything from voice pitch to hair whorl.
As a presence in the world-a body hanging from a subway strap orpressed into an elevator, a figure crossing the street-I am neithermarkedly masculine nor notably effeminate. Nor am I typicallyperceived as androgynous, not in my uniform of Diesels and boots, noteven when I was younger and favored dangling earrings and bright JackPurcells. But most people immediately read me (correctly) as gay. Ittakes only a glance to make my truth obvious. I know this fromstrangers who find gay people offensive enough to elicit a remark-catcalls from cab windows, to use a recent example-as well as fromcountless casual social engagements in which people easily assume myorientation, no sensitive gaydar necessary. I'm not so much out-of-the-closet as "self-evident," to use Quentin Crisp's phrase, althoughbeing of a younger generation, I can't subscribe to his belief thatit is a kind of disfigurement requiring lavender hair rinse.
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From Donald Cavanaugh
I DIDN'T BUY YOUR PRODUCTS TODAY.
When Exxon and Mobil merged, forming the largest corporation in theworld, the Exxon senior management canceled partner benefits for Mobil LGBTemployees, becoming the first, and so far only, US corporation to cancelbenefits. HRC and other organizations mounted campaigns to try to persuadethem to reconsider but they held fast.
I have been conducting a personal boycott since then but a boycott ofone is hardly noticeable to a company like ExxonMobil. So I decided thatevery time I buy gasoline I am going to send an email to the CEO ofExxonMobile - rex.tillerson@exxonmobil.com - and tell him that I didn't buyany of his products. Below are the two messages I have sent so far. Emailhas not come back so I'm assuming it's getting at least to a secretary. Ifound the ExxonMobil address scheme on a website with several of theirexecutives' names and addresses.
Won't you join me? Boycott ExxonMobil products and let them know thatyou are doing so. It takes but a few seconds to write one of these notes.Once a week or so should be fine. If you don't buy gasoline tell them youdidn't buy a bag of pretzels from their food mart.
The subject line is: "I didn't buy your products today"
Dear Sir:
Today I passed two Mobil stations and although I needed gasoline, Ididn't purchase it from you because of your wretched record on human rightsfor your lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Sincerely
Donald Cavanaugh
Lake Worth, FL
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Reminder from: TheDolphinDemocrats Yahoo! Group
Title: The 8th Annual Stonewall Street Festival and Parade
Date: Sunday June 24, 2007
Time: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Next reminder: The next reminder for this event will be sent in 2 days, 4minutes.
Location: Downtown Wilton Manors
City State Zip: Wilton Manors, Florida
Notes: This year's event, "Pride Island" will be held onSunday, June 24th , 2007 in downtown Wilton Manors. The parade kicks off at11 a.m. with the festival following until 6 p.m.
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/902/176/
Smells Like Gay Spirit
By William Butte
There's something new in the air this year, mingling with theangst about Iraq and the schadenfreude about Paris Hilton's jail stint. Ifirst noticed it when now-fired Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washingtonsingle-handedly changed the word "faggot" to "the new f-word" amongmainstream media, after using it to slur gay costar T. R. Knight, thendenying using the word while using it again, only to admit later on that theinitial incident did occur.
So now, in the midst of Gay Pride Month, I'm not surprised bythis breath of fresh air: Just released figures from Gallup's annual Valuesand Beliefs survey, conducted last month, reveal increasing publicacceptance of homosexuality.
Since the 2003 Supreme Court decision that struck down existingsodomy laws as unconstitutional, Gallup's annual surveys had found lowersupport for gay rights than before the ruling.
However, the latest survey, conducted last month, found that 59percent of Americans believe homosexual relations should be legal; that'ssimilar to the 60 percent who believed so a month before the Supremes'decision, and up from 46 percent who believed so a month after the ruling.
The figure also tracks the 57 percent who answered affirmativelywhen asked if they felt "that homosexuality should be considered anacceptable lifestyle," the highest percentage of affirmation Gallup has everrecorded for this question, which showed a majority of men and women, 53percent and 61 percent respectively, answering affirmatively, as well as awhopping 75 percent of those between 18 and 34 years old.
(Note to Gallup: people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual ortransgender live lives, not a "lifestyle.")
Why are public attitudes toward homosexuality changing? Thereasons can be found in a recently published Pew poll, which showed that 4in 10 Americans, as well as about half of all women, young people, collegegraduates, mainline Protestants and political liberals said they have closefriends or relatives who are gay. The figures include 59 percent of liberalDemocrats and 33 percent of conservative Republicans. The poll also revealedthat people who know gay people overwhelmingly support gay civil rights.
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/899/173/
Governor Quietly Appoints Gays
You won't find gay-marriage vetoer Governor ArnoldSchwarzenegger in any Pride parades. At some Prides you won't even see theRepublican governor's Pride letter, due to his ongoing stance againstsigning a marriage equality bill.
But that doesn't mean the Governator hasn't made some decisionsworthy of praise this Pride season. In fact, Schwarzenegger in recent monthshas quietly appointed gays and lesbians to state boards, commissions, andadministration-level posts.
Read More...
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National Gay News
Sun-Sentinel.com
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-flapeople0622nbjun22,0,7785417,print.story?coll=sfla-news-nationworld
People: Isaiah Washington says 'They fired the wrong guy'
sun-sentinel.com staff & wires
June 22, 2007, 10:56 AM EDT
Isaiah Washington, fired this month from "Grey's Anatomy" following thefirestorm he started with a homophobic invective, hit back at the networkThursday.
"They fired the wrong guy," the 43-year-old actor said in an interview withthe Houston Chronicle.
He blames former cast mate T.R. Knight for stoking the scandal that led himto lose his role in the ABC hit. Knight is the one who should have been letgo, he told the newspaper.
"I have to clear my name," said Washington. "I'll start from the beginning.
I'm telling everything. So here's the truth."
Washington, who said he is considering a lawsuit, accused Knight ofexploiting the controversy in order to get a salary increase and to enhancehis role.
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The Sun-Sentinel.com
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-wyoming-senator,0,2070103,print.story
Conservative Wyoming Surgeon Named Senator
By BOB MOEN
Associated Press Writer
June 22, 2007, 2:29 PM EDT
CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Republican John Barrasso, a surgeon and conservativeWyoming legislator, was named as the country's newest U.S. senator Friday toreplace the late Craig Thomas.
The temporary appointment, announced by Wyoming's governor, is immediate butwon't change the Senate's party breakdown since Thomas was also aRepublican. He died June 4 while being treated for leukemia.
Barrasso, 54, will serve in Thomas' place until the beginning of 2009. Hesaid on his application that he also intends to then run in a November 2008special election to serve out the remainder of Thomas' term, which ends in2013.
Barrasso also left no doubt that he will be a conservative voice inWashington.
"I believe in limited government, lower taxes, less spending, traditionalfamily values, local control and a strong national defense," the orthopedicsurgeon and state senator from Casper wrote in his application.
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Sun-Sentinel.com
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-obama-religion,0,2289652,print.story
Obama to Speak on Religion, Policy
By RACHEL ZOLL
AP Religion Writer
June 22, 2007, 2:08 PM EDT
In the constellation of Protestant churches, the United Church of Christ isfar from the biggest, wealthiest or best-known.
But Democrat Barack Obama is making time in his presidential campaignSaturday to address the denomination he joined two decades ago in Chicago,hoping his presence will signal to a broader audience of churchgoingAmericans that he's truly one of them.
"If he's a nominee, he's going to have to reach out to people of faithsomehow and he has to do that in a way that doesn't alienate the secular,liberal crowd," said Laura Olson, a Clemson University professor whospecializes in religion and politics. "If people can say, 'Here's what Obamasaid to the UCC,' and quote from that down the road, that could help him winover people from moderate to progressive faith."
There's no question that he'll get a rousing welcome at the national meetingin Hartford, Conn. -- and not just because he's the best-known face in thedenomination.
The church, with about 1.2 million members, is considered the most liberalof the mainline Protestant groups. In 1972, the UCC was the first to ordainan openly gay man. And two years ago, the church endorsed same-sex marriage,the largest Christian denomination to do so.
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The Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/367/v-print/story/147822.html
Posted on Fri, Jun. 22, 2007
Canadian Anglicans voting on gay couples
By CHARMAINE NORONHA
Canada's Anglicans are debating whether to allow their churches to bless gaycouples at a time when divisions over the Bible and homosexuality aretearing at the world Anglican fellowship.
The Anglican Church of Canada is scheduled to vote in its national meetingSaturday whether to allow priests to bless same-sex unions - a step short ofperforming gay marriage, which is legal in Canada. Before that vote,delegates will choose a new leader on Friday from a field of fourcandidates, including a woman, who could become the first female elected tolead the Canadian church.
The world Anglican Communion is already in an uproar over the U.S. EpiscopalChurch's 2003 consecration of the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinsonof New Hampshire.
The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the United States. Anglicanleaders have given the U.S. denomination until Sept. 30 to unequivocallypledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or authorize officialprayers for same-sex couples. If Episcopalians fail to agree to the demands,they risk losing their full membership in the communion.
Separately, the Anglican Church of Canada came under fire in 2002, afterBishop Michael Ingham of the Diocese of New Westminster in British Columbiaallowed parishes in his region to bless gay couples. In 2004, the Diocese ofNiagara voted to follow suit, but its bishop has barred the ceremonies fornow.
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Gay Peoples Chronicle
http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories07/june/0622073.htm
June 22, 2007
Strickland is first governor to speak at HRC dinner
by Kaizaad Kotwal
Columbus--Twenty-four years ago, the first Columbus Human Rights Campaigndinner was held in the reception room of the Americana apartments with 100guests raising a then-phenomenal $6,000. Since then, the HRC dinner inColumbus has become bigger with every ensuing year.
This year's dinner raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, with over 600people in the Hyatt Regency ballroom--including Gov. Ted Strickland.
Strickland is the first sitting Ohio governor to attend and address thedinner. He was strongly supported in his election last November by the LGBTcommunity. Last month he signed an executive order protecting stateemployees from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or genderidentity. The action reestablished protections that had been in place untilformer governor Bob Taft eliminated them in 1999.
