GLBT DIGEST February 24, 2008

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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
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Film of Gay Partners' Rights in the Running for an Oscar
POINT PLEASANT - IT'S not the kind of portrayal that will leave most residents beaming with pride, but New Jersey features prominently in at least one of the films in the running for an Academy Award on Sunday.
"Freeheld," a 38-minute documentary by the Brooklyn-based director Cynthia Wade, tells the story of Laurel Hester, a Point Pleasant policewoman dying of lung cancer who fought a legal battle to leave her pension to the woman she considered her wife, Stacie Andree.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/24filmnj.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=gay&st=nyt&oref=slogin
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Attacks Show Easygoing Jamaica Is Dire Place for Gays
MANDEVILLE, Jamaica - One night last month, Andre and some friends werefinishing dinner when a mob showed up at the front gate. Yelling antigayslurs and waving machetes, sticks and knives, 15 to 20 men kicked in thefront door of the home he and his friends had rented and set upon them.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/world/americas/24jamaica.html?scp=3&sq=gay&st=nyt
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Vaccinating Boys for Girls' Sake?
HOW cool are those Gardasil Girls? Riding horses, flinging softballs,bashing away on drum sets: on the television commercials, they arepugnacious and utterly winning. They want to be "One Less," they chant - oneless victim of cervical cancer. Get vaccinated with Gardasil, they urgetheir sisters. Protect yourselves against the human papillomavirus, orH.P.V., which causes cervical cancer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/fashion/24virus.html?scp=5&sq=gay&st=nyt
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Elusive Equality
In 2006, New Jersey's Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples must beguaranteed all the rights and benefits that come with marriage, but left itto the State Legislature to figure out how. Instead of simply granting gaypeople the right to marry, the Legislature joined Vermont and Connecticut increating a lesser category, civil unions. Predictably, civil unions areproving to be an inadequate remedy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/opinion/24sun3.html?scp=11&sq=gay&st=nyt
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Birds Do It. Bees Do It. Dragons Don't Need To.
DRAGONS and virgin births are the stuff of myth and religion. Except, thatis, in Kansas, where they have recently come together in a way that shouldalter the way many of us look at nature and demonstrate the risks in ourhabit of using it to help us make ethical decisions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/opinion/24shubin.html?ref=opinion
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
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New York:
S&M festival a slamming good time
Shoppers browsed among the whips, chains, and T-shirts with slogans like"Real tears excite me" at the city's first S&M street festival Sunday, evenas some neighborhood residents lashed out at the fair's adult content.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/custom/fringe/am-feti1008,0,4967019.story
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Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
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Jamaican anti-gay violence gaining worldwide attention
State Department responds after protest at consulate in Miami
Increasing acts of violence and repressive anti-sodomy laws continue to makelife difficult and dangerous for gay men and lesbians in Jamaica. But theplight of the island's gay population has recently been receiving moreattention from the international community, including the U.S. StateDepartment.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/2-21/news/localnews/4428.cfm
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
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Gay Microsoft Pioneer Leaves $65M To LGBT Groups
(Seattle, Washington) Ric Weiland, one of the first five employees hired byMicrosoft, and the first who was openly gay, has left $65-million to LGBT,HIV/AIDS, and education organizations.
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Prosecutors Tell Judge Sen Craig Plea Should Stand
(Minneapolis, Minnesota) Prosecutors argued Friday that Sen. Larry Craig'sappeal misinterprets the disorderly conduct law and his guilty plea in abathroom sex sting should stand.
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Superdelegates Moving To Obama
(Washington) The Democratic superdelegates are starting to follow thevoters - straight to Barack Obama.
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McCain Sees Obama As Most Likely Foe
(Columbus, Ohio) His nomination assured, John McCain got an early jump onthe general election this week with a swing through Midwestern states likelyto be pivotal in the fall and a fresh line of criticism against BarackObama.
