GLBT DIGEST February 26, 2008

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Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
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Questions for Gov. Rick Perry: Troop Leader
As the governor of Texas, do you feel it is getting a little crowded therelately as the presidential candidates and their busloads of campaignerscontinue to descend in preparation for the primary on March 4? We tried tomove our primary up, and it didn't work. This is a very rare occurrence, tohave a primary of national import in Texas.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/magazine/24wwln-Q4-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine
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Elton John's Enduring Legacy
Legendary Entertainer Uses His Fame To Help Halt The Spread Of HIV/AIDS TheWorld Over
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/23/sunday/main3869010.shtml
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Iran's 'diagnosed transsexuals'
Homosexual relationships are banned in Iran, but the country allows sexchange operations and hundreds of men have elected for surgery to changetheir lives.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7259057.stm
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Bakker reflects on family and encourages gay believers
Jay Bakker, son of the scandal-rocked televangelist Jim Bakker and the lateTammy Faye Messner, spoke at Metropolitan Community Church in South AustinSunday. He preached at both services, capping off a weekend of training forgay and lesbian families who about to embark on a campaign to confrontchurches that promote anti-homosexual teachings.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/faith/entries/2008/02/25/bakker_reflects_on_family_and.html
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
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Poll Shows Obama Catching Clinton Or Leading Across US
(Washington) Barack Obama has taken clear leads over Hillary Rodham Clintonamong white men, middle-income earners and liberals, allowing him to catchhis faltering rival in their race for the Democratic presidentialnomination, a new national poll shows.
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Don't Count Out Clinton Yet
(Washington) History shows the folly of counting out a Clinton. If HillaryRodham Clinton's campaign is looking more and more like the Titanic, she mayyet prove to be the unsinkable Molly Brown.
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Bush Predicts GOP Will Hold White House
(Washington) President Bush predicted Monday that voters will replace himwith a Republican president who will "keep up the fight" in Iraq.
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Mother, Son Sentenced To Life For Killing Her Ex-Girlfriend
(Atlanta, Georgia) An Atlanta woman and her 20 year old son have been handedlife sentences for the brutal murder of her former lover.
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Supreme Court Sidesteps Anti-Gay Church Motion
(Washington) The US Supreme Court has decided not to get involved in anongoing legal battle between followers of the Rev. Fred Phelps and thefamily of a Marine killed in Iraq.
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Appeal Filed In NY Gay Marriage Ruling
(Rochester, New York) Gays and lesbians demonstrated in upstate New YorkMonday after Monroe County announced it will appeal a ruling that themarriages of same-sex couples performed across the border in Canada must berecognized in New York.
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Gay Jamaican Cop Seeks Asylum In Canada
(Toronto, Ontario) An openly gay police officer in Kingston wants theCanadian government to grant him asylum, saying his life is in danger athome because of his sexuality.
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Groups Seek To Increase Gay Black Politicians
(Washington) Two organizations announced Monday they will actively help gayAfrican Americans attain political office.
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Poll: Vast Majority Of Officers Support Military Gay Ban
(Santa Barbara, California) A new survey of officers in the military believethat "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" should be maintained. Only 22 percent ofofficers said that the ban on gays serving openly should be repealed.
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Few Clues In Killing Of Florida Trans Teen
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida) Fort Lauderdale police say they have few clues inthe shooting of a 17-year old and are appealing to the public for help.
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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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New Gay Series
The Ben and Dave Show' Debuts on Here!
here!, America's premium gay television network, presents The Ben and DaveShow, a groundbreaking new television series hosted by the ultra-charismaticand irreverent Ben Harvey and Dave Rubin. The show is set to debut on here!
March 14th.
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Nepali Gay Men Contesting
Poll Hope to End Taboo
At least five Nepali gay men are contesting this year's elections in thehope of shattering taboos in the conservative nation, a gay candidate said.
Homosexuality is effectively illegal in Nepal under a law banning "unnaturalsex". Offenders can be jailed for up to a year.