In addition to Strickland, speakers at the June 16 event included ColumbusMayor Michael Coleman and HRC President Joe Solmonese.
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CNN.com
http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/22/magazines/fortune/pluggedin_gunther_walmart.fortune/index.htm?section=money_latest
Plugged-in: Wal-Mart shuns gay groups
World's largest retailer stops donating to gay-rights organizations.
Fortune's Marc Gunther reports.
By Marc Gunther, Fortune senior writer
June 22 2007: 11:52 AM EDT
NEW YORK (FORTUNE) -- Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has decided tocurb its support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT)organizations after conservative Christian groups threatened a boycott, andafter some of its own employees expressed disapproval.
The move comes a year after Wal-Mart (Charts, Fortune 500) had put on agay-friendly smile. The company joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamberof Commerce. It sponsored the annual convention of Out & Equal, a group thatpromotes gay rights in the workplace, and sold gay-themed jewelry in stores.
Jury awards $2M to ex-Wal-Mart worker
"We are not currently planning corporate-level contributions to GLBTgroups," said Mona Williams, the company's senior vice president ofcorporate communications. Individual stores can still donate to gay groups.
By way of explanation, Ms. Williams cited a policy adopted last fall sayingthat Wal-Mart would not make corporate contributions "to support or opposehighly controversial issues" unless they directly relate to the company'sability to serve its customers.
How significant is the pullback? Williams says it does not signal any lesssupport for its GLBT employees or for Wal-Mart Pride, a network of gayemployees at the company. She's an executive sponsor of the group, which wassanctioned in 2005. "We certainly don't feel that it's a retrenchment," shesaid.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/06/062107calmar.htm
Calif. Supreme Court Wants Answers On Gay Marriage
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: June 21, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET
(San Francisco, California) The California Supreme Court has asked bothsides in a lawsuit over same-sex marriage for more information on theirpositions.
The justices on Wednesday asked lawyers for gay and lesbian couples seekingthe right to marry and the state which wants to maintain the status quo toanswer three questions the court felt were unanswered in briefs submittedearlier this year.
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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SAN FRANCISCO
Elizabeth Edwards scheduled to speak at Gay Pride event
Presidential race hopeful's wife seen as breaking barrier
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Friday, June 22, 2007
Elizabeth Edwards' scheduled appearance Sunday at a major San Francisco GayPride event represents a first for a major presidential candidate orspouse -- one that activists said reflects the growing clout of gay andlesbians as voters and their continued move into the political mainstream.
Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards,is scheduled to speak Sunday morning at the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian GayBisexual and Transgender Democratic Club breakfast at the Sir Francis DrakeHotel. Organizers say it marks the highest level of presidential campaigningat the annual Gay Pride Parade.
"It certainly is another barrier falling,'' said author and gay activistDavid Mixner, a Clinton administration adviser who backs Edwards in the 2008race.
"There's been a taboo on any (candidate)-related Gay Pride events,'' hesaid, with major presidential hopefuls steering away because the event hasbeen viewed largely in the mainstream media as a no-holds-barred celebrationof the gay lifestyle.
But Mixner -- whom Newsweek once called "the most powerful gay man inAmerica'' -- said Democratic politicians particularly are realizing that"just like straights at Mardi Gras, there's a wide range of differentevents, from picnics and political clubs to the parade,'' many of themfamily-oriented and many stocked with potential voters.
"The myth of what Pride is will be exploded ... and that taboo will now beremoved,'' he said. "And I can't think of a better person to do it thanElizabeth Edwards. She won't let people tell her where she can go and whoshe can talk to.''
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Newswire.ca
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2007/22/c8133.html?view=print
Canadian Gay Travel Market $9.4 Billion Annually
83% of gay Canadians believe Canada "goes out of its way" for gay travelers
TORONTO, June 22 /CNW/ - The Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce announced today the findings of Canada's first lesbian, gay, bisexual,trans-identified (LGBT) travel study showing a market size of $9.4 billionannually. An estimated market of 1.8 million gay, bisexual, lesbian andtransgender travelers spent on average $1,166 per trip last year. The studydetermined the size of the Canadian gay travel market at $5.4 billion inCanada; $2.4 billion traveling in the US and $1.7 billion elsewhere. The study also found that 83% of gay travelers believe Canada to be aplace that goes out of its way to welcome gay travelers. Canada was rankedhighly along with Netherlands, Australia, Great Britain and France.
The study, conducted by the Bay Charles Consulting Company, surveyedCanadian LGBT travelers through early 2007. When compared to the generaltravel market the following was found:
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ktvu.com
http://www.ktvu.com/print/2289015/detail.html
KTVU.com
2007 Gay Pride Parade and Festival
San Francisco celebrates diversity with the 37th annual Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade & Festival this weekend. Dozens ofpride-related events take place throughout the Bay Area during the week toentertain the thousands of celebrants making the pilgramage to SanFrancisco, but the big weekend party at Civic Center Plaza has been known todraw crowds estimated in the hundreds of thousands.
The Civic Center will welcome a wide variety of entertainment to multiplestages featuring everything from political speakers to live bands to avariety of DJ areas. This year's performance areas include the Trans Stage(focusing on transgender entertainers), the Soul of Pride African AmericanStage, the Asian and Pacific Islander Stage (headlined by American Idolfinalist Jasmine Trias) and the Homo Hip Hop Stage. In addition to the manylive acts performing, there will be no less than eight different soundsystems pumping everything from house and techno to swing and country music.
Sunday's action begins with the Pride Parade up Market Street from DavisStreet to the Civic Center. Traditional parade leaders, the SF Women'sMotorcycle Contingent (aka Dykes on Bikes), kicks things off at 10:30 a.m. Acavalcade of over two hundred organized groups of marchers and floats willfollow, taking the festivities into the afternoon. The Sunday crowd will gettreated to main stage performances by pop vocal group Exposé, R&B and discodiva Linda Clifford, and a healthy contingent of local rock band includingScissors for Lefty, Pansy Division and Sistas in the Pit.
Celebrity Grand Marshals this year include members of the cast of the Logotelevision network hit 'Noah's Arc,' decorated Iraq war veteran and vocalactivist against the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy EricAlva, and local film critic and SF fashion institution Jan Wahl will bejoined by honorees like Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal Pat Norman, whois being recognized for her contributions to public health.
Though the Civic Center festivities are definitely the main event of theweekend, there's also the more politically minded Dyke March at Delores Parkin the Mission Saturday starting at 3 p.m. with live music and speakers (theactual march is at 7 p.m.). And don't forget the Pink Saturday, the annualCastro Street dance party hosted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence withDJs and bands from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, please visit theofficial SF Pride Web Site.
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http://images1.americanprogress.org/il80web20037/dia/John/CP%20logo.JPG>
For Immediate Release
June 21, 2007
Contact
Theo LeCompte, (202) 682.1611
tlecompte@americanprogress.org
Gay Rights Panel to Highlight 2007 National Student Conference
Washington, D.C. - Young activists have been working to make schools, faithcommunities, workplaces, government and society at large more accepting ofqueer individuals and more open to their full public participation. RobAnderson, a blogger from The Washington Post, will moderate a paneldiscussion of queer activists and journalists at the 2007 Campus ProgressNational Student Conference on Tuesday, June 26, 2007. Panelists willdiscuss how young progressives are transforming institutions to honor thefull spectrum of gender and sexual identities, and how to make the largerprogressive movement more responsive to the concerns of the queer community.
The Conference, themed "Our Time is Now," will bring together 1000 studentsfrom all 50 states and over 275 universities. It will feature major speechesfrom a diverse group of notable speakers, including Keynote Nancy Pelosi,panel discussions and skill seminars, and networking opportunities forattendees.
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http://newyorklawschool.typepad.com/leonardlink/2007/06/our_mindless_ju.html
Our Mindless Judges - NY App Div, 2nd Department
by New York Law School Professor Arthur S. Leonard, Leonard Link, June 15,
2007 in Legal Issues
Here's the issue. Is it defamatory to falsely imply that somebody is gay?That is to say, if you falsely imply, in print, that a person is gay, shouldthe law assume that this is damaging to their reputation in the community?
The traditional answer of the common law to that question has been yes, onthe ground that homosexuality is associated with criminal acts -- sodomy --and thus has unsavory connotations. In addition, of course, it was longbelieved by many that homosexuality represents moral perversion, withcertain homosexual acts labelled as capital offenses in the Biblical book ofDeuteronomy, or -- a popular theory in some quarters during the 20th century-- that homosexuality was the product of mental illness or defect (a popularview enacted into statutory law by Congress in the 1950s by includinghomosexuality -- or, as they called it "psychopathic personality" or "sexualdeviation" -- among the medical grounds for exclusion of potentialimmigrants from the United States, a ban repealed in 1990). Put togetherall the social stereotypes about homosexuals, the religious condemnations,the criminal injunctions, etc., and common law judges figured that callingsomebody gay would naturally tend to damage their reputation, and thus --following common law rules -- should be considered defamatory "per se" whendone in writing as actionable libel. (Non-written statements weretraditionally governed by a separate body of law - the law of slander -although during the 20th century many common law courts began to blur thedistinctions between the two.)
OK - so how should common law courts react today in light of theaccomplishments of the movement for LGBT rights over the past 40-50 years?In New York State, for example, the sodomy law was declared unconstitutionalas applied to consenting adults in 1980, and has since been repealed.
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http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2007/06/19/3
U.S. circumcision rate plummets
Planet Out, Tuesday, June 19, 2007 / 11:37 AM
SUMMARY: In 2004, the last year with good statistics, only 57 percent of allboys born in U.S. hospitals were circumcised, down from 90 percent in the1970s.
On the eighth day of her son's life, Julia Query welcomed friends and familyto celebrate his birth and honor their Jewish heritage.
But there was no crying, no scalpel, no blood, no mohel, the person whotraditionally performs Jewish ritual circumcisions.
In fact, Elijah Rose's bris differed markedly from the ceremony long used toinitiate Jewish boys into a covenant with God: There was no circumcision.
"I knew before I was even pregnant that I would not circumcise," said Query,39, a San Francisco filmmaker whose son was born in 2002.
