GLBT DIGEST January 26, 2008

**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.

=

Advocate.com

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid51839.asp

Coalition Building in South Carolina

By Kerry Eleveld
An Advocate.com exclusive posted January 25, 2008

Susie Prueter and other LGBT activists in South Carolina have been buildingup their relationship with the state Democratic Party. One majorbreakthrough came during the CNN/YouTube debate in Charleston last summer.Check out our pre-primary blogging about the intersection of race and LGBTissues in S.C.

One of the brighter spots of the LGBT political work being done in SouthCarolina has been the community's evolving relationship with the stateDemocratic Party.

Susie Prueter, the former president of AFFA (Alliance For Full Acceptance --one of South Carolina's LGBT rights organizations) from 2004 to 2007, saidshe and other gay activists decided around 2005 that they simply had to getinvolved in other causes besides their own -- from the NAACP to PlannedParenthood to the Democratic Party. "There's a great Woody Allen quote that90% of life is simply showing up," says Prueter. "We just started showingup."

But before making real gains, the community suffered one major setback.During their 2006 marriage amendment fight, they managed to get a resolutionincluded on the state party platform stating that the Democratic Partyopposed the marriage amendment (passing this resolution would have helped toensure that Democratic members of the legislature would have to vote againstthe amendment). But just before passing the entire platform, the partyleadership added a last-minute caveat that Democratic legislators didn'tnecessarily have to support the platform (meaning they could vote in favorof the marriage amendment even though the party platform opposed it).

"It happened in the blink of an eye," says Prueter, adding that no debate onthe caveat was allowed. Even after that blow, the community kept showing up."We just tried to stay positive. We wanted to make sure that the GLBTcommunity was active in the political process, to show that we want to growthe Democratic Party, that we aren't just a single-issue constituency, andthat we are a valuable part of the party," says Prueter.

more . . . . .



=

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

Ellis Avery and Mark Doty win 2008 Stonewall Awards

Awards for LGBT literature from the American Library Association

http://www.ala.org/ala/glbtrt/welcomeglbtround.cfm

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Round Table (GLBTRT) of theAmerican Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the winners of the2008 Stonewall Book Awards. Ellis Avery (left), author of The Teahouse Fire,published by Riverhead Books, is the winner of the Barbara Gittings BookAward in Literature, and Mark Doty, author of Dog Years: A Memoir, pubishedby HarperCollins Publishers, is the winner of the Israel Fishman Book Awardfor Nonfiction.

The announcement was made January 14, at the ALA Midwinter Meeting inPhiladelphia This year marks the 37th anniversary of the Stonewall BookAwards. The awards will be presented to the winners at the 2008 ALA AnnualConference in Anaheim, Calif. on June 30.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The photo is of Ellis accepting the 2006 Betty Berzon Awardfor Lesbian Debut Fiction at the 19th Lambda Literary Awards, forThe Teahouse Fire.

