GLBT DIGEST April 5, 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.


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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Virginia Judge Allows Case on Episcopal Property to Proceed
Eleven congregations in Virginia that broke away from the Episcopal Churchhave won an initial round in their court fight to retain church property.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/us/05church.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=GAY&st=nyt&oref=slogin

-NYC Pol Caught in Slush Fund Probe
NEW YORK (AP) -- Christine Quinn was widely thought to have a shot atbecoming New York's first female and openly gay mayor. But that bid may becomplicated by revelations that the city council, under her leadership,allocated millions of dollars to fake organizations.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Council-Slush-Funds.html?scp=4&sq=GAY&st=nyt

-Clinton Discusses Gay Rights With Ellen
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton told EllenDeGeneres that she will work to ensure that same-sex couples such as thetalk show host and her partner Portia de Rossi are treated fairly.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Clinton-Ellen-DeGeneres.html?scp=10&sq=GAY&st=nyt


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Washington Post
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Md. Hospital Deal Advances
Gay Rights Bills Also Move Ahead in Legislature
The Maryland Senate advanced legislation yesterday authorizing anindependent takeover of the ailing Prince George's County hospital systemand revived an emergency measure to ban children's products containing leadas lawmakers sprinted toward adjournment Monday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/04/AR2008040403488.html


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Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Edits to gay soldier's Wikipedia entry traced to Pentagon
Anonymous user deleted references to sexual orientation
A Wikipedia article about Maj. Alan Rogers, a gay soldier who was killed inJanuary in Iraq, was apparently edited by someone in the Pentagon, whoremoved any mention that Rogers was gay.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17515

-Tucson Region: Bid for ban of AZ gay marriages is derailed
Fall referendum off the table; Bee to kill Senate measure
PHOENIX - State lawmakers' efforts to get a constitutional ban on gaymarriage before voters appears all but dead.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/metro/232855.php

-For Slain Youth, World Wide Web Of Mourners
Strangers Create Memorials To a Gay Teen Named Larry
No one really dies on the Internet. A private life becomes public. Everylife finds an audience. Look at Lawrence "Larry" King. The openly gayeighth-grader who was shot and killed nearly two months ago lives on.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/02/AR2008040203800.html

-Just roommates
Colleges' final frontier: mixed-gender housing
In the Woodstock era, the advent of coed dorms caused a stir, with Lifemagazine proclaiming the development "an intimate revolution on campus."
Coed floors came along over the next two decades, giving college studentsimmediate proximity to each other. The next step, coed suites and bathrooms,brought the sexes even closer together.
http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2008/04/02/just_roommates/

-Beach boys in the buff by Jesse Monteagudo
Florida's nude beaches endure despite challenges
The gay pubs in Florida are filled with photos of shirtless torsos atvarious outdoor events. At first glance, the average visitor may think thissun-drenched state is also an Eden for nude sunbathing enthusiasts. Mildweather and beautiful beaches have, in fact, made Florida popular withintern ational tourists from places where beach nudity is not controversial.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-3/locallife/feature/4554.cfm

-Remaking the cowboy's image
Gay cowboys and cowgirls compete in GLBT rodeo
FOR SOUTHWEST RANCHES horse trainer Heath Gunnison, images of thebutt-kicking, bad-ass cowboys best exemplified by a Waylon Jennings song ora Sam Shepard drama are romanticized notions of the past.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-3/locallife/sports/4555.cfm

-Kern decries influence of rich gays on elections
Donor says Okla. lawmaker 'doesn't know what she's up against'
In the same speech in which she said the "homosexual agenda" is moredangerous than terrorism, Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern blasted wealthygays for surreptitiously influencing the electoral process.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-3/news/national/4552.cfm

-Give me 'Shelter'
Art, surfing and family loyalties color sexual awakening film
WHILE MANY YOUNG GAY filmmakers rely on their own coming out experiences forthe inspiration for their first projects, writer/director Jonah Markowitzreaches further with his first full-length feature film, "Shelter."
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-3/arts/film/4549.cfm