It's not like you're just cutting a piece of paper off a pad -- there's no'cut here' line. It's not made to be cut off, and I would never, ever dothat to my baby."
Query is among a growing number of American parents refusing circumcision,in which the foreskin is removed from the penis.
According to data from the National Health and Social Life Survey, the U.S.circumcision rate peaked at nearly 90 percent in the early 1960s but begandropping in the 1970s. By 2004, the most recent year for which governmentfigures are available, about 57 percent of all male newborns delivered inhospitals were circumcised. In some states, the rate is well below 50percent.
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AUSTRALIAN COALITION FOR EQUALITY
Media Release
Thursday June 21st, 2007
POLLS ON AUSSIE GAY PARTNER RIGHTS SHOW NATIONAL LEADERS "OUT OF TOUCH"
"Ordinary Australians have opened their hearts to the needs and aspirationsof same-sex couples in a way our national leaders have yet to do" -Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Rodney Croome.
Gay advocates have welcomed poll results showing Australians stronglysupport legal equality for same-sex couples.
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that theGalaxy poll of 1100 Australians, commissioned by progressive politicalcampaign group, Get Up!, highlights how out of touch both major parties arewith community opinion in the lead up to the national election later thisyear.
"These polls show that ordinary Australians have opened their hearts to theneeds and aspirations of same-sex couples in a way our national leaders haveyet to do", Mr Croome said.
"In the light of these results, only a foolhardy politician would continueto oppose, ignore or delay legal equality for same-sex couples."
The Get Up! poll shows 71% support for full spousal entitlements forunmarried or de facto same-sex couples, and, 57% support for same-sexmarriage, the first time polls have returned majority support for thatissue.
The public's thumbs up to same-sex couple spousal rights comes ahead of areport on the issue by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission(HREOC) expected to be tabled in the Australian Parliament this afternoon.
Mr Croome said the polls will make it more likely politicians take notice ofthe HREOC report's predicted recommendation that same-sex de facto couplesare given equal spousal entitlements.
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Exhibit Examines History of Gay Veterans
By LISA LEFF
The Associated Press
Thursday, June 21, 2007; 3:51 AM
SAN FRANCISCO -- The airman's dress blues are faded, the footlocker hecarried through three tours in Vietnam has gone to rust. Yet the epitaph hechose to mark his grave is still as fresh as today's headlines: "When I wasin the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge forloving one."
Leonard Matlovich's medals, uniform and other personal effects make up thecenterpiece of "Out Ranks," a new exhibit that documents the torturedrelationship between gay troops and the U.S. military from World War II tothe present.
Matlovich, who died in 1988, was a decorated Air Force sergeant who came outto his commanding officer a month before the fall of Saigon, hoping tochallenge the government's ban on gay service members. In 1975, the idea ofan openly gay combat veteran was incongruous enough to land him on the coverof Time magazine.
The goal of the show is to illustrate that gays have always served theircountry, often with honor and always under the threat of dishonorabledischarge. It opened at the GLBT Historical Society on June 14, Flag Day, asmomentum builds in Congress for repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don'tPursue" policy adopted under President Bill Clinton.
"People are afraid of change. This is not a change," said Steve Clark Hall,a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and retired nuclear submarine captain whosestory also is told in the exhibit.
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http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-06-19-domestic-couples_N.htm?csp=1
USA TODAY
June 19, 2007
States that have banned gay marriage are beginning to revoke the benefits ofdomestic partners of public employees.
Michigan has gone farthest, prohibiting cities, universities and otherpublic employers from offering benefits to same-sex partners. In all, 27states have passed constitutional amendments defining marriage as thelegally sanctioned union of a man and a woman.
A Michigan court ruled in February that public employers may not offerbenefits to unmarried partners, gay or straight, because of a 2004 amendmentdefining marriage. Government employers there had offered benefits only togay couples.
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Senate Subcommittee Cuts Funds for Abstinence Education
Legislation Contains Critical but Minimal Increase for Ryan White
WASHINGTON -Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor,Health and Human Services, and Education approved a fiscal year 2008appropriations bill that reduces funding for the Community Based AbstinenceEducation (CBAE) programs by $28.5 million.
These programs have been found to routinely teach medically inaccurateinformation about contraception and HIV/AIDS and mandate teaching that sexoutside of a heterosexual marriage "is likely to have harmful psychologicaland physical effects." In April 2007, the Department of Health and HumanServices released a federally funded report conducted by Mathematica PolicyResearch Inc. that found that these programs have no impact, as youth whoparticipated in these programs showed no difference in either the age theyfirst had sex or in the number of partners from those who had notparticipated in an abstinence-only until marriage program.
"We applaud Chairman Harkin and the Subcommittee for listening to theoverwhelming evidence that these programs are ineffective and based onnarrow right wing ideology," said Human Rights Campaign President JoeSolmonese. "We urge the Senate to maintain these funding cuts forabstinence education and instead fund HIV prevention based on science andproven effectiveness."
The bill also provides approximately $31 million in additional funding forthe Ryan White CARE Act, including $25 million for the AIDS Drug AssistanceProgram.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/health/la-sci-firstborn22jun22,0,7852115,print.story?coll=sfla-news-health
Firstborns found to have higher intelligence
A study of 240,000 Norwegian men says eldest children have IQs 2 to 3 points
greater than younger siblings'.
By Denise Gellene
Times Staff Writer
June 22, 2007
Wading into an age-old debate, researchers have found that firstbornchildren are smarter than their siblings - and the reason is not genetics,but the way their parents treat them, according to a study published today.
The study of 240,000 Norwegian men in the journal Science found the IQs offirstborns were 2 to 3 points higher than that of younger siblings. (Theaverage IQ is 100.)
Though that may not sound like a lot, experts said even a few IQ pointscould make a big difference over the course of a lifetime - and setfirstborns on a trajectory for success.
UC Berkeley researcher Frank J. Sulloway, who wrote a commentaryaccompanying the study, said 2 to 3 IQ points could translate to an added 20to 30 points on an SAT college entrance exam.
"You go to a certain school, meet a famous professor, and the next thing youknow, you've gone on to medical school, made a great discovery and won theNobel Prize," said Sulloway, who writes about family dynamics andpersonality development.
The research is the latest twist in a phenomenon that scientists have longnoticed but have been at a loss to explain.
Year after year, more Nobel Prizes go to firstborn scientists and authors.Firstborns garner more than their share of National Merit scholarships andfill American colleges in disproportionate numbers.
Theories for the so-called birth-order effect abound: genetics, familyinteractions or socioeconomic factors.
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
Thursday, June 21, 2007
GLBT DIGEST June 21, 2007
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
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Ft. Lauderdale
A gentle reminder from Stonewall LIbrary & Archives
On Thursday, June 21, from 7:00 -9:00 pm, in conjunction with its importantnew exhibition "Days without Sunshine: Anita Bryant's Anti-Gay Crusade,"currently on view at the Broward Main Library, Stonewall Library & Archiveswill host a panel discussion, "Gay Rights: 30 Years and Counting."
Using Anita Bryant's anti-gay campaign as a starting point, the symposiumwill address where the LGBT rights movement stands today. We'll see justhow far we've come and how much more still needs to be accomplished(particularly locally).
This lively and informative discussion will be led by Dr. Fred Fejes,Professor, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies, Florida AtlanticUniversity and author of "Lesbian and Gay Men and the Politics of MinorityIdentity." The panel will also include noted human rights activist NadineSmith, Executive Director of Equality Florida -- a statewide educational andadvocacy group dedicated to eliminating discrimination based on sexualorientation, race, gender or class -- Heddy Pena, Executive Director of Saveformerly Save Dade) -- founded in 1993 to protect GLBT individuals fromdiscrimination on the basis of their actual or perceived sexualorientation-- and Rand Hoch, founder of the Palm Beach County Human RightsCouncil.
Please join us on Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 7:00 pm at the Broward MainLibrary auditorium, 100 South Andrews for this fascinating program. Theevent is free and open to the public.
This program is sponsored by Stonewall Library & Archives in conjunctionwith Broward County Library and is supported by a generous grant fromComcast in recognition of Comcast's commitment to the communities where itscustomers and employees live and work. Support for the exhibition was alsoprovided by American Express and Pride South Florida.
The mission of Stonewall Library & Archives is to collect, preserve,organize for use and display materials related to gay, lesbian, bisexual andtransgender culture and history; support related research and sponsorcultural and educational programs.
For further information, please contact:
Jack Rutland, Executive Director
Stonewall Library & Archives
954-763-8565
info@stonewall-library.org
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A REMINDER FROM EQUALITY FLORIDA
http://ga4.org/Equalityflorida/events/stonewall/details.tcl
Join the Fairness for All Families Coalition and Equality Florida fora fun-filled day at 8th Annual Stonewall Street Festival
Sunday, June 24th from 11am to 6pm.
In 2008, the state of Florida will be voting on an anti-gay amendment to thestate's constitution that would deny protections and benefits to manyFlorida's families, including seniors, law enforcement, fire fighters,teachers, etc.
Take a stand for FAIRNESS and have fun in the sun with family and friends.
Starting at 10am, grab a Fairness for All Families t-shirt and join us infront of Fort Lauderdale High School. The Festival Parade will kick off fromFort Lauderdale High School at 11am. Bring your children, pets, partners andfriends to walk with us down Wilton Drive to 5 Points.
At 12pm, meet us at the Fairness for All Families and Equality Florida boothand sign up your friends and family to join us in making history.
There is no admission charge to attend the Stonewall Street Festival! Arriveearly! Parking will be available at Fort Lauderdale High School. Festivitiesbegin at 11:00 am and last until 6pm.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
Do your part in preventing discrimination from being added to Florida'sConstitution by volunteering for one of the following shifts:
Be in the Parade! 10:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m. Walk with us in the parade. Line upbegins at 10am, grab a t-shirt, some stickers, and let's go!
Shift #1 - 12pm-3:00pm - Gather signatures at the Fairness for All FamiliesTable
Shift #2 - 2:30pm-6pm -Gather signatures at the Fairness for All FamiliesTable
Click here to RSVP!