Find out more at http://www.ala.org/ala/glbtrt/welcomeglbtround.cfm



=

Gay & Lesbian Leadership
SmartBrier

http://www.smartbrief.com/index.jsp

Go to the website, above, for the following articles:
--
For some, Obama sending mixed message on LGBT support
The willingness of presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.,both to bring up the issue of homophobia to black audiences and acceptsupport from some black religious leaders who endorse the ex-gay movement israising questions about where he really stands among some LGBT people,according to this article. "People are confused," said gay activist WayneBesen. "We see one report of him saying powerful words. Then he is hangingout with some shady characters. People don't know what to make of that." ThePolitico (Washington) (1/23)
--
New Mexico House OKs DP rights for all unmarried couples
The New Mexico House has approved a domestic-partnership measure that wouldgrant marriage-like rights and benefits to same- and opposite-sex couples. Asimilar bill died in the state Senate last year, but Senate Majority LeaderMichael Sanchez, D-Belen, said he was "cautiously optimistic" about itsprospects this time around. Las Cruces Sun-News (N.M.)/Associated Press(1/24)
--
Organizers from Human Rights Campaign and other LGBT rights groups metWednesday in Long Island, N.Y., to strategize on how to unseat some key,unnamed state senators whom they believe are blocking the advance of equalmarriage rights in the Empire State. "The future of marriage equality couldvery well be decided on Long Island this November," said HRC national fielddirector Marty Rouse, who grew up in Hauppauge. Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.)(1/24)
--
Out Maryland state Sen. Rich Madaleno, along with Sen. Jamie Raskin, bothD-Montgomery County, are assuming lead sponsor duties on the state's equalmarriage rights bill. Sen. Gwendolyn Britt, the original sponsor of theReligious Freedom & Civil Marriage Protection Act, died on Jan. 12 at age66. The bill was tentatively scheduled to be introduced today in the GeneralAssembly, according to this article. Washington Blade (1/23)
--
Puerto Rico governor won't stop marriage ballot measure if it clears House
USA TODAY/Associated Press (1/23)
--
Lawsuit exposes alleged rivalry between black, gay DNC staffers
Washington Blade (1/24)
--
Iowa judge who ruled in favor of equal marriage rights targeted forimpeachment
365Gay.com (1/24)
--
Learn to run a winning campaign!
The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute is bringing its renowned Candidate &Campaign Training to Charlotte, NC. Join us Feb. 21 to 24 to learn how tobuild a winning campaign. Whether you're running as openly LGBT or workingon a campaign, our training will provide you with the tools you need forsuccess. Click here to learn more and apply by Jan. 28.
--
Gore posts video backing marriage, LGBT rights
Former Vice President Al Gore's video clip declaring his his strong supportfor equal marriage rights for LGBT people has been making its way around theblogosphere. View clip here. Read more in The Politico, Towleroad.com andThe New York Times.
--
Everyday gay athletes set the tone
Every year in Aspen, Colo., a team of gay hockey players vies with a team ofstraights for bragging rights in the local Friendship Cup. The striving ofsuch everyday, amateur athletes will set the tone for big-name stars to comeout, according to ESPN columnist LZ Granderson. ESPN.com (1/22)



=

New York City: Forum to Feature African LGBT Activists

PFLAG New York City is co-sponsoring an upcoming public forum featuring gayactivists Emmanuel Kamau of Kenya and Davis Mac-Iyalla of Nigeria on thepresent day-experiences of gay Christians in Kenya and Nigeria. The forum isorganized by Maranatha and Other Sheep and will take place on Sunday, Feb.17, 1-3 PM, at The Riverside Church (490 Riverside Drive, Manhattan). JoseOrtiz, Other Sheep co-Coordinator for Africa, will join in a paneldiscussion.

Of particular interest to the PFLAG community, Ortiz and Other SheepExecutive Director Steve Parelli recently visited Nairobi where they workedwith a group of straight and LGBT Kenyans to found PFLAG Nairobi.



=

From Gays Without Borders

http://www.iranhr.net/spip.php?article167

Iram Human Rights, January 25: The state-run news agency ISCANEWS reportedthat several members of two separate groups accused of recording anddistribution pornographic movies, were arrested. According to the report,the security forces in Gachsaaraan (west of Iran) arrested two young men,identified as "Mehrdad A." and "Behnam B." carrying CDs where two of themwere along with 2 other men and women, were involved in sexual acts.

According to the same report two unnamed individuals were arrested in theWest-Azarbaijan accused of distribution of "black" movies (This is a termused for movies containing sexual scenes). who have confessed of raping agirl and taking film and pictures with the cell phones.