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Poaching Health Care Workers Should Be Crime AIDS Groups Say
(Toronto, Ontario) The poaching of doctors, nurses and pharmacists fromsub-Saharan Africa by developed countries ought to be viewed as aninternational crime, a group of public health researchers from Canada andother countries argue in a leading medical journal.
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LGBT Center Wins Tax Fight With City
(Kingston, New York) The Hudson Valley LGBT Community Center has settled itslawsuit against the City of Kingston over the Center's property taxexemption.
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Dying Lesbian's Partner Denied Access To Her
(Miami, Florida) Janice Langbehn and Lisa Pond had planned to take theirthree children on a family cruise. The Olympia, Washington couple had beentogether 18 years and with their children were looking forward to theholiday.
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
Go to this link for the following articles:
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Israel Stands Out
The attorney general of Israel ruled last week that gay couples will beallowed to jointly adopt children that are not biologically linked to eitherpartner. Menachem Mazuz announced that there was no legal basis fordiffering treatment of gay couples to straight couples.Meanwhile, is thereany doubt about how, in a future Palestinian state, gays will be treated? Ifnot subject to execution as in Iran, they'll certainly be subject to arrest,as in Egypt. (Awhile back, Paul Varnell wrote about the persecution of gaysby the Palestinian Authority, as did Jamie Kirchick.)
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Being Fit Can Lower Stroke Risk
Being merely moderately fit _ walking briskly half an hour a day _ can lowerthe risk of having a stroke, according to a new study whose findings applyto women as well as men.Much of the previous research on stroke and fitnesshas been on men and relied on participants to report their physicalactivity, said Steven Hooker, who heads the University of South Carolina'sPrevention Research Center in Columbia and led the study. About a quarter ofthose in the new study were women, and everyone had a treadmill test tomeasure his or her fitness level.
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It's a Man's Game When it Comes to Fighting Prejudice
I Peter Ross do solemnly pledge that in this article about Scotland's onlygay football team I will avoid any and all cheap references to balls,communal baths and playing for the other side. I swear this on my copy ofthe 1978 Roy Of The Rovers annual and a foxed paperback of MyraBreckinridge. The gay football team in question are HotScots FC. They have played only three matches so far, but managed to beat an English side, the LondonLeftfooters, and will represent Scotland in the gay world cup this August. Roll over James McFadden and tell Smeato the news, the HotScots are nationalheroes in the making.
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Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:
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Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) today examines the amicus brief written bythese Communities of Faith and also the amicus brief written by the Councilfor Secular Humanism, which both seek to highlight the essentialConstitutional tenets of the separation of church and state and theprinciples of religious liberty and freedom from state-imposed religiousbeliefs. This article is just one in a series where MEUSA is partnering withthe Bay Area Reporter to highlight each of the 30 amicus "friend of thecourt" briefs filed by hundreds of supportive organizations, professionalassociations, and religious institutions filed before the California SupremeCourt in favor of same-sex couples' freedom to marry.
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On Thursday, U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Tammy Baldwin, Howard Bermanand Gary Ackerman sent this letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice:
"We have followed with great interest and concern the media coverage of theworkplace inequities facing gays and lesbians in the U.S. Department ofState. "By not including same-sex partners in the definition of an "EligibleFamily Member" (EFM), the Department excludes them from many of thebenefits, protections, and services that are enjoyed by family members ofmarried FSOs [Foreign Service Officers], and that are important to thesafety, effectiveness, and morale of our communities abroad."
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A TV3 poll has found that 72% of viewers back the Irish government'sproposal to introduce legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples. MarkMcCarron and Paul Kenny (pictured right), campaigners for the gay rightspressure group LGBT Noise appeared on popular breakfast show 'Ireland AM' aspart of a segment on gay civil unions Legislation for civil unions isexpected to be unveiled at the end of March, but McCarron and Kenny areadvocating full and equal gay marriage.
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
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Instant Lottery Ticket for HIV/AIDS Unveiled
After overcoming a hurdle last year, the nation's first instant lotteryticket where 100 percent of the net proceeds go towards HIV/AIDS preventionservices is now available at Illinois Lottery retail locations.