For more information contact Tobias Packer at tobias@eqfl.org or.305-924-1899
If you have trouble with the RSVP link, paste this URL into your browser:
http://ga4.org/Equalityflorida/events/stonewall/details.tcl
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/888/173
UVa Extends Gym Benefits to Domestic Partners
The University of Virginia will allow same-sex partners of its students andemployees to join the university's gyms, officials announced Tuesday. Gayand lesbian staff members had pushed the university for years to add thebenefit.
Read More...
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/894/173/
Lesbian Couple Denied
Beachfront Access For Civil Union
A lesbian couple barred from holding their civil union ceremony at abeachfront pavilion in Ocean Grove has filed a state civil rights complaintagainst the church group that owns the property.
The couple, Harriet Bernstein and Luisa Paster, of Ocean Grove, alleged in acomplaint filed Tuesday with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights thatthey were denied use of the boardwalk pavilion because of their pendingstatus as same-sex civil union partners.
Read More...
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/893/173/
Polish Homosexuals Flee Persecution
in Exodus to UK
Polish gay rights groups say thousands of homosexuals have fled the countryto the UK to escape increasing persecution.
Robert Biedron, a left wing party activist and head of the Polish FoundationAgainst Homophobia, said "huge numbers" of Polish gays had now fled thecountry following the rise to power of the current right-wing conservativegovernment.
Read More...
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/892/173/
Gay Chamber Responds To
Grocer Pulling Newspaper
A gay and lesbian chamber of commerce sent a letter to a grocer where a gaypublication was pulled from their shelves.
DistribuTech, the company that manages the free publication racks, hastemporarily pulled the Out and About newspaper from Kroger and Harris Teeterstores. Out and About is a publication that caters to the gay, lesbian,transgender and bisexual communities.
Read More...
Check out the current front page stories at http://nationalgaynews.com!
Updated all day, every day.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Gay-Veterans.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
June 21, 2007
Exhibit Examines History of Gay Veterans
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 3:44 a.m. ET
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The airman's dress blues are faded, the footlocker hecarried through three tours in Vietnam has gone to rust. Yet the epitaph hechose to mark his grave is still as fresh as today's headlines:
''When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and adischarge for loving one.''
Leonard Matlovich's medals, uniform and other personal effects make up thecenterpiece of ''Out Ranks,'' a new exhibit that documents the torturedrelationship between gay troops and the U.S. military from World War II tothe present.
Matlovich, who died in 1988, was a decorated Air Force sergeant who came outto his commanding officer a month before the fall of Saigon, hoping tochallenge the government's ban on gay service members. In 1975, the idea ofan openly gay combat veteran was incongruous enough to land him on the coverof Time magazine.
The goal of the show is to illustrate that gays have always served theircountry, often with honor and always under the threat of dishonorabledischarge. It opened at the GLBT Historical Society on June 14, Flag Day, asmomentum builds in Congress for repealing the ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don'tPursue'' policy adopted under President Bill Clinton.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Bloomberg-Politics.html?pagewanted=print
June 21, 2007
Bloomberg's Politics Are Hard to Peg
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 3:24 a.m. ET
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg lived most of his life as aDemocrat before switching to the GOP when he ran for mayor, yet he neverreally fit in with either party. Now, Bloomberg has apparently shaken offthose labels and found the one that suits him, announcing this week that hehas become an independent because it is more in line with his beliefs andgives him freedom to promote his agenda for the city.
To understand his motivation for leaving the GOP, and what it could mean ifthe billionaire former CEO were to mount a self-financed bid forpresident -- something he denies he wants to do -- one must look at howBloomberg has governed and what he believes.
As mayor, he has both raised taxes and cut them, he has fought with unionsand won their support, he has supported the Iraq war along with gaymarriage, abortion rights, gun control and stem cell research. There areRepublicans and Democrats in the highest levels of his administration, andhe has given money to candidates of all stripes.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/washington/21memo.html?pagewanted=print
June 21, 2007
Supreme Court Memo
Precedents Begin to Fall for Roberts Court
By LINDA GREENHOUSE
WASHINGTON, June 20 - No Supreme Court nominee could be confirmed these dayswithout paying homage to the judicial doctrine of "stare decisis," Latin for"to stand by things decided." Yet experienced listeners have learned to takethese professions of devotion to precedent "cum grano salis," Latin for"with a grain of salt."
Both Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.assured their Senate questioners at their confirmation hearings that they,too, respected precedent. So why were they on the majority side of a 5-to-4decision last week declaring that a 45-year-old doctrine excusing peoplewhose "unique circumstances" prevented them from meeting court filingdeadlines was now "illegitimate"?
It was the second time the Roberts court had overturned a precedent, and thefirst in a decision with a divided vote. It surely will not be the last.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/us/politics/21damage.html?pagewanted=print
June 21, 2007
Giuliani May See a Rival in Successor
By MICHAEL POWELL
Seven weeks after the 2001 terror attacks, Rudolph W. Giuliani gave alast-minute electoral nod to a billionaire media mogul running for mayor.
Michael R. Bloomberg, his beneficiary, prevailed, Mr. Giuliani was akingmaker, and their smiles lasted about 18 minutes. Aides to both men havesniped for years, and Mr. Bloomberg has carefully distanced himself from Mr.Giuliani, suggesting of late that the former mayor left him with a hugebudget deficit.
Now Mr. Bloomberg has stuck a gilded toe in the presidential waters,creating a most unwelcome sensation for every candidate: the uncertaintythat comes with knowing a newcomer might shower a half-billion dollars onhis own campaign.
But, as Mr. Bloomberg is his former supporter and would also campaign as abold steward of America's largest and safest major city, the sting goesperhaps deepest for Mr. Giuliani. And, frozen smiles aside, the former mayor'scamp is not much amused.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/nyregion/21marriage.html?pagewanted=print
June 21, 2007
Gay Marriage, a Touchy Issue, Touches Legislators' Emotions
By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM
ALBANY, June 20 - Teresa R. Sayward did not hesitate when she rose from herseat on Tuesday night to address her colleagues in the State Assembly. Anobservant Catholic from a small, conservative upstate town, she had rarelyshared the story of her son, Glenn, 42, and his struggle to come to termswith his gay identity decades ago.
But she said the occasion - a chance to make New York the second state inthe country to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage - called for ahighly personal approach.
"We would spend long nights crying together and talking," she told a fullhouse of hushed lawmakers. "And one night I said to him, 'You have to bewhat you are; you can't be what people think you should be.' "
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The Village Voice
http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0725,reischel,76971,15.html
The Queer Issue
Queer in the Crib
Gay adults like to say they were born that way.
So where are the gay children? Everywhere? Fabulous, baby.
by Julia Reischel
June 19th, 2007 3:48 PM
On a recent spring Saturday afternoon at the American Museum of NaturalHistory, the carpeted atrium beneath the giant blue whale in the MilsteinHall Ocean of Life teems with children. Preschoolers and kindergartnerslounge on the carpeted floor and race from diorama to diorama while theirbeleaguered parents try to catch their breath. I'm here to meet the familyof a three-and-a-half-year-old boy who's not like other boys. His father,whom I'll call Arnold, has watched for the past six months as his son clungto dolls and tried on dresses. Arnold joined a national Listserv thatconnects parents of children who express this kind of gender-atypicalbehavior. Today, his son, the unusual Joseph, is somewhere in the throngbelow me.
If you think a boy who's acting girly would stick out in a crowd, youhaven't been around five-year-olds lately. At the museum, boys who seemedfeminine were everywhere I looked. Was Joseph the little blond one clingingfearfully to a stair rail? The boy in purple with the Farrah Fawcett hair?It turned out Joseph wasn't any of them. He turned up wearing boyish jeansand a T-shirt, and sneakers with tiny red lights blinking in the soles. Upclose, his curly brown hair is shaggy and long, tufting delicately out overhis ears, but he's hardly shy or clingy. Instead, he's bold and gregarious:He immediately jumps out of his stroller to meet me. Nothing about Josephseems notably feminine, until he holds up a doll dressed in a bright pinkdress. "See my Barbie?" he says, proudly.
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The Observer
http://www.observer.com/2007/goodbye-mr-chaps
Goodbye, Mr. Chaps
Few can agree on the reasons, but one thing is sure: New York's affluentgays and lesbians are staying away from this Sunday's Gay Pride Parade indroves, and they're taking with them the money that has kept a 37-year-oldtradition alive
by John Koblin Published: June 19, 2007
Tags: The City, Gay Pride Parade
This article was published in the June 24, 2007, edition of The New YorkObserver.
On Sunday, June 24, organizers of New York City's Gay Pride Parade expect athrong of one million people to line Fifth Avenue all the way down to theChristopher Street pier to march and watch from the sidelines.
Nick Shapland, a tall, well-tanned and skinny 22-year-old with carefullytousled brown hair, won't be one of them.
"Gay Pride is boring," said the self-described poet and resident ofWilliamsburg.
It was 2:30 in the morning, and he and two friends were standing outside theEast Village gay bar Phoenix, where Bud and Bud Light are on offer for adollar a cup on Wednesdays, debating the point. One of his friends seemedappalled, but only registered it by shaking his head disapprovingly as Mr.Shapland went on.
"Maybe in the 60's, it was fun when you're like, 'Fuck you! Fuck you, I'mgay and you're an asshole,' you know?" Mr. Shapland said. "Then youfast-forward from 19-whenever-whenever the gay revolution was, I don't know,I'm not a scholar-things go on and get kind of boring."
A few days later, on Sunday, June 17, Brian O'Dell, a co-founder of Heritageof Pride, the organization that convenes a week of Gay Pride events eachyear, looked out over the green at Bryant Park.
"We used to get thousands of people at an event like this," he said.
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The Independent Gay News
http://www.ourindy.com/opinion.php?subaction=showfull&id=1182362362&archive=&start_from=&ucat=4&
Crist in the Hot Seat
Gay and AIDS activists are attempting to put Florida's Governor CharlieCrist on the spot. One of his Florida Republican lawmakers, Dr. Alan Hays,met with a group of 15 AIDS and health care advocates who were in hisCapitol Office on June 13 to lobby for changes in Florida's Medicaid programas it affects people living with HIV/AIDS.
According to some of the 15 people in the room, Representative Hays statedthat he "had a cousin who died of AIDS. He was as queer as a three-dollarbill. He had that homosexual lifestyle and deserved what he got." The 61year-old lawmaker, who describes himself as a Baptist, is a retired dentistwho has represented Umatilla in Central Florida since 2004.
In response, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) sought to make politicalcapital out of the situation and held a press and teleconference. Theystated they were concerned about Representative Hays who serves asVice-Chair of the Health Quality Committee, sits on the Audit & PerformanceCommittee, the Healthcare Committee and the Joint Administrative ProceduresCommission.
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The Independent Gay News
http://www.ourindy.com/community_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1182362778&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Chardees Closes Their Doors
After 17 years of operation Chardees officially closed their doors,Thursday, June 14.
The once-popular restaurant/lounge was sold to investors from Key West whoalso may purchase Plaza Dee, where Chardees and 12 retail stores arelocated.
At one time, Chardees was a mainstay of dining and entertainment in FortLauderdale. It had an international reputation as an establishment formature men and one of the first Gay-owned and operated businesses in WiltonManors.
Chardees was founded in 1990 as a supper club under the direction ofbusiness entrepreneurs Tony Dee and Charles Mielke. The duo brought inbig-name entertainers, including the likes of Eartha Kitt, The Glenn MillerOrchestra, original Dream Girl Jennifer Holiday, Star Search winner SamHarris, Jim Bailey, Judy Tenuta, Pudgy and Jimmy James.
In 1991, Dee purchased the entire property for $675,000. During the fiveyears of ownership, Dee and Mielke also opened the Courtyard Café, a popularbreakfast and lunch restaurant, also located within Plaza Dee.Detroit businessman Don Hazlett purchased both Chardees and the CourtyardCafé in 1995. He successfully ran them until two years ago when they weresold to Boca Raton resident Norman Artzt.
The Courtyard Café will remain under the ownership of Artzt.
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The Independent
http://www.ourindy.com/community_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1182362954&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
John C. Graves Fund Honored
The day this newspaper comes out a reception is being held to recognize theJohn C. Graves Charitable Fund set up by the late philanthropist before hedied and managed by the Community Foundation of Broward (CFB). CFB takescare of the daily management and administration of the fund, includingmaking investments, allowing the three trustees, Carl Trough, Rick Solomonand Dean Trantalis, to concentrate their energies on making grant-makingdecisions of which they believe Graves would have approved.
CFB was founded in 1984 and seeks to "provide leadership on communitysolutions and foster philanthropy that connects people who care with causesthat matter," in addition to the nuts and bolts of managing the funds andestablishing a grant-making process.
The John C. Graves Charitable Fund was established in 2004. Graves' goal wasthat it should benefit non-profit charitable organizations in BrowardCounty, primarily those serving the GLBT community.
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The Independent
http://www.ourindy.com/community_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1182362814&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Stonewall Library Half-Way to Goal
The Stonewall Library's new home is going to be at the building thatcurrently houses both ArtServe and a Broward County branch library at 1350East Sunrise Boulevard. It has been an open secret for some time that thiswould be the new location but it was only at its June 12 meeting that theBroward County Commission approved the agreement. The project is stillawaiting approval from the City of Fort Lauderdale but that is expected tobe a formality.
The Stonewall will take over a part of the building currently used for theBroward County library which will be renovated and refurbished at Stonewall'sexpense.
Jack Rutland, Stonewall's Executive Director, speaking with "The Independent" outlined where the library is currently in the process. "Weare now determining our specific requirements for the new space and at theend of June we will send an RFP to a selected group of general contractors.We will be working closely with our colleagues at ArtServe and the CountyLibrary and our goal is to be in our new space by the end of this year."
To finance this process a one million dollar capital campaign has beenstarted under the auspices of the Stonewall Library's Foundation and led byKeith Clark. Ahead of schedule the campaign has already raised over one halfof the total. The million dollars will be used for two purposes. Half willbe used to refurbish the space while the second portion will be used tocreate an operations and programs endowment.
Campaign leaders plan to launch a public appeal for donations in the fall,at a groundbreaking ceremony at the new location.
Dr. Nathan Klarfeld, Stonewall's President, commented, "We are excited andenergized about Stonewall's future. The partnerships we are creating withthe Community Foundation/Graves Trust, ArtServe, the County Library, andthroughout the community have created a strong base from which can move intothis exciting new chapter in Stonewall's long and distinguished history."
The Stonewall Library & Archive which is currently located in the samebuilding as the GLCC is at 1717 North Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Itis regarded as one of the four most important gay libraries and archives inthe country. The library was started as an informal organization in 1973 andwas incorporated in 1984 and opened to the public the following year.
For further information about the organization go towww.Stonewall-Library.org.
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The Independent
http://www.ourindy.com/community_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1182362397&archive=&start_from=&ucat=7&
St. Pete Pride
The St. Petersburg Pride Festival takes place Saturday, June 30, starting at11am. The event will be held on Central Avenue between 21st and 28thStreets. The street will be lined with over 275 vendors as well as a foodcourt and refreshments. There will be live entertainment and proclamationsas well.
Part of the festivities will be the Pride Promenade through the GrandCentral District. Lineup will begin promptly at 9am at 31st Street and 3rdAvenue North and leaves at 10am and heads east to 30th Street, then South toCentral Avenue, then east through the Street Festival on Central Avenue to21st Street.
That evening's after-party will take place at Grand Central Station, 2612Central Ave., starting at 8pm and running until closing.
For more information, visit www.StPetePride.com.
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The Advocate
http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid46321.asp
A better man for Massachusetts
After four years of Mitt Romney and his antigay political maneuvers-and withconservatives now planning a new push to undo marriage equality-gays andlesbians in the Bay State welcome progressive new governor Deval Patrickwith open arms.
By William Henderson
An Advocate.com exclusive posted June 20, 2007
On April 1, day 87 of his first term as governor of Massachusetts, DevalPatrick ordered the marriages of 26 out-of-state gay couples who had weddedjust after same-sex marriage became legal in his state on May 17, 2004-andjust before nonresident licenses were effectively blocked-to be registeredin the state's vital records. It was an action his Republican predecessor,presidential candidate Mitt Romney, had steadfastly refused to allow, citinga dusty 1913 state law that prohibited recognition of marriages that wouldnot be legal in couples' home states.
Patrick's decision was a sweet, if largely ceremonial, victory for gays andlesbians in the Bay State after a period of backlash against same-sexmarriage by Romney and others. And the payoff may soon be sweeter, asPatrick would like to repeal the 1913 law. "If the bill comes to my desk,"he says one spring morning in his office in the State House in Boston'sBeacon Hill neighborhood, referring to a measure currently making the roundsin the state legislature, "I will sign it."
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/06/062007oz.htm
Majority In Australia Support Gay Marriage
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: June 20, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(Sydney, Australia) A public opinion poll released Wednesday shows a majorshift with most Australians now in favor of allowing same-sex couples towed.
Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed said that gay and lesbian couplesshould be allowed to get married. Only 37 percent were opposed.
Support for gay marriage, the poll suggests, has grown by 20 percent since2004 when a similar survey found 38 percent for and 44 percent against gaymarriage.
The Galaxy poll was commissioned by a social action group known as GetUp. Itsurveyed 1100 people across Australia last weekend. A copy of the resultswas obtained by newspaper The Age.
The poll suggests a 20-point jump in support since 2004, when Newspoll found38 per cent in favor and 44 per cent against.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/06/062007pot.htm
Conn. Medical Pot Bill Vetoed
by The Associated Press
Posted: June 20, 2007 - 9:00 am ET
(Hartford, Connecticut) Connecticut's governor, a cancer survivor, vetoed abill that would have allowed people with certain serious illnesses to usemarijuana, saying it was fraught with problems and sent a mixed message tochildren.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Tuesday that she struggled with the decision.
"I am not unfamiliar with the incredible pain and heartbreak associated withbattling cancer," the Republican said. Rell was diagnosed with breast cancerin 2004, a few months after taking office, and she underwent a mastectomy.
The bill she vetoed would have allowed people older than 18 with medicalconditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and AIDS to grow and use fourmarijuana plants after getting written permission from a doctor andregistering with the state.
The issue pits broader patients' rights against concerns of legalized accessto an illicit drug. Twelve states let some patients use marijuana despitefederal laws against it.
"I think this is a big step backward," said Republican state Rep. PennyBacchiochi, a widow who risked arrest more than 20 years ago to obtainmarijuana for her husband while he struggled with bone cancer.
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Orthodox youth wants Moscow govt to bar gays from Plevna Memorial
http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=3219
Moscow, June 20, Interfax - The Moscow government's Committee for Public andReligious Organizations is considering a plan to fence off the Plevna HeroesMemorial, Diana Romanovskaya, spokesperson for the Orthodox youth movementGeorgiyevtsy, told Interfax on Wednesday.
"We are determined to get a fence put up around the memorial's chapel anddraw the attention of the public and political forces to the miserable statethe memorial is in - the fact it is regularly profaned by homosexuals - andto prevent gay pride parades in Moscow," she said.
The Georgiyevtsy announced in early June that they would patrol IlyinkaGarden near the memorial where gays regularly gather, and persuade them notto.
Members of the movement gave a news conference near the memorial onWednesday to declare the three main goals of the action.
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AUSTRALIAN COALITION FOR EQUALITY
Media Statement
Thursday June 21st, 2007
GAY ADVOCATES SEEK TIMETABLE FOR PARTNER REFORM
"Same-sex partners who are committed to each other deserve political leaderswho are committed to them" - Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson,Brian Greig.
Australia's national gay rights lobby has a called on both major parties togive a timetable for removing discrimination against same-sex couples.
The call from the Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) comes in the wakeof the release of a Human Rights Commission (HREOC) report which recommendsremoving discrimination from 58 pieces of federal legislation governingeverything from superannuation, through tax and health care to parenting.
ACE spokesperson Brian Greig, said the need for prompt reform is shown bythe deep financial disadvantage and emotional trauma outlined in theCommission's report, and by the fact Australia is falling further andfurther behind other countries.
Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment in the State of Florida
At the April 2007 meeting of the Broward Log Cabin Club of Florida Andy Eddy resented a motion that we support the newly organized coalition preparing to fight the Florida Constitutional Marriage Amendment which will ultimately ban Domestic Partnerships and/or Same-Sex Unions in the State of Florida.
Log Cabin Republican Club of Broward, where and when the time arises, will donate $1,000 pending a request report to be submitted by Andy Eddy, BLCCF Director for Outreach and Community Relations.
Monies to be taken from the Ed Bieler Emergency Fund.
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Fight Hate video from the Human Rights Campaign
When you've been fighting discrimination for as long as I have, youdevelop a fairly thick skin. But I'll admit, the first time I sawthis video, I got chills. It was produced for Cyndi Lauper's TrueColors tour benefiting HRC, and it's now showing at concerts acrossthe country.
Please watch the video, and share it with everyone you know.
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/fighthate_video
This stirring video has the power to motivate THOUSANDS MORE peopleto take action for the Matthew Shepard Act.
And that's exactly what we need to do. As I write this, angryradical right-wing leaders are using scare tactics to fire up theirbase against the Matthew Shepard Act. They're saying it could "sendpastors to prison for simply reading a part of the Bible." It'sabsurd.
Even worse: despite our House victory, we're hearing from Senatestaffers that opponents of the Matthew Shepard Act are still beatingus five to one in emails, calls, and letters.
Five to one. With the vote approaching and many senators stillundecided, we simply cannot allow this to continue. So I'm asking youto turn that ratio around.
Watch the video - and share it with at least FIVE friends.
The vast majority of Americans support the Matthew Shepard Act. Thereare, quite simply, more of us. But our senators are hearing from moreof them.
If every one of us tells five friends to watch the video and takeaction, we'll make sure they get the message: hate will not win.
Warmly,
Joe Solmonese
HRC President
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner, haspublished a Memorandum on Poland, which is strongly critical of a number ofaspects of the Polish government's approach to LGBT people. The section onLGBT issues is set out below. There is also a series of responses by thePolish government at the end of the report, which are also included below.
The full text can be found at:
https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1155005&BackColorInternet=FEC65B&BackColorIntranet=FEC65B&BackColorLogged=FFC679#P249_33335&
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00178/brocq-385_178301a.jpg
David Sanderson
Children's charities criticised the "lenient" prison term givenyesterday to a teacher who had a homosexual relationship with one of hispupils.
David Le Brocq, 30, was sentenced to one year in prison after beingfound guilty of conducting a six-month sexual affair with his pupil, KarlDonaldson, which began when the boy was 15.
The pair began having full sex in Le Brocq's flat when Mr Donaldson, whois now 19, reached his 16th birthday, with the full approval of MrDonaldson's mother, Donna Stacey.
But the sentence given at Oxford Crown Court to the drama teacher,described by Ofsted inspectors as "inspirational and magical", was describedas unduly lenient.
Michele Elliott, the director of the children's charity Kidscape, said:"It does not matter if it was consensual: the point is that when you are ateacher you are in a position of authority over a pupil and you do not havesexual relationships with them.
"Given that he could be out in six months it seems to me that he has gotoff very lightly."
Other similar cases that resulted in longer sentences include that ofElvira Fairhurst, 49, who in June last year was jailed for more than fouryears after conducting a four-month affair with a 14-year-old pupil.
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
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Ft. Lauderdale
A gentle reminder from Stonewall LIbrary & Archives
On Thursday, June 21, from 7:00 -9:00 pm, in conjunction with its importantnew exhibition "Days without Sunshine: Anita Bryant's Anti-Gay Crusade,"currently on view at the Broward Main Library, Stonewall Library & Archiveswill host a panel discussion, "Gay Rights: 30 Years and Counting."
Using Anita Bryant's anti-gay campaign as a starting point, the symposiumwill address where the LGBT rights movement stands today. We'll see justhow far we've come and how much more still needs to be accomplished(particularly locally).
This lively and informative discussion will be led by Dr. Fred Fejes,Professor, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies, Florida AtlanticUniversity and author of "Lesbian and Gay Men and the Politics of MinorityIdentity." The panel will also include noted human rights activist NadineSmith, Executive Director of Equality Florida -- a statewide educational andadvocacy group dedicated to eliminating discrimination based on sexualorientation, race, gender or class -- Heddy Pena, Executive Director of Saveformerly Save Dade) -- founded in 1993 to protect GLBT individuals fromdiscrimination on the basis of their actual or perceived sexualorientation-- and Rand Hoch, founder of the Palm Beach County Human RightsCouncil.
Please join us on Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 7:00 pm at the Broward MainLibrary auditorium, 100 South Andrews for this fascinating program. Theevent is free and open to the public.
This program is sponsored by Stonewall Library & Archives in conjunctionwith Broward County Library and is supported by a generous grant fromComcast in recognition of Comcast's commitment to the communities where itscustomers and employees live and work. Support for the exhibition was alsoprovided by American Express and Pride South Florida.
The mission of Stonewall Library & Archives is to collect, preserve,organize for use and display materials related to gay, lesbian, bisexual andtransgender culture and history; support related research and sponsorcultural and educational programs.
For further information, please contact:
Jack Rutland, Executive Director
Stonewall Library & Archives
954-763-8565
info@stonewall-library.org
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A REMINDER FROM EQUALITY FLORIDA
http://ga4.org/Equalityflorida/events/stonewall/details.tcl
Join the Fairness for All Families Coalition and Equality Florida fora fun-filled day at 8th Annual Stonewall Street Festival
Sunday, June 24th from 11am to 6pm.
In 2008, the state of Florida will be voting on an anti-gay amendment to thestate's constitution that would deny protections and benefits to manyFlorida's families, including seniors, law enforcement, fire fighters,teachers, etc.
Take a stand for FAIRNESS and have fun in the sun with family and friends.
Starting at 10am, grab a Fairness for All Families t-shirt and join us infront of Fort Lauderdale High School. The Festival Parade will kick off fromFort Lauderdale High School at 11am. Bring your children, pets, partners andfriends to walk with us down Wilton Drive to 5 Points.
At 12pm, meet us at the Fairness for All Families and Equality Florida boothand sign up your friends and family to join us in making history.
There is no admission charge to attend the Stonewall Street Festival! Arriveearly! Parking will be available at Fort Lauderdale High School. Festivitiesbegin at 11:00 am and last until 6pm.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
Do your part in preventing discrimination from being added to Florida'sConstitution by volunteering for one of the following shifts:
Be in the Parade! 10:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m. Walk with us in the parade. Line upbegins at 10am, grab a t-shirt, some stickers, and let's go!
Shift #1 - 12pm-3:00pm - Gather signatures at the Fairness for All FamiliesTable
Shift #2 - 2:30pm-6pm -Gather signatures at the Fairness for All FamiliesTable
Click here to RSVP!
For more information contact Tobias Packer at tobias@eqfl.org or.305-924-1899
If you have trouble with the RSVP link, paste this URL into your browser:
http://ga4.org/Equalityflorida/events/stonewall/details.tcl
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/888/173
UVa Extends Gym Benefits to Domestic Partners
The University of Virginia will allow same-sex partners of its students andemployees to join the university's gyms, officials announced Tuesday. Gayand lesbian staff members had pushed the university for years to add thebenefit.
Read More...
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/894/173/
Lesbian Couple Denied
Beachfront Access For Civil Union
A lesbian couple barred from holding their civil union ceremony at abeachfront pavilion in Ocean Grove has filed a state civil rights complaintagainst the church group that owns the property.
The couple, Harriet Bernstein and Luisa Paster, of Ocean Grove, alleged in acomplaint filed Tuesday with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights thatthey were denied use of the boardwalk pavilion because of their pendingstatus as same-sex civil union partners.
Read More...
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/893/173/
Polish Homosexuals Flee Persecution
in Exodus to UK
Polish gay rights groups say thousands of homosexuals have fled the countryto the UK to escape increasing persecution.
Robert Biedron, a left wing party activist and head of the Polish FoundationAgainst Homophobia, said "huge numbers" of Polish gays had now fled thecountry following the rise to power of the current right-wing conservativegovernment.
Read More...
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/892/173/
Gay Chamber Responds To
Grocer Pulling Newspaper
A gay and lesbian chamber of commerce sent a letter to a grocer where a gaypublication was pulled from their shelves.
DistribuTech, the company that manages the free publication racks, hastemporarily pulled the Out and About newspaper from Kroger and Harris Teeterstores. Out and About is a publication that caters to the gay, lesbian,transgender and bisexual communities.
Read More...
Check out the current front page stories at http://nationalgaynews.com!
Updated all day, every day.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Gay-Veterans.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
June 21, 2007
Exhibit Examines History of Gay Veterans
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 3:44 a.m. ET
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The airman's dress blues are faded, the footlocker hecarried through three tours in Vietnam has gone to rust. Yet the epitaph hechose to mark his grave is still as fresh as today's headlines:
''When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and adischarge for loving one.''
Leonard Matlovich's medals, uniform and other personal effects make up thecenterpiece of ''Out Ranks,'' a new exhibit that documents the torturedrelationship between gay troops and the U.S. military from World War II tothe present.
Matlovich, who died in 1988, was a decorated Air Force sergeant who came outto his commanding officer a month before the fall of Saigon, hoping tochallenge the government's ban on gay service members. In 1975, the idea ofan openly gay combat veteran was incongruous enough to land him on the coverof Time magazine.
The goal of the show is to illustrate that gays have always served theircountry, often with honor and always under the threat of dishonorabledischarge. It opened at the GLBT Historical Society on June 14, Flag Day, asmomentum builds in Congress for repealing the ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don'tPursue'' policy adopted under President Bill Clinton.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Bloomberg-Politics.html?pagewanted=print
June 21, 2007
Bloomberg's Politics Are Hard to Peg
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 3:24 a.m. ET
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg lived most of his life as aDemocrat before switching to the GOP when he ran for mayor, yet he neverreally fit in with either party. Now, Bloomberg has apparently shaken offthose labels and found the one that suits him, announcing this week that hehas become an independent because it is more in line with his beliefs andgives him freedom to promote his agenda for the city.