Iran Human Rights has received from the "Human Rights Activists in Iran"where ther express concern regarding the safety of two arrested homosexuals.According to the letter "two young homosexuals, a 19 year old male namedHamze Chavi and an 18 year old male named Loghman Hamzepour were arrested bythe National Security Police in the small city of Sardasht which is in theprovince of Azarbaijan. The arrest took place after a tape of theirhomosexual activities was leaked to the police. The two individuals arecurrently in custody. Under the Islamic Law the punishment for homosexualsis death and the lives of these two individuals may very well be in danger.It must be mentioned that at least 10 other people have been arrested inrelation with this tape"



=

Bay Area Reporter

http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2637

Bay Area LGBT Community Splits Support Among
Top 3 Dem Candidates

From the Bay Area Reporter:

"Within the LGBT community in northern California there does not appear tobe a Democratic frontrunner in the party's pack of presidential contenders.As in the Democratic Party at large, support seems to be distributed amongClinton, Obama, and former vice presidential candidate John Edwards.

None of the three have been able to clinch any endorsements from local LGBTDemocratic clubs. No candidate received the required 60 percent needed tosecure the support of either the Alice B. Toklas or Harvey Milk clubs, whichheld endorsement votes last month.

Up in Sacramento one of the country's largest Stonewall Democrats chaptersalso failed to coalesce around one candidate when it met Monday, January 14to decide its endorsement in the primary. According to the club, the topvote getter was Edwards with 14 votes; Clinton took second with 11; andObama trailed at third with nine votes.

The Silicon Valley LGBT Democratic Club opted not to endorse in the race,though it will conduct a straw poll at its presidential forum next week."



=

To Form a More Perfect Union: Marriage Equality News

Information, news, and discussion about the legal recognition of same-sexcouples and their families, including marriages, domestic partnerships,civil unions, adoptions, foster children and similar issues.

http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/

Go to the website, above, for the following articles:
--
Advocates for same-sex "marriage" in Maryland say they will lobby lawmakersthrough the 2008 General Assembly session, despite lawmakers saying theyhave no plans to address the issue. Bills to change Maryland law statingonly men and women can marry are due for introduction today, and supporterssay they are increasing efforts to persuade lawmakers to consider them. "Wecan't be afraid, because there's nothing to be afraid of," said DelegateVictor R. Ramirez, Prince George's Democrat and a sponsor of one of thebills.
--
Indiana: Senate committee passed same-sex marriage ban by a 5-4 vote Aproposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage continues to move throughthe Statehouse.On a party-line vote, five to four, the Senate JudiciaryCommittee gave the green light to the ban. It came after 90 minutes ofimpassioned testimony. But all of this may ultimately be meaningless. "Whatit will do is change the future. And the future is one of groups who seek toimpose significant social change upon our state via judicial activism," saidSen. Brandt Hershman (R) of Wheatfield.In 2007, the marriage amendment diedin the house. That may well happen again. But not before those on both sidesof the issue speak out. "Anything that makes Indiana less inclusive for ourcurrent and future employees makes it more difficult for Cummins toeffectively compete in the global economy," said Mark Osowich of CumminsInc.
--
Former Vice President and Nobel laureate Al Gore was shown making a speechin support of gay marriage. A week-old video of him openly announcing hisendorsement was posted on his website Current TV. The video was titled, "Gaymen and women should have the same rights." "I think that gay men and womenought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women, to makecontracts, to have hospital visiting rights and to join together inmarriage," Gore announced. "And I don't understand why it is considered bysome people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage to allow it by gays andlesbians." "Shouldn't we be promoting that kind of faithfulness and loyaltyto one's partner regardless of sexual orientation?"
--
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Over two-thirds of people in Sweden are infavour of allowing homosexual partners to enter wedlock, according to a pollby Sifo published in Svenska Dagbladet. 71 per cent of respondents agreewith allowing homosexual couples to get married, while 24 per cent disagree.
Same-sex marriage is currently legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain,Canada and South Africa, and at least 18 countries offer some form of legalrecognition to same sex unions.
--
New York: A coalition of politically active gay rights groups gathered at aRockville Centre synagogue last night to explain its strategy to oust statelawmakers they said have blocked legislation supporting same-sex marriage.
Leaders of the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights organization,said they plan to focus on a few key Long Island races, but they declined toname the candidates involved."The future of marriage equality could verywell be decided on Long Island this November," said Marty Rouse, who grew upin Hauppauge and is now the organization's national field director.