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=17539
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Pro-Trans Ruling in Name Case
Illinois' highest court ruled that a suburban disabled transgender womanshould no longer be denied access to the judicial process because of hergender identity or financial status.
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=17540
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Iranian homosexuals living on the edge
Islamic Republic proves a dangerous place to be gay, as refugee tells oflife in fear in a place that 'kills people for falling in love'; If we fightGod's will why did he created us like this, he asks
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3509570,00.html
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Bishop clarifies criticisms of government 'intrusion'
THE Bishop of Carlisle is embroiled in fresh controversy after comparing thegovernment to a demonic seven-headed beast for imposing its morality onsociety. The Right Revd Graham Dow has criticised the government for"acting as if it is god" over social issues such as gay adoption, and calledfor Christian morals to be taken more seriously.
http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=794694
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Israeli MP blames gays for earthquakes in the Holy Land
Recent earthquakes in Israel are the fault of gays and the Israeliparliament's acceptance of them, an Israeli MP declared yesterday.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=517190&in_page_id=1811&ito=1490
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Boy Scouts' policy on gays discriminatory
I have chosen not to renew my membership in the National Eagle Scout
Association because of the Boy Scouts' official policy of discriminationagainst gay people. I am ashamed an organization to which I owe so much haschosen to take such a myopic stance on this issue and hide behind a gossamerlegal veil to exclude gays.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802210484
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Why a McCain Nomination is Good for Gays - and a Presidency May be Better
What I am going to say may seem counter-intuitive, but hear me out. No, JohnMcCain is not as good on many gay issues as the leading Democraticcandidates, who at least pay lip service to gay issues like ENDA andrelationship recognition, and who did show up to LOGO's debate last year -but John McCain's nomination as the GOP candidate for president is very goodnews for GLBT Americans, and his presidency would be even better.
http://www.interstateq.com/archives/2613/
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Domestic-partner rights plan passes first Dade hurdle
Plans to create domestic-partnership rights in Miami-Dade County passed afirst test Tuesday, winning a preliminary 8-4 vote by the County Commission.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/02/domestic-partne.html
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GLBT caucus seeks support at Democratic National Convention
We have a record 55 GLBT candidates who have applied to be delegates to the2008 Democratic National Convention in August in Denver.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/02/glbt-caucus-see.html
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'Evil' rhetoric violates premise of a civil democracy
I have been listening to the Iowa Family Policy Center, which wishes toamend the Iowa Constitution to permanently prohibit same-sex marriage. Whatstruck me was the allegation that the battle is one of good versus evil.
Children should be raised by a man and a woman and to allow otherwise isevil. Heterosexual marriages that result in children are good, all else isevil.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802170317
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Ombuds provides Safe Zone for affectional minorities
As the UA reaches record enrollment levels, faculty and staff are comingtogether to ensure all students feel welcome on campus, through theUniversity Ombuds Office's Safe Zone Allies Program.
http://media.www.thetraveleronline.com/media/storage/paper688/news/2008/02/20/News/Ombuds.Provides.Safe.Zone.For.Affectional.Minorities-3220221.shtml
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Will & Grace creators to produce new gay-themed comedy
American TV network ABC has ordered a pilot of a gay-themed comedy from thecreators of Will & Grace.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6896.html
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Partner benefits future uncertain
The Kentucky Senate passed Bill 112, which would restrict health insurancecoverage for University of Louisville employees as well as their familymembers on Jan. 30.
http://media.www.louisvillecardinal.com/media/storage/paper964/news/2008/02/19/News/Partner.Benefits.Future.Uncertain-3217698.shtml
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Same Sex Religion Debate
Gay marriage debates coming up in court are bringing out conflicts withreligions in California. On March 4th there will be a hearing at the stateSupreme Court on the constitutionality of state law that only allows couplesof opposite sex to marry. There's arguments from religious organizationsfrom both sides. The "Chronicle," says the Mormon, California Catholicchurch and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations are saying a marriagebetween a man and woman is very important to the community. Other religiousorganizations like Buddhists, Reform Jews, and The United Church of Christare arguing for allowing same sex-unions.