To understand his motivation for leaving the GOP, and what it could mean ifthe billionaire former CEO were to mount a self-financed bid forpresident -- something he denies he wants to do -- one must look at howBloomberg has governed and what he believes.
As mayor, he has both raised taxes and cut them, he has fought with unionsand won their support, he has supported the Iraq war along with gaymarriage, abortion rights, gun control and stem cell research. There areRepublicans and Democrats in the highest levels of his administration, andhe has given money to candidates of all stripes.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/washington/21memo.html?pagewanted=print
June 21, 2007
Supreme Court Memo
Precedents Begin to Fall for Roberts Court
By LINDA GREENHOUSE
WASHINGTON, June 20 - No Supreme Court nominee could be confirmed these dayswithout paying homage to the judicial doctrine of "stare decisis," Latin for"to stand by things decided." Yet experienced listeners have learned to takethese professions of devotion to precedent "cum grano salis," Latin for"with a grain of salt."
Both Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.assured their Senate questioners at their confirmation hearings that they,too, respected precedent. So why were they on the majority side of a 5-to-4decision last week declaring that a 45-year-old doctrine excusing peoplewhose "unique circumstances" prevented them from meeting court filingdeadlines was now "illegitimate"?
It was the second time the Roberts court had overturned a precedent, and thefirst in a decision with a divided vote. It surely will not be the last.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/us/politics/21damage.html?pagewanted=print
June 21, 2007
Giuliani May See a Rival in Successor
By MICHAEL POWELL
Seven weeks after the 2001 terror attacks, Rudolph W. Giuliani gave alast-minute electoral nod to a billionaire media mogul running for mayor.
Michael R. Bloomberg, his beneficiary, prevailed, Mr. Giuliani was akingmaker, and their smiles lasted about 18 minutes. Aides to both men havesniped for years, and Mr. Bloomberg has carefully distanced himself from Mr.Giuliani, suggesting of late that the former mayor left him with a hugebudget deficit.
Now Mr. Bloomberg has stuck a gilded toe in the presidential waters,creating a most unwelcome sensation for every candidate: the uncertaintythat comes with knowing a newcomer might shower a half-billion dollars onhis own campaign.
But, as Mr. Bloomberg is his former supporter and would also campaign as abold steward of America's largest and safest major city, the sting goesperhaps deepest for Mr. Giuliani. And, frozen smiles aside, the former mayor'scamp is not much amused.
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The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/nyregion/21marriage.html?pagewanted=print
June 21, 2007
Gay Marriage, a Touchy Issue, Touches Legislators' Emotions
By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM
ALBANY, June 20 - Teresa R. Sayward did not hesitate when she rose from herseat on Tuesday night to address her colleagues in the State Assembly. Anobservant Catholic from a small, conservative upstate town, she had rarelyshared the story of her son, Glenn, 42, and his struggle to come to termswith his gay identity decades ago.
But she said the occasion - a chance to make New York the second state inthe country to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage - called for ahighly personal approach.
"We would spend long nights crying together and talking," she told a fullhouse of hushed lawmakers. "And one night I said to him, 'You have to bewhat you are; you can't be what people think you should be.' "
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The Village Voice
http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0725,reischel,76971,15.html
The Queer Issue
Queer in the Crib
Gay adults like to say they were born that way.
So where are the gay children? Everywhere? Fabulous, baby.
by Julia Reischel
June 19th, 2007 3:48 PM
On a recent spring Saturday afternoon at the American Museum of NaturalHistory, the carpeted atrium beneath the giant blue whale in the MilsteinHall Ocean of Life teems with children. Preschoolers and kindergartnerslounge on the carpeted floor and race from diorama to diorama while theirbeleaguered parents try to catch their breath. I'm here to meet the familyof a three-and-a-half-year-old boy who's not like other boys. His father,whom I'll call Arnold, has watched for the past six months as his son clungto dolls and tried on dresses. Arnold joined a national Listserv thatconnects parents of children who express this kind of gender-atypicalbehavior. Today, his son, the unusual Joseph, is somewhere in the throngbelow me.
If you think a boy who's acting girly would stick out in a crowd, youhaven't been around five-year-olds lately. At the museum, boys who seemedfeminine were everywhere I looked. Was Joseph the little blond one clingingfearfully to a stair rail? The boy in purple with the Farrah Fawcett hair?It turned out Joseph wasn't any of them. He turned up wearing boyish jeansand a T-shirt, and sneakers with tiny red lights blinking in the soles. Upclose, his curly brown hair is shaggy and long, tufting delicately out overhis ears, but he's hardly shy or clingy. Instead, he's bold and gregarious:He immediately jumps out of his stroller to meet me. Nothing about Josephseems notably feminine, until he holds up a doll dressed in a bright pinkdress. "See my Barbie?" he says, proudly.
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The Observer
http://www.observer.com/2007/goodbye-mr-chaps
Goodbye, Mr. Chaps
Few can agree on the reasons, but one thing is sure: New York's affluentgays and lesbians are staying away from this Sunday's Gay Pride Parade indroves, and they're taking with them the money that has kept a 37-year-oldtradition alive
by John Koblin Published: June 19, 2007
Tags: The City, Gay Pride Parade
This article was published in the June 24, 2007, edition of The New YorkObserver.
On Sunday, June 24, organizers of New York City's Gay Pride Parade expect athrong of one million people to line Fifth Avenue all the way down to theChristopher Street pier to march and watch from the sidelines.
Nick Shapland, a tall, well-tanned and skinny 22-year-old with carefullytousled brown hair, won't be one of them.
"Gay Pride is boring," said the self-described poet and resident ofWilliamsburg.
It was 2:30 in the morning, and he and two friends were standing outside theEast Village gay bar Phoenix, where Bud and Bud Light are on offer for adollar a cup on Wednesdays, debating the point. One of his friends seemedappalled, but only registered it by shaking his head disapprovingly as Mr.Shapland went on.
"Maybe in the 60's, it was fun when you're like, 'Fuck you! Fuck you, I'mgay and you're an asshole,' you know?" Mr. Shapland said. "Then youfast-forward from 19-whenever-whenever the gay revolution was, I don't know,I'm not a scholar-things go on and get kind of boring."
A few days later, on Sunday, June 17, Brian O'Dell, a co-founder of Heritageof Pride, the organization that convenes a week of Gay Pride events eachyear, looked out over the green at Bryant Park.
"We used to get thousands of people at an event like this," he said.
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The Independent Gay News
http://www.ourindy.com/opinion.php?subaction=showfull&id=1182362362&archive=&start_from=&ucat=4&
Crist in the Hot Seat
Gay and AIDS activists are attempting to put Florida's Governor CharlieCrist on the spot. One of his Florida Republican lawmakers, Dr. Alan Hays,met with a group of 15 AIDS and health care advocates who were in hisCapitol Office on June 13 to lobby for changes in Florida's Medicaid programas it affects people living with HIV/AIDS.
According to some of the 15 people in the room, Representative Hays statedthat he "had a cousin who died of AIDS. He was as queer as a three-dollarbill. He had that homosexual lifestyle and deserved what he got." The 61year-old lawmaker, who describes himself as a Baptist, is a retired dentistwho has represented Umatilla in Central Florida since 2004.
In response, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) sought to make politicalcapital out of the situation and held a press and teleconference. Theystated they were concerned about Representative Hays who serves asVice-Chair of the Health Quality Committee, sits on the Audit & PerformanceCommittee, the Healthcare Committee and the Joint Administrative ProceduresCommission.
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The Independent Gay News
http://www.ourindy.com/community_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1182362778&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Chardees Closes Their Doors
After 17 years of operation Chardees officially closed their doors,Thursday, June 14.
The once-popular restaurant/lounge was sold to investors from Key West whoalso may purchase Plaza Dee, where Chardees and 12 retail stores arelocated.
At one time, Chardees was a mainstay of dining and entertainment in FortLauderdale. It had an international reputation as an establishment formature men and one of the first Gay-owned and operated businesses in WiltonManors.
Chardees was founded in 1990 as a supper club under the direction ofbusiness entrepreneurs Tony Dee and Charles Mielke. The duo brought inbig-name entertainers, including the likes of Eartha Kitt, The Glenn MillerOrchestra, original Dream Girl Jennifer Holiday, Star Search winner SamHarris, Jim Bailey, Judy Tenuta, Pudgy and Jimmy James.
In 1991, Dee purchased the entire property for $675,000. During the fiveyears of ownership, Dee and Mielke also opened the Courtyard Café, a popularbreakfast and lunch restaurant, also located within Plaza Dee.Detroit businessman Don Hazlett purchased both Chardees and the CourtyardCafé in 1995. He successfully ran them until two years ago when they weresold to Boca Raton resident Norman Artzt.
The Courtyard Café will remain under the ownership of Artzt.
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The Independent
http://www.ourindy.com/community_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1182362954&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
John C. Graves Fund Honored
The day this newspaper comes out a reception is being held to recognize theJohn C. Graves Charitable Fund set up by the late philanthropist before hedied and managed by the Community Foundation of Broward (CFB). CFB takescare of the daily management and administration of the fund, includingmaking investments, allowing the three trustees, Carl Trough, Rick Solomonand Dean Trantalis, to concentrate their energies on making grant-makingdecisions of which they believe Graves would have approved.
CFB was founded in 1984 and seeks to "provide leadership on communitysolutions and foster philanthropy that connects people who care with causesthat matter," in addition to the nuts and bolts of managing the funds andestablishing a grant-making process.
The John C. Graves Charitable Fund was established in 2004. Graves' goal wasthat it should benefit non-profit charitable organizations in BrowardCounty, primarily those serving the GLBT community.
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The Independent
http://www.ourindy.com/community_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1182362814&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Stonewall Library Half-Way to Goal
The Stonewall Library's new home is going to be at the building thatcurrently houses both ArtServe and a Broward County branch library at 1350East Sunrise Boulevard. It has been an open secret for some time that thiswould be the new location but it was only at its June 12 meeting that theBroward County Commission approved the agreement. The project is stillawaiting approval from the City of Fort Lauderdale but that is expected tobe a formality.
The Stonewall will take over a part of the building currently used for theBroward County library which will be renovated and refurbished at Stonewall'sexpense.
