Monday, March 03, 2008

GLBT DIGEST March 3, 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.

=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
--
Robert Skolrood Is Dead at 79; Argued Religion Cases
Robert K. Skolrood, a lawyer who battled for fundamentalist Christians onissues that included nativity displays and gay rights and who often examinedthe intricacies of the United States Constitution, died on Feb. 20 inVenice, Fla. He was 79.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/us/03skolrood.html?_r=1&sq=gay&st=nyt&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&scp=3&adxnnlx=1204549643-hkK0Aig7cqYnzjBmj5MkOg
-
A Bishop Unveiled God's Secrets While Keeping His Own
As is customary during Lent, the sermon at St. John the Divine Cathedral onSunday touched on the themes of seen and unseen truths, knowing and notknowing what is before one's very eyes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/nyregion/03bishop.html?scp=5&sq=gay&st=nyt
-



=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
--
Slide show: Winter Party 2008
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's 15th annual Winter Party on SouthBeach. Photographed by Dennis Dean:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/03/slide-show-wi-1.html
-
Documentary to explore killing of gay man in Polk
A documentary on the killing of a 25-year-old gay man in Polk County almosta year ago will premiere Monday at Rollins College, part of a crusade by hisparents to raise awareness of anti-gay violence in Florida.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/southwest/orl-ryanjk0208mar02,0,600481.story?track=rss
-



=
Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
--
Record five openly gay candidates look to toss hats into Council races
At least five openly gay or lesbian Queens residents are eying runs for CityCouncil in 2009, setting the stage for a possible watershed year forlesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender politics in the borough.
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2008/03/02/2008-03-02_record_five_openly_gay_candidates_look_t-1.html?ref=rss
-



=
365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
--
Obama In Damage Control After Canadian NAFTA Report
(San Antonio, Texas) Barack Obama's senior economic policy adviser says thatCanadian government officials wrote an inaccurate portrayal of his privatediscussion on the campaign's trade policy in a memo obtained by TheAssociated Press.
-
Clinton On Ohio Campaign Marathon
(Westerville, Ohio) Hillary Rodham Clinton is arguing that her campaign is"about solutions," not feelings, as she swept through Ohio on an intensepush two days before the state's presidential primary.
-
Kucinich Faces Tough Fight In Home District
(Cleveland, Ohio) Two failed White House campaigns have left Dennis Kucinichfighting for his political life against the toughest, best-financedchallenge in his 12-year congressional career.
-



=
National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
Go to this link for the following articles:
--
Not Single, Not Married:State Supreme Court to Consider Rights of GayCouples
It has taken four years, but the fierce conflict over gay marriage hasfinally shifted from its cradle at San Francisco City Hall to the CaliforniaSupreme Court, just a few hundred yards away.The state's high court onTuesday will consider three hours of legal argument in a series of casesthat challenge California's ban on gay marriage and a 2000 voter-approvedballot initiative that defines marriage as a union between a man and woman.
-
Ohio: Preference vs. Prejudice: Gay Groups Promote Awareness Lessons toSchools
Is sexual preference something to be taught? Area parents, administratorsand teachers have varying opinions on whether teaching students about gay,lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues could make a student lean towardthat way of life.
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/03/02/front/doc47ca4178526e8924997767.txt
-
The Talk of the Green Iguana
The rumors about Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and the Green Iguana justwouldn't go away. The story goes that the Florida governor frequented theGreen Iguana, a bar in Tampa, back in the early 1990s when he was juststarting his political career. He was less careful back then, people say,and during his partying at the Green Iguana, he was openly gay.
-
Gay and Lesbian Events Prompt Hostility
A new report reveals a steady undercurrent of hostility during and afterlarge-scale gay and lesbian events, in particular the Sydney Gay and LesbianMardi Gras. The University of Newcastle's Cultural Institutions andPractices Research Centre report, When the Glitter Settles: safety andhostility at and around gay and lesbian public events, shows 40 per cent ofpeople attending these events had witnessed abusive or violent behaviour.
-
HIV Rates to Soar as Use of Condoms Declines
HIV rates will rise by up to 73 per cent over the next seven years partlybecause fewer people are using condoms, according to a study that usesmathematical modelling to predict infection trends.The number of gay men whowere becoming infected with the disease was increasing significantly, saidthe report by the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Researchat the University of NSW.
-