http://www.kfiv1360.com/cc-common/mainheadlines2.html?feed=127840&article=3295088
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Irish Students Call on Iranian Government to Halt Executions of Two 'Gay'Men
DUBLIN, February 18, 2008 - The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) hastoday called on the Iranian Government to halt the planned executions ofTayyeb Karimi and Yazdan who are both thought to be gay.
http://ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/08/Feb/1801.htm
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Depression a major problem for gays
MORE than half of Irish gay people surveyed as part of new research hadsought help for mental health problems because of discrimination.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/depression-a-major-problem-for-gays-1291777.html
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Algerian transsexual returns to Alicante after government revokesdeportation order
Application for asylum is one avenue to avoid returning to Algeria forpossible prosecution as a homosexual. The Algerian transsexual who was dueto be deported as an illegal immigrant by order of an Alicante court has nowbeen released from the Valencia internment centre where she was being held.
Europa Press said the deportation order was revoked by central governmentoffices in Alicante, and M.B. has returned to the home she shares with herpartner in Alicante following her release last Thursday night.
http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_15139.shtml
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Stacey Campfield's 'Gay Talk' Law Ain't Smart
Tennessee House Representative Stacey Campfield makes us say "Hmmmm."
The single 40-year old proposed legislation earlier this month that ouldprohibit "gay speak" in the state's elementary and middle school. SaidCampfield: We're not going to teach about topics that I think should be taught at home in the first place. We're not going to teach about homosexuality, thehomosexual lifestyle, the lesbian lifestyle, the transgendered lifestyle.
We're going to leave that up to families to decide when it's age appropriate, whenit isn't appropriate, and what they want to tell their children.
http://www.queerty.com/stacy-campfields-gay-speak-law-aint-smart-20080218/
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Barkley Comes Out Against Gay Nup Opposing "Fake Christians"
Former NBA superstar turned political expert Charles Barkley appeared on CNN'ssensational Situation Room last week to discuss his electoral love forBarack Obama.
http://www.queerty.com/barkley-comes-out-against-gay-nup-opposing-fake-christians-20080217/
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Just One More Dead Faggot
I have no words for how I feel today. Not only was a 15-year-old boy shot inthe back of the head by someone who hated him because he was gay, because hewas not masculine, because he wore jewelry and makeup, but also a10-year-old boy hung himself in England.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sara-whitman/just-one-more-dead-faggot_b_87280.html
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Students protest high school's handling of gay issues
Belleville . Sara Dunn says her high school oppresses gay rights.
The Belleville East High senior and about a dozen others protested theschool Monday in the town's public square, on the center steps of theBelleville Courthouse.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/education/story/00E25EA389DC0D32862573F40004050F?OpenDocument
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Gay footballers score a historic victory over the Auld Enemy
SCOTLAND'S first gay football team thrashed their English counterparts atthe weekend and now have their eyes on the ultimate prize - the World Cup.Edinburgh-based HotScots FC's 4-1 win over London Leftfooters was theirfirst victory, and chairman Kevin Rowe said he hoped it will help raise theprofile of the side.
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Gay-footballers-score-a-historic.3787539.jp
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Ex-Gay 'Touch Therapy' Leads to Sexual Assault Conviction
The story is a familiar one. A young man is found by family to be sexuallyattracted to men and coerced through a fear of hell to seek "therapy" to gostraight. This is the story that led a young Canadian man to seek out thehelp of Terrance Lewis, a minister and (former) counselor at ProvidenceCollege and Seminary.
http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2008/02/ex-gay-touch-therapy-leads-to-sexual-assault-conviction/
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Nashville Public Library and the Brooks Fund announce agreement to houseGLBT oral histories
An ongoing multimedia archive of GLBT life in Middle Tennessee. The H.Franklin Brooks Philanthropic Fund of The Community Foundation of MiddleTennessee has donated the first phase of The Brooks Fund History Project tothe Special Collections Center at the Nashville Public Library. The HistoryProject is an ongoing multimedia archive of gay, lesbian, bisexual,transgender (GLBT) life in Middle Tennessee.