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Ceremony Plans Alarm Altoona Church
Plans for a same-sex commitment ceremony at University Park are stirringconcern at an Altoona Baptist church, a pastor said Monday.
The Rev. Gary G. Dull, pastor at Faith Baptist Church, said he will meetwith other church leadership today and weigh how the Blair County groupshould respond to the plans.
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A 24-year-old police officer is in hiding in Jamaica after being abused andattacked by fellow officers because of his sexuality.
Michael Hayden told the Toronto Star that he wants to seek asylum in Canada.
A leading gay rights activist from Jamaica, Gareth Henry, did so last week,claiming that thirteen of his gay and lesbian friends had died in the lastfour years.
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Gay Community Leaders Hold Emergency Meeting in Fort Lauderdale
Slaying of Transgendered Youth Prompts Sunday Night Conference CallBouquets and floral arrangements will be placed on site at the 1000 block ofSistrunk Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale
A loose consortium of gay community leaders spontaneously mobilized with astatewide conference call in response to the shooting of a young gay man inFort Lauderdale on Friday evening.
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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
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Man stabbed to death in gay village
Police are investigating the murder of a 25-year-old man who was stabbed to death in Manchester's gay village. At about 7.30pm on Monday 25 February 2008 the victim was on Canal Street when he was app roached by two other men. One of these men approached the victim and stabbed him in the neck. He suffered a serious stab wound in the incident and was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary.
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International gay rights convention not feasible says minister
A Labour MP has asked a series of questions in the House of Commons about what steps the government is taking to bring about the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality. Ashok Kumar, who represents Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland, also asked junior Foreign and Commonwealth Office minister Meg Munn to support the introduction of an international convention which explicitly recognises gay rights as essential human rights.
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Gay Iranian due for deportation today
A gay teenager from Iran who fled the UK for the Netherlands last year after his appeal for asylum was refused is expected to be returned to the UK today by Dutch authorities. London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has written to the Home Secretary to request her to urgently review the case of Medhi Kazemi, who faces possible execution by stoning if he returns to Iran.At the end of last year a court in the Netherlands ruled Medhi must bereturned back to the UK.
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Interview: Gays and the United States military
It is almost eight years since the British government moved to allow openly gay, lesbian and bisexual people to serve in our Army, Navy and Air Force.We were by no means the first. The Dutch lifted their ban in 1974, Australia followed in 1992, Canada soon after. In 2008, most of the member nations of NATO have removed their bans, with one glaring exception. The United States ontinues to operate under the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" law, a messy compromise reached in 1994.
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Sir Elton's Oscar party raises millions for AIDS
In what has become a Hollywood tradition, a host of A List stars turned outfor an Oscar Night party in aid of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The annual gala featured performances from Mary J Blige and Jack Shears ofScissor Sisters as well as Sir Elton himself. It was one of the night's mostattended parties and raised a record breaking $5.1 million (£2.6m).
The singer-songwriter hosted the event with his partner David Furnish.
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February is LGBT History Month
Hundreds of individual events are taking place throughout the UK this month to celebrate LGBT History Month. Founded and run by volunteers, it first took place in February 2005, in the wake of the abolition of Section 28 and has grown each year. It is intended to raise awareness of, and combat prejudice against, the LGBT community - check the LGBT History Month website for further details.
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Forwarded from Gays Without Borders
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
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The Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) this evening presented a petition,backed by 1,084 signatures, to the Nationalist Party asking for formalrecognition of the rights of same sex couples; the inclusion of an articlein the Criminal Code regarding homophobic and transphobic violence, and aclear strategy addressing homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools.
The petition also seeks legal protection against discrimination in thedelivery of goods and services expressly referring to the grounds of sexualorientation, gender identity and gender expression; the formal extension ofthe remit of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality to caterfor the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and genderexpression; and the inclusion of gender reassignment surgery and hormonetherapy for transgender persons as part of the public health services.