=
Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-
As a local divorce lawyer, I am really tired of letters from whiners likeDaren Young, who try to argue that he and his domestic partner aren't adrain on our community ("Some drain," Forum, Feb. 22). How am I supposed tomake a living around here when successful, professional,society-contributing guys like that are also blissfully happy in theirhomosexual relationships? More important, if they ever split up, how canthey truly utilize the benefits of my services as extensively (andlucratively for me) as my unhappy married clients? Simply outrageous.
-
Washington: Expanding privileges for same-sex couples is not a partisan issue but one of civil rights, says the newest member of the Legislature's unofficial gaycaucus. Rep. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, who was appointed to his position inJanuary, is backing a bill working its way through the Legislature thatwould expand rights for domestic partners. "It really shouldn't matter whereyou come from on a political spectrum; it's about making sure that everybodyhas an equal opportunity in our society to succeed.
-
In statehouses, well-meaning legislators offer civil unions or domesticpartner laws as a compromise for same-sex couples. New Jersey passed amuch-publicized civil union law in 2006. "It was supposed to give theequivalent of marriage to same-sex couples," wrote the Philadelphia Inquirerlast week. "But companies whose benefits plans are regulated by federalrules, rather than state law, overwhelmingly are refusing to provide healthinsurance to employees' same-sex partners." Lawrence C. Levine, a professorat McGeorge School of Law, said California's domestic partner laws arebetter than most - but they still aren't equal.
-
One gay rights group appearing before the California Supreme Court inhistoric marriage arguments on Tuesday has told the court that "the freedomto marry the person of one's choice is an essential aspect of humandignity." A traditional-values group on the other side, meanwhile, hasargued that the bid for same-sex marriage is "a ticking bomb aimed atdemolishing the very institution to which plaintiffs claim to seekadmission."
-
Leaders at Kansas University are concerned that not offering benefits todomestic partners of faculty and staff may end up costing the university theability to recruit some of the most talented candidates. On Monday, theUniversity Senate Executive Committee will receive a report on thepossibility of extending benefits to domestic partners. Paul Farran,president-elect of KU's Unclassified Staff Senate and an advocate for theproposal, said several peer institutions already extend benefits to domesticpartners.
-
"I can't overstate the importance of California," said Shannon Minter, legaldirector for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. "It will have amonumental impact for decades to come." The Republican-dominated SupremeCourt is generally considered conservative, but has had a notable moderatestreak on social issues. The court, indeed, has strengthened gay rights in anumber of rulings, including a 2005 decision establishing new legalprotections for gay partners in child custody battles. "I suspect the courtis divided on it and it is hard to figure out where they'll come out," saidMichael Wald, a Stanford University law professor.
-
Most Iowans believe marriage should be only between one man and one woman,but a majority of Iowa adults also support the creation of civil unionsgranting benefits to gay couples similar to those offered to heterosexualsin marriage, according to a new Iowa Poll. Sixty-two percent of Iowansbelieve marriage should be only between a man and a woman, according to thepoll by The Des Moines Register. Thirty-two percent believe same-sexmarriages should be allowed, while 6 percent were unsure.
-



=
Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-
Obama uses Bible to defend civil unions
Presidential candidate Barack Obama has defended his support of civil unionsby referring to the Sermon on the Mount. The famous sermon given by Jesus,which includes the Beatitudes, the instruction to 'turn the other cheek' andthe Lord's Prayer, is found in the book of Matthew in the New Testament.
Senator Obama is thought to have been referring to Jesus' instruction to:"Do to others what you would have them do to you." click here for the fullarticle
-
Civil partnership for senior Tory
After a whirlwind 14-month romance leading Conservative MP Alan Duncan hasproposed to his boyfriend. He met 39-year-old James Dunseath at a dinnerarranged by friends and proposed to him on Valentine's Day during a holidayin Oman. They are expected to hold a civil partnership ceremony later thisyear. Mr Duncan, 50, is the Shadow Secretary of State for Business,Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and MP for Rutland and Melton. click herefor the full article
-
Jamaican gays reject tourist boycott over homophobia
J-Flag, the Jamaican lesbian and gay rights group, has rejected calls for atourist boycott in protest at homophobia on the island. Canadian newspapershave been focusing on the prejudice and violence gay people face in Jamaicasince a leading activist sought asylum there, and some have called forCanadians to refuse to holiday in the popular destination. In a statementreleased yesterday, J-Flag, Jamaica's Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals andGays, said it shared the frustration at the "slow progress towardstransforming the social climate." click here for the full article
-
Gay rugby team branches out into club nights
After winning the European Championship last year in Copenhagen and securingthe right to host the contest in 2009, what next for London's leading gayrugby team? Ruggercub is the answer. From next Sunday the Kings CrossSteelers will be hosting their new club night at the Two Brewers in Clapham.
The monthly event is aimed at "rugby boys and their followers." The launchparty on 9th March 2008 features special guest DJ Andy Bell of Erasure fame.
click here for the full article
-
MP targeted by "Satan" after gay earthquake comments
A member of Israel's parliament who generated headlines across the worldwhen he linked earthquakes to gay rights has been receiving death threats.
Shlomo Benizri, who is a member of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, has beentargeted by someone using the name "Satan." The Jerusalem Post reports: "Itis unknown if those threats are connected to a suspicious envelope filledwith white powder that the MK received last week." click here for the fullarticle
-
Bishop stresses civil partnership is not marriage
A Church of England bishop has said it is "careless" to refer to civilpartnerships as marriages. The Right Reverend Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop ofLichfield, also attacked the government for weakening the status ofmarriage. "Most of my gay friends would want to distinguish betweenmarriage, which is something that happens for a man and a woman," he said.
click here for the full article
-
Clinton does comedy on Saturday Night Live
After plugging the show during her televised debate with rival Barack Obamalast week, Hillary Clinton dropped by Saturday Night Live this weekend for asurprise guest appearance. After a parody skit of the debate, Clintonprovided an "editorial response" and praised Amy Poehler's deft imitation ofher on SNL. For the second week in a row, Saturday Night Live opened with ascene featuring a Democratic debate. click here for the full article
-
Porn twins story excites national press
Interest in the strange arrest of gay porn twins 'Teyon' and 'Keyon'exploded across the Net this week, even keying the national press intocovering the story. The brothers, 26-year-old Taleon and Keyontyli Goffney,who have appeared in a variety of gay porn videos, were arrested last weekin a suspected string of robberies across three states. The Associated Pressleapt onto the odd tale of the suspected twin gay porn criminals this week.
click here for the full article
-