http://outandaboutnewspaper.com/article.php?id=2387
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Gala supports lesbian, gay rights
Change in schedule, soft economy lead to drop in attendance at event
About 1,200 people gathered at the Charlotte Convention Center Saturday forthe 2008 Human Rights Campaign Carolinas Gala in support of gay and lesbianrights.
http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/497137.html
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One love?
Maxine Clarke looks at the challenges of being queer in Jamaica. The firstin a series of articles on GLBT life around the world. Jamaica. Even thesweet, cool sound of the island rolls easily off your tongue like icedcoconut. What an idyllic place to visit. Twenty-four hour party peoplereggae-dancing long into the night. Short-shorted, coconut-oiled beach boysand beautiful, brown, bikinied babes playing cricket on the beach andserving pina coladas from sundown to sunrise in a rum-soaked ganja haze. Allbeautiful smiles and laid-back, open-hearted friendliness. No worriesrastaman, right?
http://mcv.e-p.net.au/features/one-love-2580-3.html
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Same sex couples talk about married life
In December 2005, ground-breaking legislation was introduced in the UKallowing same sex couples to form civil partnerships and enjoy the samerights and responsibilities as heterosexual married couples.
Hannah Gray speaks to two couples about what their civil partnership meansto them.
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/features/Same-sex-couples-talk-about.3771671.jp
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Gay to Straight in One Weekend!
A critique of the Journey Into Manhood claims of change.
Recently, People Can Change issued a press release (PDF) suggesting 79% ofrespondents reported (PDF) a decrease in frequency or intensity ofhomosexual feelings as a result of participating in a Journey Into Manhoodweekend retreat. Furthermore, in supporting documents, they indicate 13% ofthe respondents now consider themselves to be straight, all thanks to atwo-day retreat. However, as with so many other claims of change, they arewithout any substance.
http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2008/02/gay-to-straight-in-one-weekend/
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Family Freedom Intensive
Societal and cultural influences have made our children vulnerable toincreased assault while undermining the family unit designed by God toprotect and nurture children into adulthood. The internet age has providedour young people constant access to experiences that can leave them sexuallyand relationally broken.Many parents are not equipped to respond to theseissues when they surface in their children, and restoring safety andcommunication in the home can be a difficult process.
http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2008/02/the-intolerance-of-love-in-action/#more-2792
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Don't ask, don't tell: Has difficulty in filling ranks led to more toleranceof homosexuals in the military?
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be doing what presidential executiveorders and congressional actions could not - end discrimination againsthomosexuals in the U.S. military.
http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/02/13/opinion/editorials/doc47b08f1adcc11044843119.txt
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High schooler spars with Rove over gay marriage.During his controversialspeech at New England prep school Choate Rosemary Hall yesterday, formerBush adviser Karl Rove was challenged by a student "to explain how givinggay people the right to marry would endanger other people." Rove dodgedanswering her at first, saying that the issue "should be resolved by alegislature or a referendum, not a court." But the student, Choate seniorMarla Spivack, continued to press him:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/12/high-schooler-spars-with-rove-over-gay-marriage
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Theologian Claims Bible Does Not Condemn Gays
A Presbyterian theologian is visiting several churches this fall refutingthe common Christian interpretation of the Bible that Jesus and Scriptureopposes homosexuality.
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071006/29599_Theologian_Claims_Bible_Does_Not_Condemn_Gays.htm
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Formerly gay survivors go forth -- still gay and OK
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/17/formerly-gay-survivors-go-forth----still-gay-and/
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Florida: Christian groups lose SGA funding
Money withheld from campus organizations whose anti-discrimination policiesdon't include gay and lesbians
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/NEWS01/802170312
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The National Gay News Endorses Barack Obama
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/2836/173/
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