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BRAZILIAN GAYS DEMAND THAT FIDEL CASTRO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS FOR THE
PERSECUTION OF HOMOSEXUALS IN CUBA
Grupo Gay da Bahia, the oldest homosexual non-governmental organization inLatin America, demands that the dictator Fidel Castro, before his death,recognizes and asks for forgiveness for the grave errors of the Cubanrevolution responsible for the demoralization, persecution, imprisonment inconcentration camps, forced labor, torture, deportation, and death ofthousands of gays, transvestites and lesbians in Cuba.
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Morocco: Protect Rights to Privacy and Fair Trial
Petition Calls for Repeal of Repressive Law - Human Rights Watch isextremely proud to join in sponsoring this petition with the MoroccanAssociation for Human Rights. The Moroccan government should protect the rights to privacy and a fair trial, Human Rights Watch and the Moroccan Human Rights Association saidtoday. Human Rights Watch and the Moroccan Human Rights Association calledon the government to repeal a law that provides prison terms for consensualhomosexual acts, and launched a petition demanding that the governmentrepeal article 489 of the penal code. They also demanded the release of thesix men currently imprisoned under this article.
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International Day Against Homophobia - IDAHO - May 17
IDAHO -UK 2008 COMES OUT TO LAUNCH!
Government ministers, mayoral candidates, students and academics, nationaland international LGBT campaigners, a lesbian singer/songwriter, whoaccording to one reviewer performs like "Mary Poppins on acid" are allgearing up for the IDAHO-UK 2008 launch event at the London College ofFashion, which will take place, on the evening of March 13th.
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Nureyev's animal passions
If Rudolf Nureyev's behaviour was often disgraceful, his dancing wasanything but Biography will always be a frustrated enterprise. It will never bring the dead back to life; it will never make us privy to the secret world insidethe minds of others, or rescue us from being islanded within our own. Thisis true of all biographical subjects, as it is true of all lives; but asubject like Rudolf Nureyev - with characteristic intransigence - provesmore uncooperative than most. they called him an animal, and at times hebehaved like one. Most notoriously, there is the incident in which hedefecated on the steps of Franco Zeffirelli's villa, after he finishedsmashing up the interior. He broke the jaw of a teacher at the Paris OperaBallet, who sued and was awarded 2,500 francs in compensation; the onlyremorse he expressed was for the missed opportunity: "If I'd known it wouldbe that little, I'd have hit him a second time". He let drop a ballerina whohad gained weight; he dragged another by her hair across the floor.
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/article3403291.ece
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LGBT friendly businesses in Florida
The Mark's List Restaurant Directory now includes over 100 restaurants andmost of them come with a full review by our staff so that you know whatyou're getting into before you go. We go in unannounced and sometimes makeseveral trips before we write our review. We don't accept free meals inreturn for favorable reviews and as always, if we don't like it, we don'tput it on our list. The restaurants below have not paid us to recommendthem. After going to all of this trouble, we're sure that you're going tofall in love with the restaurants we recommend. The following restaurantsare recent additions to our ever expanding list of LGBT friendly businessesin Florida. For more map and address and more information click theunderlined links.
http://frontpage.jumponmarkslist.com/Restaurants.htm
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Go to the links for the following articles:
Contact rays.list@comcast.net if you can't access the article
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Apply now for Williams Institute and Gleason/Kettel Summer LawFellowships
For the summer of 2008, the Williams Institute will award two or more SummerFellowships, including the Gleason/Kettel Law Fellowships, which provide lawstudents, or recent law school graduates, with a $5,000 stipend to work withan organization, scholar, or research center, focused on sexual orientationlaw and public policy.
http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/about/Summer%20Fellowships%202008.pdf
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Today, Senator Barack Obama made the following statement on the death ofLawrence King:
"It was heartbreaking to learn about Lawrence King's death, and my thoughtsand prayers go out to his family. King's senseless death is a tragic exampleof the corrosive effect that bigotry and fear can have in our society. It'salso an urgent reminder that we need to do more in our schools to fostertolerance and an acceptance of diversity; that we must enact a federal hatecrimes law that protects all LGBT Americans; and that we must recommitourselves to becoming active and engaged parents, citizens and neighbors, sothat bias and bigotry cannot take hold in the first place. We all have aresponsibility to help this nation live up to its founding promise ofequality for all."