=

365Gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/

Go to the website, above, for the following articles:
--
Ledger Funeral Arrangements A Mystery
(New York City) Details about funeral arrangements for actor Heath Ledgerremained secret Saturday as authorities await a toxicology report that couldshow the cause of his death.
--
Arkansas Voter Drive Kicked Off To Bar Gays From Adopting
Little Rock, Arkansas) A conservative social policy group launched itscampaign Thursday to collect enough signatures to force a ballot measure inNovember to bar same-sex or unmarried opposite-sex couples from adopting orbecoming foster parents in Arkansas.
--
Spinster Sisters Claim UK Gay Partner Law Discriminates Against Them
(London) Two elderly sisters who live together say they could lose theirfamily home because they are victims of discrimination under Britain's civilpartner law and they've taken their case to European Court of Human Rightsin Strasbourg.
--
Gay Moderate Italian PM Prodi Resigns
(Rome) Italian Premier Romano Prodi has submitted his government'sresignation to President Giorgio Napolitano after losing a confidence votein Parliament.
--
Gay Marriage Bill Introduced In Maryland
(Annapolis, Maryland) Legislation was introduced in both houses of theMaryland legislature Friday that would allow same-sex couples to marry.
--
NM House OKs Domestic Partner Bill
(Santa Fe, New Mexico) A domestic partner bill that died in the New Mexicolegislature last year has had new life breathed into it and passed the Houseon a 33 - 31 vote.
--
Campaign Frustrates Some Gay Leaders
(New York City) Few constituencies are as eager for the Republican Party tofalter this political season as gay-rights activists. Yet as they observethe Democratic presidential campaign and the rest of the electorallandscape, their high hopes often are mixed with frustration.