Jack Rutland, Stonewall's Executive Director, speaking with "The Independent" outlined where the library is currently in the process. "Weare now determining our specific requirements for the new space and at theend of June we will send an RFP to a selected group of general contractors.We will be working closely with our colleagues at ArtServe and the CountyLibrary and our goal is to be in our new space by the end of this year."
To finance this process a one million dollar capital campaign has beenstarted under the auspices of the Stonewall Library's Foundation and led byKeith Clark. Ahead of schedule the campaign has already raised over one halfof the total. The million dollars will be used for two purposes. Half willbe used to refurbish the space while the second portion will be used tocreate an operations and programs endowment.
Campaign leaders plan to launch a public appeal for donations in the fall,at a groundbreaking ceremony at the new location.
Dr. Nathan Klarfeld, Stonewall's President, commented, "We are excited andenergized about Stonewall's future. The partnerships we are creating withthe Community Foundation/Graves Trust, ArtServe, the County Library, andthroughout the community have created a strong base from which can move intothis exciting new chapter in Stonewall's long and distinguished history."
The Stonewall Library & Archive which is currently located in the samebuilding as the GLCC is at 1717 North Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Itis regarded as one of the four most important gay libraries and archives inthe country. The library was started as an informal organization in 1973 andwas incorporated in 1984 and opened to the public the following year.
For further information about the organization go towww.Stonewall-Library.org.
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The Independent
http://www.ourindy.com/community_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1182362397&archive=&start_from=&ucat=7&
St. Pete Pride
The St. Petersburg Pride Festival takes place Saturday, June 30, starting at11am. The event will be held on Central Avenue between 21st and 28thStreets. The street will be lined with over 275 vendors as well as a foodcourt and refreshments. There will be live entertainment and proclamationsas well.
Part of the festivities will be the Pride Promenade through the GrandCentral District. Lineup will begin promptly at 9am at 31st Street and 3rdAvenue North and leaves at 10am and heads east to 30th Street, then South toCentral Avenue, then east through the Street Festival on Central Avenue to21st Street.
That evening's after-party will take place at Grand Central Station, 2612Central Ave., starting at 8pm and running until closing.
For more information, visit www.StPetePride.com.
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The Advocate
http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid46321.asp
A better man for Massachusetts
After four years of Mitt Romney and his antigay political maneuvers-and withconservatives now planning a new push to undo marriage equality-gays andlesbians in the Bay State welcome progressive new governor Deval Patrickwith open arms.
By William Henderson
An Advocate.com exclusive posted June 20, 2007
On April 1, day 87 of his first term as governor of Massachusetts, DevalPatrick ordered the marriages of 26 out-of-state gay couples who had weddedjust after same-sex marriage became legal in his state on May 17, 2004-andjust before nonresident licenses were effectively blocked-to be registeredin the state's vital records. It was an action his Republican predecessor,presidential candidate Mitt Romney, had steadfastly refused to allow, citinga dusty 1913 state law that prohibited recognition of marriages that wouldnot be legal in couples' home states.
Patrick's decision was a sweet, if largely ceremonial, victory for gays andlesbians in the Bay State after a period of backlash against same-sexmarriage by Romney and others. And the payoff may soon be sweeter, asPatrick would like to repeal the 1913 law. "If the bill comes to my desk,"he says one spring morning in his office in the State House in Boston'sBeacon Hill neighborhood, referring to a measure currently making the roundsin the state legislature, "I will sign it."
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/06/062007oz.htm
Majority In Australia Support Gay Marriage
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: June 20, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(Sydney, Australia) A public opinion poll released Wednesday shows a majorshift with most Australians now in favor of allowing same-sex couples towed.
Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed said that gay and lesbian couplesshould be allowed to get married. Only 37 percent were opposed.
Support for gay marriage, the poll suggests, has grown by 20 percent since2004 when a similar survey found 38 percent for and 44 percent against gaymarriage.
The Galaxy poll was commissioned by a social action group known as GetUp. Itsurveyed 1100 people across Australia last weekend. A copy of the resultswas obtained by newspaper The Age.
The poll suggests a 20-point jump in support since 2004, when Newspoll found38 per cent in favor and 44 per cent against.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/06/062007pot.htm
Conn. Medical Pot Bill Vetoed
by The Associated Press
Posted: June 20, 2007 - 9:00 am ET
(Hartford, Connecticut) Connecticut's governor, a cancer survivor, vetoed abill that would have allowed people with certain serious illnesses to usemarijuana, saying it was fraught with problems and sent a mixed message tochildren.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Tuesday that she struggled with the decision.
"I am not unfamiliar with the incredible pain and heartbreak associated withbattling cancer," the Republican said. Rell was diagnosed with breast cancerin 2004, a few months after taking office, and she underwent a mastectomy.
The bill she vetoed would have allowed people older than 18 with medicalconditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and AIDS to grow and use fourmarijuana plants after getting written permission from a doctor andregistering with the state.
The issue pits broader patients' rights against concerns of legalized accessto an illicit drug. Twelve states let some patients use marijuana despitefederal laws against it.
"I think this is a big step backward," said Republican state Rep. PennyBacchiochi, a widow who risked arrest more than 20 years ago to obtainmarijuana for her husband while he struggled with bone cancer.
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Orthodox youth wants Moscow govt to bar gays from Plevna Memorial
http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=3219
Moscow, June 20, Interfax - The Moscow government's Committee for Public andReligious Organizations is considering a plan to fence off the Plevna HeroesMemorial, Diana Romanovskaya, spokesperson for the Orthodox youth movementGeorgiyevtsy, told Interfax on Wednesday.
"We are determined to get a fence put up around the memorial's chapel anddraw the attention of the public and political forces to the miserable statethe memorial is in - the fact it is regularly profaned by homosexuals - andto prevent gay pride parades in Moscow," she said.
The Georgiyevtsy announced in early June that they would patrol IlyinkaGarden near the memorial where gays regularly gather, and persuade them notto.
Members of the movement gave a news conference near the memorial onWednesday to declare the three main goals of the action.
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AUSTRALIAN COALITION FOR EQUALITY
Media Statement
Thursday June 21st, 2007
GAY ADVOCATES SEEK TIMETABLE FOR PARTNER REFORM
"Same-sex partners who are committed to each other deserve political leaderswho are committed to them" - Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson,Brian Greig.
Australia's national gay rights lobby has a called on both major parties togive a timetable for removing discrimination against same-sex couples.
The call from the Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) comes in the wakeof the release of a Human Rights Commission (HREOC) report which recommendsremoving discrimination from 58 pieces of federal legislation governingeverything from superannuation, through tax and health care to parenting.
ACE spokesperson Brian Greig, said the need for prompt reform is shown bythe deep financial disadvantage and emotional trauma outlined in theCommission's report, and by the fact Australia is falling further andfurther behind other countries.
Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment in the State of Florida
At the April 2007 meeting of the Broward Log Cabin Club of Florida Andy Eddy resented a motion that we support the newly organized coalition preparing to fight the Florida Constitutional Marriage Amendment which will ultimately ban Domestic Partnerships and/or Same-Sex Unions in the State of Florida.
Log Cabin Republican Club of Broward, where and when the time arises, will donate $1,000 pending a request report to be submitted by Andy Eddy, BLCCF Director for Outreach and Community Relations.
Monies to be taken from the Ed Bieler Emergency Fund.
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Fight Hate video from the Human Rights Campaign
When you've been fighting discrimination for as long as I have, youdevelop a fairly thick skin. But I'll admit, the first time I sawthis video, I got chills. It was produced for Cyndi Lauper's TrueColors tour benefiting HRC, and it's now showing at concerts acrossthe country.
Please watch the video, and share it with everyone you know.
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/fighthate_video
This stirring video has the power to motivate THOUSANDS MORE peopleto take action for the Matthew Shepard Act.
And that's exactly what we need to do. As I write this, angryradical right-wing leaders are using scare tactics to fire up theirbase against the Matthew Shepard Act. They're saying it could "sendpastors to prison for simply reading a part of the Bible." It'sabsurd.
Even worse: despite our House victory, we're hearing from Senatestaffers that opponents of the Matthew Shepard Act are still beatingus five to one in emails, calls, and letters.
Five to one. With the vote approaching and many senators stillundecided, we simply cannot allow this to continue. So I'm asking youto turn that ratio around.
Watch the video - and share it with at least FIVE friends.
The vast majority of Americans support the Matthew Shepard Act. Thereare, quite simply, more of us. But our senators are hearing from moreof them.
If every one of us tells five friends to watch the video and takeaction, we'll make sure they get the message: hate will not win.
Warmly,
Joe Solmonese
HRC President
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner, haspublished a Memorandum on Poland, which is strongly critical of a number ofaspects of the Polish government's approach to LGBT people. The section onLGBT issues is set out below. There is also a series of responses by thePolish government at the end of the report, which are also included below.
The full text can be found at:
https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1155005&BackColorInternet=FEC65B&BackColorIntranet=FEC65B&BackColorLogged=FFC679#P249_33335&
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00178/brocq-385_178301a.jpg
David Sanderson
Children's charities criticised the "lenient" prison term givenyesterday to a teacher who had a homosexual relationship with one of hispupils.
David Le Brocq, 30, was sentenced to one year in prison after beingfound guilty of conducting a six-month sexual affair with his pupil, KarlDonaldson, which began when the boy was 15.
The pair began having full sex in Le Brocq's flat when Mr Donaldson, whois now 19, reached his 16th birthday, with the full approval of MrDonaldson's mother, Donna Stacey.
But the sentence given at Oxford Crown Court to the drama teacher,described by Ofsted inspectors as "inspirational and magical", was describedas unduly lenient.
Michele Elliott, the director of the children's charity Kidscape, said:"It does not matter if it was consensual: the point is that when you are ateacher you are in a position of authority over a pupil and you do not havesexual relationships with them.
"Given that he could be out in six months it seems to me that he has gotoff very lightly."
Other similar cases that resulted in longer sentences include that ofElvira Fairhurst, 49, who in June last year was jailed for more than fouryears after conducting a four-month affair with a 14-year-old pupil.
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