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Anti-Porn Crusader May Face Sanctions for 'Meritless Filings'
The Florida Supreme Court is threatening Coral Gables attorney Jack Thompsonwith sanctions for frivolous and insulting filings in his disciplinary case.
The attorney who has made a name for himself crusading against pornographywas warned about his filings last April after he submitted "pornographicmaterials" to the court, the show-cause order said. The Florida SupremeCourt issued the order Tuesday telling Thompson to explain why it shouldn'treject future court filings from him unless they are signed by anotherFlorida Bar member. Thompson responded with three court filings by Thursdayafternoon, according to the Supreme Court's online docket. The court warnedhim twice last year to stop filing motions with the court in hisdisciplinary case assigned to Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dava Tunis.
http://www.law.com
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Anti-Porn Crusader May Face Sanctions for 'Meritless Filings'
The Florida Supreme Court is threatening Coral Gables attorney Jack Thompsonwith sanctions for frivolous and insulting filings in his disciplinary case.
The attorney who has made a name for himself crusading against pornographywas warned about his filings last April after he submitted "pornographicmaterials" to the court, the show-cause order said. The Florida SupremeCourt issued the order Tuesday telling Thompson to explain why it shouldn'treject future court filings from him unless they are signed by anotherFlorida Bar member. Thompson responded with three court filings by Thursdayafternoon, according to the Supreme Court's online docket. The court warnedhim twice last year to stop filing motions with the court in hisdisciplinary case assigned to Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dava Tunis.
http://www.law.com
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Snubbed by NYC Pols, HRC Answers Its Critics
Faced with a boisterous picket line that drew a crowd of more than 50andwith the absence of every lesbian, gay, and bisexual elected officialfromNew York City -- and nearly every other prominent city Democrat --JoeSolmonese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, used hiskeynoteaddress at the group's annual Midtown Manhattan dinner to answercritics whofault it for going along with a version of the federalEmploymentNon-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that does not include protectionsfortransgendered Americans. The non-inclusive version of ENDA passed theHouse of Representatives lastNovember 7 by a vote of 235-184. The measureawaits action in the Senate,but President George W. Bush has sent strongsignals he would veto the measure if it reaches his desk.
http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19328072&BRD=2729&PAG=461&d
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Jimmy Kimmel had a special Sunday night post-Oscar show and he finallydebuted his much buzzed about song and video for "I'm Fucking Ben Affleck."
Girlfriend Sarah Silverman showed her video "I'm Fucking Matt Damon" justover three weeks ago. Kimmel topped Silverman with video appearances by DonCheadle, Robin Williams, McLovin, Lance Bass, Good Charlotte, ascene-stealing Harrison Ford, Cameron Diaz and more in a "We are the World"type chorus, along with Brad Pitt as a Fed Ex man, Josh Groban on piano andthen some - The whole video was anchoured by Ben Affleck snuggling up toJimmy in a fitted iridescent green t-shirt and the pair walking side-by-sidein jean cutoffs.
Links to videos:
Sarah Silverman: "I'm Fucking Mat Damon"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/01/matt-damon-sings-dances-_n_84456.html

Jimmy Kimmel: "I'm Fucking Ben Affleck" Debuts As Response To Damon
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/25/jimmy-kimmel-im-fkin_n_88240.html
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IRANIAN GAY REFUGEE RISKS DEPORTATION FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM , URGENTAPPEAL TO EUROPE
"SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HIS HOMOSEXUALITY, WE MUST STOP THE UMPTEENTHVIOLATION OF A REFUGEE'S RIGHTS BY THE BROWN GOVERNMENT" THE FLIGHT THATWILL TAKE YOUNG MEDHI KAZEMI FROM AMSTERDAM TO LONDON , FROM WHERE HE WILLBE DEPORTED TO IRAN , IS BOOKED FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 26TH. EVERYONE GROUP ISAPPEALING TO THE EUROPEAN UNION TO OVERRULE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'SDECISION, AND GRANT THE 19-YEAR-OLD POLITICAL ASYLUM. MEHDI HAS RECENTLYBECOME A REGULAR MEMBER OF EVERYONE. MEDHI IS WANTED IN IRAN AFTER HISPARTNER - EXECUTED FOR HIS HOMOSEXUALITY IN APRIL 2006 - ADMITTED THEY WEREIN A RELATIONSHIP.
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Spanish PM pledges gay rights
MADRID - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has pledged his Socialist Party would further advance gay rights if he is re-elected inMarch 9 polls, in an interview with a gay magazine. Under Zapatero, who cameto power in 2004, Spain has already become a world leader when it comes tothe rights of gays, lesbians and transsexuals. "We will continue to makereforms to improve the conditions of all," he said in an interview with themonthly gay magazine Zero, where he appeared on the cover for the third timesince 2002. "We must facilitate the implementation of the rights that wehave already approved: the right to adoption [for same-sex couples], ofcourse, and the right to legally change sex," he said.
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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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GAY SPLIT MAKES NY HERSTORY
February 26, 2008 -- There's no such thing as gay marriage in New York - buta Manhattan judge says that doesn't mean there can't be gay divorce.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02262008/news/regionalnews/gay_split_makes_ny_herstory_99275.htm
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Refusing to Give Up On the Foreign Service
John A. Boland got a top score on the Foreign Service written exam and,after an all-day interview session, received a job offer from the StateDepartment, pending a medical clearance.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/24/AR2008022401634.html
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Same-sex partners struggle with status
Californians in domestic partnerships look forward to March 8 state SupremeCourt hearing
http://www.dailybruin.com/news/2008/feb/26/same-sex-partners-struggle-status/
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Obama responds to CNN's smear: Join In against 'right wing hack attacks'
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/02/25/obama-responds-to-cnns-smear-join-in-gainst-right-wing-hack-attacks/
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Elrod: His own conservative
Elrod's stance on gay marriage puts him at odds with some Republicans in hisbid for 7th District seat
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/LOCAL19/802260399
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He tells her he likes men. It's not so unusual, though it is hard to deal with
ALBANY, N.Y. - After dating for nearly three years and living together formore than two, Lisa and Ryan needed to have a serious talk. She wasn't sureif he was breaking up with her or proposing.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/services/newspaper/printedition/tuesday/goodliving/orl-bisexual08feb26,0,5767224.story
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UK:
No coming out for old gays
"I'M THE only gay in this care home," might be the catch-phrase of Daffydfrom Little Britain when he reaches his senior years. Because going intoresidential care may mean going back into the closet for members of thelesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) community, reports CaringBusiness (Feb).
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/career_and_jobs/public_sector/article3430960.ece
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Pakistan Bans Access to YouTube Videos
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Feb. 24 -- Pakistan's government has banned access tothe video-sharing Web site YouTube because of anti-Islamic movies that usershave posted on the site, an official said Sunday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/24/AR2008022402016.html
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Link to video: A Surreal & Amazing Radio Exchange about Ex-Gay & Gays
You need to copy this link into your web browser - Worth your time!
mms://mediadownload.soundwaves2000.com/mediadownload/newsviews/mp3/022508.mp3
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Bakker reflects on family and encourages gay believers
Jay Bakker, son of the scandal-rocked televangelist Jim Bakker and the lateTammy Faye Messner, spoke at Metropolitan Community Church in South AustinSunday. He preached at both services, capping off a weekend of training forgay and lesbian families who about to embark on a campaign to confrontchurches that promote anti-homosexual teachings.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/faith/entries/2008/02/25/bakker_reflects_on_family_and.html
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Homosexuality teaching ban fails
Opponents deride proposal as an election-year stunt
A proposal to ban elementary and middle schools from teaching about anythingother than heterosexuality was angrily derided in a legislative committee onTuesday as nothing more than an election-year stunt.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802200443
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