=

National Gay News

http://nationalgaynews.com/

Go to the website, above, for the following articles:
--
House OKs Domestic-Partnership Bill
Gay and heterosexual couples could form domestic partnerships and enjoy thesame rights and benefits as married couples under legislation approved bythe House on Thursday. "This is a bill about fairness and justice," saidRep. Mimi Stewart, an Albuquerque Democrat. "This bill would offer basiclegal protections to same-sex couples unable to marry as well opposite-sexcouples, many of whom are senior citizens and people with disabilities, thatchoose not to marry for financial reasons."
--
Meet the Gay Dr. McDreamy
How do I come out to my doctor? What sexually transmitted diseases am I at ahigher risk of contracting because I am a gay man? Is there any truth to theconcept of HIV re-infection? Will casual drug use really hurt me that much?
What's the real deal on the 'flesh-eating' MRSA bacteria I keep readingabout affecting gay men in urban areas? If you've ever asked any of thesequestions, The Advocate Guide to Gay Men's Health and Wellness by Dr. FrankSpinelli will provide the kind of straightforward and honest answers you'vebeen in search of.
--
Andy Scott-Lee, Donkey Impersonator
Renowned heterosexual Andy Scott-Lee has told fab Brighton mag 3Sixty thathe is hung like the donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem.A slightly hystericalpress release heralded this important information. Aaah, schlong - there's aword you don't hear every day.
--
Gay Rodeo Dreams
"I grew up dreaming of being a cowboy," Willie Nelson sings, "Loving thecowboy ways." Lots of gay men and lesbians had those same dreams as kids,and now they're able to live them out through the International Gay RodeoAssociation (IGRA), which has has many Member Associations representingstates, the District of Columbia, and two Canadian provinces.
--
Gay Holocaust Victims to be Remembered in Westminster
Homosexuals murdered by the Nazis will be among those remembered at a solemnceremony on Monday in Westminster to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.150teenagers and young people from across the London borough will present apowerful and poignant mix of drama, video and singing through a series ofdigital media presentations as they take part in a solemn ceremony.
--
New Disappearances in Iraq
Seven gay and three transgendered Iraqis have disappeared in the past monthand a half and are presumed to be the latest victims of the lethal campaignof sexual cleansing by anti-gay Shiite death squads, according to theLondon-based group Iraqi LGBT.
--
Rainbow Tours' New Gay & Lesbian Escorted Tours Hit West Coast
Touring the gayer side of the West Coast just got a little easier thanks tothe launch of the first and only inbound tour operator company in Californiaserving the gay and lesbian community exclusively. Based in West HollywoodCA, Rainbow Tours has begun offering gay specific escorted tours of LosAngeles, Palm Springs, San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas and the Nationalparks.
--
Growing Support for Russia's First GLBT Film Festival
In recent days Side by Side ("Bok o Bok"), Russia's first annualinternational lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film festival scheduledfor 2-5 October, 2008 in Saint Petersburg, has been receiving anunprecedented level of attention in the nation's press and media.
--
D-Day For Festival
Today is a big day for those interested in Manchester's Queer Up Northfestival, as it is the time that the Arts Council considers both therecommendations of their board and the submitted appeal of the festivalorganisers to decide its fate.And it's a period that has left festivaldirector Jonathan Best (pictured) philosophical but also more than a littleexasperated.
--
'Fat Girls' Doesn't Measure Up
The thinking behind Ash Christian's Fat Girls seems to be: Why shouldstraights have a monopoly on lazy and crass coming-of-age stories? Gaypeople have bodily fluids, too!
--
Anti-Gay Group Plans Picket of Funeral
A fundamentalist group known for its virulent anti-gay stance is planning topicket the upcoming funeral of actor Heath Ledger, who played a gay cowboyin the 2005 film "Brokeback Mountain."Members of the Topeka, Kan.-basedWestbro Baptist Church said they would protest the funeral at the Frank F.Campbell Funeral Home in Manhattan. A date has not yet been set.
--
Outdated Law: Utah Should Allow Same-Sex Couples to Adopt
Utah's law banning adoptions by gay and lesbian couples and unmarriedstraight couples was a deplorable codification of bigotry in 2000 when itwas passed. That hasn't changed. But after eight years the law has become anillogical anachronism, considering the results of new studies, and it shouldbe changed. The number of same-sex couples who are raising childrenincreased by a third from 2000 to 2005, and the body of research showingthat children raised by homosexual couples have no more problems than thosefrom homes with a mother and a father has also grown.
--
Park City '08 Dispatch - Queer Cinema Then and Now at Sundance '08
A rather staggering forty-four films with either GLBT themes or a GLBTdirector are screening at this year's Sundance Film Festival, including newworks from directors Tom Kalin ("Savage Grace"), Isaac Julien's "Derek"),Bruce LaBruce ("Otto; Or Up With Dead People"), producer Christine Vachon,as well as a screening of Gregg Araki's remastered "The Living End." Thefilms inspired a reunion of sorts at this year's festival, anchored onSaturday night with a dinner celebrating the group of queer films. Inremarks during dinner B. Ruby Rich, who coined the term "New Queer Cinema"at a Sundance panel in 1992, emotionally proclaimed the room as "filled withhistory."
--
Get In the Gay Swim of Things
They have wonderful names-the Atlanta Rainbow Trout, the Queer Utah AthleticClub (QUAC), and SQUID-Swimming Queers United in Denver. They're gay andlesbian swim clubs, and they're splashing through pools around the world.
There may even be one in your own home town. These clubs are a great way tokeep in shape while making new friends and contributing to your community.
--
North Carolina State University: GLBT Center Has Grand OpeningThe
University's new Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Center had itsgrandopening yesterday in the Talley Student Center Lobby. Approximately150people came to celebrate the Center's opening.
--
1st Asia Pacific Outgames
Bust out the Speedos and sunscreen as the eyes of the queer sporting worldwill soon be on Melbourne, Australia, host to the first Asia PacificOutgames held Jan. 30-Feb. 3, 2008.So we have Fat Girls, the story of RodneyChristian), a small-town Texas high school senior on a mission to, yes,find his inner fat girl. Fat girl being synonymous with being comfortable inyour own skin, an odd metaphor given our national obsession with weightloss.


=


[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####