-Park sex bill could destroy lives of innocent gay men
Making public sex a felony is another step toward a prison stateWith 2.3 million people behind bars, the United States has the highestincarceration rate in the world, far ahead of communist China,Russia andIran. Three jurisdictions in Florida - the city of Jacksonville and Polk andPinellas counties - rank in the top 10 for highest incarceration rates inthe United States, according to a recent report by the Justice PolicyInstitute.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-3/view/editorial/4558.cfm

-Persecution of gays abroad gaining more attention
Reports include death squads, torture and coerced gender changes in IranSINCE I WROTE AN EARLIER column about the persecution of gays in manyforeign countries ("Over There," Chicago Free Press, July 25, 2007), therehave been several more news stories about the plight of gays abroad - inEastern Europe, in Africa, in portions of Latin America, but particularly inthe Muslim theocracies of the Middle East - Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, etc.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/4-3/view/columns/4562.cfm


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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Trial to Proceed In Transwoman Discrimination Suit
(Houston, Texas) The District Court for the Southern District of Texas onFriday denied motions for summary judgment from both sides in the case of atransgender woman who found her job offer from a Houston medical clinicwithdrawn after a background check disclosed her sex as male.

-Man Convicted Of Spreading HIV Sentenced To 18 Years In Prison
(Windsor, Ontario) A man convicted of knowingly spreading the virus thatcauses AIDS was handed an 18-year prison sentence Friday after a judgedeclined to declare him a dangerous offender.

-Arizona Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment Appears Dead
(Phoenix, Arizona) It looks as though a proposed amendment to the Arizonastate Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage will not make it ontothe ballot this November following a testy session in the legislature.

-Court: Website That Asks If You Are Gay Violates Calif. Law
(San Francisco, California) A federal appeals court has ruled that a companythat finds roommates for people on the Internet violated California law byrequiring people to state their sex, sexuality and whether they hadchildren.

-Opposition Demands Canadian MP Resign Over Homophobic Remark
(Regina, Saskatchewan) Tom Lukiwski rocks back and forth in the camera framewhile pontificating about the differences between alpha and beta males.

-Clinton Says She Would Be Best To Defend Gay Rights
(Washington) Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said she would defendgay rights as president and eliminate disparities for same-sex couples infederal law, including immigration and tax policy.

-Carter Hints At Obama Endorsement
(Washington) Former President Carter left little doubt this week about whomhe'd like to see in the White House next year.

-Obama Outraises Clinton 2-1 In March
(Washington) Barack Obama raked in $40 million in March, leaving HillaryRodham Clinton and her $20 million in the fundraising dust and stuffing hiscampaign treasury so he can outspend her in the crucial Pennsylvaniaprimary.


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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Edits to Gay Soldier's Wikipedia Entry Traced to Pentagon
A Wikipedia article about Maj. Alan Rogers, a gay soldier who was killed inJanuary in Iraq, was apparently edited by someone in the Pentagon, whoremoved any mention that Rogers was gay. The user on Monday redacted detailsabout Rogers that appeared on the online encyclopedia site. Information thatwas deleted included Rogers' sexual orientation; the soldier's participationin American Veterans for Equal Rights, a group that works to change militarypolicy toward gays; and the fact that Rogers' death helped bring the U.S.military's casualty toll in Iraq to 4,000.

-Battling Meth Addiction in the Gay Community
Crystal, Tina, Crissy and Dizzy are not the members of the latest all girlgroup. They are just a few of the cute little nicknames gay people havegiven to an addictive drug causing mass destruction in our community. We'veheard it all before-the trouble that this dangerous drug causes and theeffects it has on the user... from loss of jobs to withdrawal from familyand friends, unsafe sexual practices and a significant rise in rates ofsexual transmitted disease including HIV/AIDS, though the facts are staringus in the face, use rates continue to spike across the country.

-Not 'Gay' to Want Respect in Schools
Are our public schools doing enough to protect gay students from harassment?The case of Jimmy Iniguez makes me wonder. Iniguez, a 17-year-old junior whois openly gay, was accused last week of harassing another student andsuspended from Wichita's Metro-Midtown Alternative High School. Iniguezfought the charge, saying he was the one who was being unfairly accused andharassed because of his sexual orientation.

-Bi Bond? Daniel Craig Thinks So
Actor Daniel Craig seems to be getting used to gay male attention followingon from his spat with journalist and muscle enthusiast Johann Hari. As welove to remind everyone, Hari came close to getting a punch from Craig atthe BAFTA party for complimenting one of the nation's most talented actorson how well he fills a pair of speedos.

-Kennedy Targets Job Bias Against Gays
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is jumping into the middle of an uproar within thegay community whose causes he has long championed. The MassachusettsDemocrat is leading a push in the Senate for a federal ban on job biasagainst gays, lesbians and bisexuals - but not transsexuals, cross-dressersand others whose outward appearance doesn't match their gender at birth.

-GLSEN's Day of Silence Honors the Memory of Lawrence King
Following the recent murder of eighth grade student Lawrence King, studentsacross America will dedicate Friday, April 25, 2008 to the memory of King onGLSEN's 12th annual National Day of Silence. Students will observe a vow ofsilence to bring attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendername-calling, bullying and harassment in middle schools, high schools andcollege campuses.

-Human Rights Campaign to Host Florida "Camp Equality," Train Activists forElection 2008
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual andtransgender civil rights organization, announced today that it is launchinga national program to help elect fair-minded candidates and defeatdiscriminatory ballot measures. The program - called Camp Equality - willtrain nearly 1,500 people in 14 cities to work on political campaigns. Thefirst Camp Equality will take place in Orlando, Florida on May 2-4. Thoseinterested in participating in Camp Equality are encouraged to apply onlinebefore the April 25 deadline: www.hrc.org/campequality


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Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Maryland: Unmarried couples would get additional medical decision-makingrights in Maryland under a bill headed to the governor. The House ofDelegates has approved a bill to allow domestic partners, who could be gayor straight, to make medical or funeral decisions for each other if theymeet certain criteria to show they are a committed couple.

-A state lawmaker said a Missouri judge should not grant an annulment to alesbian married in Massachusetts. Republican State Sen. Delbert Scott ofLowry City said the couple violated a Massachusetts residency requirementwhen they moved to Missouri. In 2003, Missouri lawmakers overwhelminglypassed Scott's bill limiting marriage to be only between a man and a woman.
Scott filed a brief Tuesday asking Buchanan County Circuit Judge DanielKellogg to drop the case as an "unrecognized marriage." The brief said statelaw bars judges from recognizing same-sex marriage for any purpose.

-A state lawmaker has drawn the ire of gay Marylanders for derisive commentshe made last month. During a legislative hearing on a same-sex marriagebill, Del. Frank Conaway Jr. (D-Baltimore) called sexual orientation achoice and quoted a biblical passage often used to oppose gay civil rights.
Also during the hearing, Conaway also told Carrie Evans of Equality Marylandthat he did not choose to be straight and was "born with this equipment."
Equality Maryland is encouraging Conaway's constituents to tell the lawmakerthey were offended by his "demeaning and immature" comments.

-Donations to the connectional ministries of the United Church of Christincreased by over a million dollars in 2007 following its endorsement ofsame-sex marriage in 2005. UCC's controversial decision a few years ago wasa move that some said would lead to financial ruin for the national church.
But instead, the opposite has happened, national church leaders said. During2007, voluntary contributions to Our Church's Wider Mission, thedenomination's shared fund for connectional ministries, totaled $29,637,048,up from $28,409,202 during the previous year, according to year-endfinancial reports.

-Sometimes it's the small moments of discrimination that smack you in theface and wake you up.
I recently had some minor outpatient surgery and had to take some time offwork. One of the calls I had to make to arrange this was to PrudentialFinancial. The call was going as smoothly as could be expected when dealingwith a long list of personal questions. Then came the question: "Maritalstatus?" Then came the smack. I replied without even batting an eye,"Domestic Partner." The woman on the phone paused and said to me, "Single,married, or divorced?" I again calmly answered, "I am registered domesticpartners in both my county and my place of employment." The woman againpaused, sighed, and repeated in an annoyed tone: "Single, married, ordivorced?" Did she not hear me? I was explaining my legal status to herquestion and she was simply not acknowledging it.

-UNITE HERE, a major union that represents workers in the textile, clothing,hotel, and restaurant industries, has passed a resolution to "support thecivil rights of LGBT individuals and couples against discrimination in allareas including employment, housing, and civil marriage." It also said,"Civil union and domestic partnership laws, however well-intentioned, createan unequal legal status for same-sex couples and their families."


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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Sir Ian McKellen: coming out politicised me
Last night veteran gay rights campaigner and co-founder of Stonewall Sir IanMcKellen gave the keynote speech at the gay equality organisation's annualEquality Dinner. 540 guests attended and more than £320,000 was raised. Formany people, the highlight of the evening was the following speech by SirIan, exploring the history of Stonewall and what its priorities are for thefuture. "It was 20 years ago. The biggest story regarding gay people in thiscountry was about AIDS." click here for the full article

-Court rules website cannot ask sexual orientation question
A roommate-finding site is prohibited from asking users to disclose theirsexual orientation, a US appeals court has ruled. Arizona-based websiteRoommates.com came under fire by The Fair Housing Council of San FernandoValley and the Fair Housing Council of San Diego, who claimed the siteviolated the Fair Housing Act by demanding users list their sexualorientation as part of their application form. It is the latest dispute overwhether anti-discrimination rules apply to the web. click here for the full article

-MEP's campaign against US policy on HIV travellers
Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has launched an online campaignto end an American policy which effectively bars HIV positive people fromentering the country. Under current US immigration law, any foreign nationalwho tests positive for HIV is "inadmissible," meaning he is barred frompermanent residence and even short-term travel in the United States. Thereare waivers available to this rule, but obtaining them has always beendifficult. click here for the full article

-Europe concerned about gays in Lithuania
A leading European organisation has reminded the government of a new EUnation that rallies and public events cannot be banned just because somepeople are homophobic. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europeexpressed concern about the situation in Lithuania, where sexual minoritiesare barred from holding Pride marches by the authorities in the capitalVilnius. A Luxembourgian member of the CoE Parliamentary Assembly, JeanHuss, complained to the committee. click here for the full article

-Trans trucker wins at employment tribunal
A transsexual who claimed she was hounded out of her job as a trucker aftershe began her transition from her former male gender has triumphed at heremployment tribunal. Vikki-Marie Gaynor, 37, from Wallasey in Wirral, iswaiting to hear the exact sum of compensation she will be rewarded followingher successful claims of sexual discrimination against Exel Europe, part ofdelivery giant DHL, and recruitment agency Blue Arrow. The ex-soldier gother HGV licence through the Royal Corps of Transport. click here for the fullarticle

-Kennedy pushes LGB but not T workplace protections
A US Senator has caused outrage among the gay community by refusing toadvocate a federal ban on job bias against transsexuals and cross-dressers,despite lending his support to homosexuals. Edward M Kennedy, who representsMassachusetts, is currently leading the push for a ban on employment biasagainst gays, lesbians and bisexuals, but will not extend the campaign toinclude others whose outward appearance does not match their gender atbirth. Kennedy, who has previously campaigned for the gay community, hassaid it will be an "uphill struggle" to pass the bill. click here for the full article

-Guest pays £20,000 for tea with Blair at Stonewall dinner
Last night's Stonewall Equality Dinner raised £320,000 for the gay equalityorganisation. Auctioned at the event were a range of items including art byKobi Israel, the award-winning photographer, a civil partnership receptionand dinner at Cliveden, one of the world's finest hotels. The opportunity tohave tea with Tony Blair secured a bid of £20,000. All funds raised will gotowards Stonewall campaigns such as Education for All, tackling homophobicbullying from Britain's schools. click here for the full article

-Gay Iranian will be returned to UK as soon as today
The Dutch Minister of Justice has told the country's parliament that shecompletely trusts the UK asylum system. Nebahat Albayrak, speaking in adebate about the plight of gay Iranian teenager Mehdi Kazemi, said she wouldnot be asking the British counterparts for any assurances about his case.
Boris van der Ham of the D66 party secured the debate with support from theGreen party, the social democrats and other opposition parties. click here for the full article

-Burlesque star's lesbian porn past revealed
Burlesque beauty Dita Von Teese (real name Heather Renee Sweet) was oncefeatured in a hardcore lesbian porn sex tape; one starring role she mightjust prefer to forget. This week, clips leaked from the porn video featurethe statuesque stunner engaged in erotic sexual positions with severalwomen-and a stiletto pump. The leaked video footage that appeared on the Netthis week is reportedly from a 1999 Pin-Ups 2 fetish film. click here for the full article

-Ian McKellen met Gordon Brown at gay 'wedding'
Veteran gay rights advocate and award-winning actor Sir Ian McKellen hasrevealed that he has only met the Prime Minister once. Speaking atStonewall's annual fundraising dinner at the Dorchester hotel in London, SirIan said the occasion was the celebration of the civil partnership ceremonyof gay MEP Michael Cashman and his partner Paul Cottingham. He told the 540guests that he had worked with Mr Brown, Tony Blair and John Major on gayrights. click here for the full article

-Ken Livingstone says he's not gay but has fathered five children with threedifferent women
As well as his two young children with his current partner Emma Beale, MrLivingstone has three children from previous relationships. He fathered twodaughters by one woman and a son with another. He told the BBC: "I don'ttalk about my private life; it seems like only yesterday the press wastrying to imply I was gay." click here for the full article

-Manchester gay foundation to auction off lesbians
On Sunday 22nd June lesbian women of all ages, shapes and sizes will beauctioned off to raise funds for the Manchester-based Lesbian and GayFoundation (LGF). The event will take place at the Vanilla bar in the city'sgay village, and the foundation is seeking volunteers for the auction.
Highest bidders from the evening will be sent on a date the following weekwith the lesbian of their choice. click here for the full article


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Forwarded from Euro-Queer
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article:

-I am at a conference in London with Roman Wieruszewski, longtime humanrights activist, former Polish member of the UN Human Rights Committee, anauthor of the Yogyakarta Principles--and he said elatedly that the publicityaround Brendan and Tom has done more to move discussion of LGBT rights inPoland, and socety in general, than he had thought possible in 20 years. Socongrats to KPH for their great work, as well as to the happy couple!
Scott Long, Director, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights ProgramHuman Rights Watch

-Straight male machismo underpins all tyranny
Peter Tatchell argues that by challenging traditional heterosexualmasculinity, the queer emancipation movement can contribute to theliberation of all of humanity. Queer liberation is not a mere minorityissue, nor purely a question of personal lifestyle, civil rights or sexualfreedom. It is, or can be, socially transformative, with the potential toaid all emancipation struggles everywhere.

-US 'Dismayed' at China's Jailing of Hu Jia: Embassy
A court in Beijing today sentenced Hu Jia to three-and-a-half years injail after finding him guilty of "incitement to subvert state power."
For many years one of China's most outspoken proponents of humanrights, Hu is particularly noted for his work to bring attention to theplight of the nation's AIDS patients. "We are dismayed by thisverdict," said Susan Stevenson, a spokesperson for the US embassy. "Inthis Olympic year, we urge China to seize the opportunity to put itsbest face forward and take steps to improve its record on human rightsand religious freedom."


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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 can't access the article


-New York Gov. David A. Paterson to address national gay community
Task Force to honor Paterson, for his advocacy for |lesbian, gay, bisexualand transgender rights, at New York Leadership Awards at the New York TimesCenter, Monday April 7

-Toddlers can no longer marry in Arkansas
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2008-04-03-arkansas-marriage-law_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip&POE=click-refer


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Forwarded from Euro-Queer
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article:

-I am at a conference in London with Roman Wieruszewski, longtime humanrights activist, former Polish member of the UN Human Rights Committee, anauthor of the Yogyakarta Principles--and he said elatedly that the publicityaround Brendan and Tom has done more to move discussion of LGBT rights inPoland, and socety in general, than he had thought possible in 20 years. Socongrats to KPH for their great work, as well as to the happy couple!
Scott Long, Director, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights ProgramHuman Rights Watch

-Straight male machismo underpins all tyranny
Peter Tatchell argues that by challenging traditional heterosexualmasculinity, the queer emancipation movement can contribute to theliberation of all of humanity. Queer liberation is not a mere minorityissue, nor purely a question of personal lifestyle, civil rights or sexualfreedom. It is, or can be, socially transformative, with the potential toaid all emancipation struggles everywhere.

-US 'Dismayed' at China's Jailing of Hu Jia: Embassy
A court in Beijing today sentenced Hu Jia to three-and-a-half years injail after finding him guilty of "incitement to subvert state power."
For many years one of China's most outspoken proponents of humanrights, Hu is particularly noted for his work to bring attention to theplight of the nation's AIDS patients. "We are dismayed by thisverdict," said Susan Stevenson, a spokesperson for the US embassy. "Inthis Olympic year, we urge China to seize the opportunity to put itsbest face forward and take steps to improve its record on human rightsand religious freedom."


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300,000 women in the United States are living with HIV... yet there is nounifying voice that represents a wide and diverse community ofHIV-positive women in the U.S. Twenty-seven years into the HIV pandemic,this is about to change...
WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases) islaunching a U.S.-based national Positive Women's Network. The PositiveWomen's Network (PWN) is a membership body consisting of HIV-positivewomen designed to strengthen our power at a national level to demand andcreate policies and programs that fit the realities of our lives.
We are now accepting applications from HIV-positive women leaders toattend the first national visioning convening for this network which willtake place in San Francisco in mid-June, 2008. The application process opensApril 1, 2008 and closes April 22nd, 2008. Please contact WORLD:www.womenhiv.org, 510.986.0340, or pwn@womenhiv.org for additionalinformation.


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Gay & Lesbian Leadership SmartBrier
http://www.smartbrief.com/index.jsp
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Will ENDA, hate-crimes measures get stuck in Senate?
Both the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and a gay-inclusive hate-crimesbill are in danger of getting stalled in the Senate before the chamber takesits fall recess. These highly anticipated pieces of LGBT-rights legislationcould fall victim to a combination of election-year politics, Republicancalls for filibusters and a crowded calendar, according to this article.Washington Blade (4/4)

-Kern's critics sound off in Oklahoma
A group of leaders committed to diversity and LGBT equality in Oklahomapledged to try to work constructively to change the views of state Rep.Sally Kern, whose anti-gay comments inspired a rally on Wednesday attendedby hundreds of her supporters. The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) (4/2)

-Pentagon gives Baldwin's partner clearance to fly at Pelosi's requestThe partner of out U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., reportedly was allowedto accompany the lawmaker as her "spouse" on a military plane, but onlyafter House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., intervened on their behalf withDefense Secretary Robert Gates. According to out U.S. Rep. Barney Frank,D-Mass., the military's objection had less to with its ban on openly gayservice members than on the White House's discomfort with equal marriagerights. Baldwin did not comment. The Politico (Washington) (4/1)

-Poland's EU charter said to contain gay-rights escape clause
Poland President Lech Kaczynski is set to sign a proposed charter of rightsneeded to be admitted to the European Union that reportedly would allow thecountry to be exempt from EU members' requirement to offer equal rights forgays and lesbians. 365Gay.com (4/2)

-Justice Department examines firing for anti-gay bias
The firing of Leslie Hagen, a career attorney at the Department of Justice,is being investigated for possible anti-gay bias. Hagen, whose jobperformance earned the highest possible evaluations from her superiors atJustice, attracted the attention of Monica Goodling -- former senior counselto former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales who testified that she allowedpolitical and other considerations to affect personnel decisions, inviolation of civil service rules. While Hagen was by all accounts a loyalRepublican, reports indicate that rumors surfaced that she was a lesbian.National Public Radio (4/2)

-Lawmakers: Marriage ban won't be on Arizona ballot in November
Arizona Daily Star (Tucson)/Capitol Media Services (4/4)

-McCain won't moderate Republican platform's anti-gay plank
The McCain president campaign doesn't plan to try to moderate plannedRepublican platform planks calling for constitutional amendments to banabortion and to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples, according toblogger Michael Crawford. "So when McCain's campaign and Log CabinRepublicans try to hoodwink you into voting for John McCain in November,remember that his 'straight talk' really is all about ... straight and GLBTpeople need not apply," he writes. Read more at The Bilerico Project.


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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Taking On Polish Prez's Baiting
New Yorker Brendan Fay and his husband Tom Moulton, both gay activists, wereflown to Warsaw by Poland's private TVN television network this week for around of political meetings, press conferences, and interviews that havesubstantially advanced the discussion of LGBT rights there, according to aPolish gay activist.
http://gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19451424&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=6

-Nethaway: Cohabitation plus combat pay
WACO, Texas - The Army has decided that a little cohabitation among troopsin a war zone is OK.
The Army must figure their new policy can be turned into a recruiting drivewith posters showing camo-clad soldiers with sly little grins along with themessage "Cohabit with combat pay.
http://www.statesman.com/search/content/shared/news/stories/2008/04/NETHAWAY_COLUMN_0403_COX.html

-Imam's speaking engagement dropped at St. Cloud State
One of two outspoken Muslim clerics scheduled to speak at St. Cloud StateUniversity this week is unable to attend, the school said today.
http://www.startribune.com/local/17223174.html

-Two gay bills in jeopardy
Election year politics, GOP filibuster cited as obstacles for ENDA, hatecrimes
Gay rights advocates and gay-supportive members of Congress say they remainuncertain whether two important gay rights bills can clear the Senate beforelawmakers adjourn in the fall to devote their efforts to the upcomingpresidential and congressional elections.
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/4-4/news/national/12334.cfm

-Gay activist Wayne Besen discusses Leno 'gayest look' controversy with BillO'Reilly
Fox News' Bill O'Reilly sat down with activist, public speaker and TruthWins Out executive director Wayne Besen to discuss "politically correctspeech," particularly in regards to a recent exchange between Tonight Showhost Jay Leno and actor Ryan Phillippe.
http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/besen_040308.html

-Video of Besen's Guest Spot on O'Reilly's program [Good job!]
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=72600

-BUSH REGIME MAY HAVE MISSED THE TERRORISTS ON 9/11 BUT THEY FOUND A LESBIANAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRED HER By every single account, LeslieHagen couldn't have been a better employee. She "received the highestpossible ratings for her work as liaison between the Justice Department andthe U.S. attorneys' committee on Native American issues. Her final jobevaluation lists five categories for supervisors to rank her performance.
For each category, a neat X fills the box marked, "Outstanding." And at thebottom of the page, under "overall rating level," she also got the top mark:Outstanding."
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2008/04/bush-regime-may-have-missed-terrorists.html

-Temporary ban on castration in Thailand
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's Health Ministry ordered hospitals andmedical clinics to temporarily stop performing castrations for non-medicalreasons, saying Wednesday that the procedure performed on transsexuals needsstricter monitoring.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/tacoma/24hour/world/story/324362.html

-Chile may be Considering Marriage Equality
I've only found one source for this story, the Catholic News Agency.
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/04/03/1754

-THERAPIES DESIGNED TO SHOCK YOU
There will be a free screening of the moving and at times shocking
documentary Abomination: Homosexuality and the Ex-Gay Movement, this FridayApril 4, hosted by the Gay Christian group Freedom 2b[e].
http://www.ssonet.com.au/display.asp?ArticleID=8113

-Washington Post's gay problem
Why did editor Len Downie go to such lengths to hide the simple fact that asoldier was gay?
THE STORY OF a gay Army major who ded in Iraq has presented the WashingtonPost and other mainstream media outlets with an opportunity to revisit andupdate their stylebook policies regarding when to identify someone as gay.
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/4-4/view/editorial/12345.cfm

-'Abstinence Programs': Ineffectual, Homophobic?
GLBT Blogger Wayne Besen, in an editorial published Apr. 3, says thatso-called "abstinence only" sex education programs don't just let straightkids down by failing to prevent teen pregnancy and the spread of STDs; theyare homophobic, to boot.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=72600

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