=
Gay Aslyum
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-
Mexico's National Human Rights Commission seriously limits its impact by noteffectively promoting remedies and reforms needed to end abusive practices,Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The 128-page report,"Mexico's National Human Rights Commission: A Critical Assessment," examinesthe commission's work on more than 40 human rights cases, including recentabuses by soldiers involved in law enforcement operations, police crackdownsagainst demonstrators in Guadalajara and San Salvador de Atenco, and thekillings of women in Ciudad Juárez over the past decade, among others.
-
As Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with Iraq's leaders on Sunday,the first visit by a Middle Eastern head of state since the U.S.-ledinvasion, he engaged a country in which Iran's influence is deepening butalso provoking growing criticism from Iraqis. Ahmadinejad's visit is thefirst to Iraq by an Iranian leader since Iran's 1979 revolution, whichbrought to power a government in Tehran overseen by Shiite Muslim clerics.
-
I, I'm Matteo Pegoraro of the italian EveryOne Group
(www.everyonegroup.com). I'm really glad that you're going to visit Mehditomorrow. Today we made a urgent request to the Dutch Embassador in Italy,toghether with the Radical Party and Italian radical members of the EuropeanParliament, to ask him to put pressures on the Government of The Netherlandsto grant Mehdi the asylum and to do not deport him back to United Kingdom.
-
Jamaica: In light of the challenges being faced by the LGBT community inJamaica, a number of you have called for a tourist boycott of the island.
Like you, J-FLAG has been deeply frustrated at the slow progress towardstransforming the social climate that makes it difficult for gays andlesbians in Jamaica to lead lives free from homophobic violence.
Yet, because of the possible repercussions of increased homophobic violenceagainst our already besieged community, we feel that a tourist boycott isnot the most appropriate response at this time. In our battle to win heartsand minds, we do not wish to be perceived as taking food off the plate ofthose who are already impoverished. In fact, members of our own communitycould be disproportionately affected by a worsened economic situationbrought about by a tourist ban.
J-FLAG believes that there are a number of avenues which can be explored tobring pressure on our government to respect, protect and ensure the humanrights of LGBT people in Jamaica. We have called on the Prime Minister andinfluential leaders of industry to both renounce homophobic violence andcommit to a course of action that will stem this scourge that plagues ourisland.
The concern and support of the international community has been critical infocusing attention to our situation. We are open to further engaging withyou in pursuing constructive interventions that both make our case for humanrights protection and minimize risk to our physical and material well being.
-
Persian New Year (Nowrooz) will be celebrated on March 20, 2008 at1:48:19am. At this time families gather around the "Haft Seen" table tostart the New Year together by feasting and celebrating. This year, likeprevious years, many queer Iranians who are seeking asylum will be spendingNew Year away from their home and families. This year IRQO is working on 80of those asylum cases. We hope to share this special time with them, andtherefore we are asking you to help us bring this gift of joy to theirhomes. (please check out IRQO's website)
www.irqo.net/IRQO/English/pages/121.htm
-


=


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

No comments: