GLBT DIGEST April 6, 2008

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

-NYC Public Library Catalogues, Preserves, and Celebrates Gay Archives
The New York City Public Library has collected a vast resource of GLBTliterature. Now the time has come to curate, and celebrate, the trove. Themost public face of the collection may be the library's exhibition, BecomingVisible: The Legacy of Stonewall, reported The New York Times in an Apr. 4article.

-Italy's Bisexual Green Minister and Claims of 'Jobs for the Boys'
One week before the general election, Italy's most colourful cabinetminister is fighting off claims that he accepted hospitality and free travelfrom businessmen in return for plum public contracts. Alfonso PecoraroScanio, leader of Italy's Verdi (Green) party, was the first Italianpolitician to come out as bisexual. As the nation's leading green, the48-year-old has fought off GM crops, promoted green energy and rehabilitatedindustrial sites.

-Presidential Candidates Called to Stop Gay Iranians' Deportations
Equality Forum, a US headquartered national and international GLBT civilrights organization, called on Presidential candidates Clinton, McCain andObama to send letters to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to revoke thedeportation orders for the return of gays and lesbians in the UK to Iran.

-The Gay Evangelical
Rev. Mel White penned the life stories and speeches of conservativeChristian superstars like Pat Robertson. His religious leaders publicly andvehemently condemned gays and lesbians, and White tried to overcome hishomosexuality with exorcisms and electric shock therapy. In 1993, White cameout as a gay man and denounced the politics of hate in the evangelicalchurch. Now, 15 years and two books later, White spearheads Soulforce , anorganization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender acceptance inreligious communities.

-Local Parish Opposes Episcopal Church's Stance on Gays
Though small in number, the officers and most of the 44 active baptizedmembers of Dickinson's St. John's Episcopal Church are speaking loudly inopposition to their bishop's decision to not license a partnered gay priestin Grand Forks. The Rev. Bruce MacDuffie said their position is not tochampion the cause of the Rev. Gayle Baldwin, 62, an associate professor ofreligion at the University of North Dakota. Instead, the Dickinson parishopposes Bishop Michael Smith's general position on not licensing partneredgay and lesbian people.

-Modest Global AIDS Funding Increase Approved by House
A modest, 27% increase in global HIV/AIDS spending was authorized this weekin an important vote in the House of Representatives. "We welcome thisreauthorization of the AIDS program and congratulate members for avoiding apartisan logjam on this crucial issue," said Dr. Paul Zeitz, ExecutiveDirector of the Global AIDS Alliance. "We can only hope that the Senatequickly follows suit, since the President hopes to use the bill at theupcoming G8 Summit to leverage other countries to do more."

-Ft. Lauderdale: It's Rodeo Weekend!
Come out to the Bergeron Arena in Davie, Florida this weekend to watch allthe action as cowgirls and cowboys from around the United States and Canadacompete in one of the largest gay rodeos east of the Mississippi! Visit ourSunshine Stampede 2008 pages for more information about all the weekendactivities!


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The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Website Can Be Sued for Gay Housing Discrimination
The apartment search website Roommates.com is susceptible to discriminationlawsuits because the site allows users to specify their gender, maritalstatus, and sexual orientation, the ninth U.S. circuit court of appealsruled Thursday in San Francisco.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid53197.asp

-Cheyenne Stands Tall
Most leading men are afraid to be out and proud. Cheyenne Jackson is biggerthan that.
http://advocate.com/issue_story_ektid52945.asp

-Obama Found a Home in His Church
A young Barack Obama was searching for answers, and perhaps a place tobelong, when he decided to visit a fast-growing church recommended byfriends. What he heard left him in tears.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid53183.asp

-She's a Riot
Suzanne Westenhoefer gives her Dinah predictions before her performancetonight at the year's biggest lesbian party.
http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid53150.asp


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

-They came in masses -- as though they expected a fight.
One week after the Larimer County [Colorado] Commissioners voted 2-1 toextend medical benefits to county employees' domestic partners, includingsame-sex couples, the gay lesbian bi-sexual and transgender community andtheir "straight allies" packed themselves into the commissioners'second-story conference room to defend the vote against naysayers. Theyexpected at least one or two people, if not more, to show up to voice theiropposition. In fact, rumors had spread through e-mail and listserv thatSheriff Jim Alderden was making an appearance at meeting this week to opposethe commissioners' decision.

-One of the great blessings of my life is the consistent, long-term presenceof many friends. There are three very important people who have been in mylife since first or second grade. More than a dearth of blood relativesmakes those people my family; we have shared 30 years of ups and downs onthe dizzying carousel ride of life. Two of those people, and my closestblood relative, are gay. I have been tangentially immersed in the gayculture for so long, it's a natural and common aspect of life. Three decadesof loving these friends and family and sharing their successes in managingcareers and raising families has jaded me to the hatred and prejudice manypeople harbor against the gay community. It's easy for me to let my guarddown and take gay culture for granted. As a middle-aged, overweight whiteguy with graying facial hair, I am America's ruling demographic, so the gayrights struggle is something I experience secondhand, like my black friends'struggles and my wheelchair-bound friend's struggles.

-This week, an Arizona regulatory review panel approved new rules to givehealth insurance coverage to domestic partners of Arizona state employees -including those here at the UA [Univ. of Arizona]. Although the rulechange - which technically modified an executive policy rather than a law -could be challenged in court, it's likely to take effect Oct. 1 of thisyear. Data suggest that anywhere between 317 and 853 partners will need tobe covered by the law, at a maximum cost of about $4.25 million. But thebenefits of the new rule far outweigh those costs, especially here at theUA. As UA President Robert Shelton said in a Daily Wildcat article earlierthis week, the university's inability to give health insurance to same-sexcouples has been a "significant issue" when it comes to hiring. Moreimportant, the rule is a victory for equality under the law (or at least,the rules). For respecting the rights of same-sex couples and making hiringmuch easier for the UA, the new rules get a Pass.

-MERI will be hosting a lobby day next Wednesday, April 9th, at the RhodeIsland State House. "Lobbying" sounds scary, but it's not. The mostimportant thing to know about lobbying is that legislators want to hear fromtheir constituents. Actually, they hardly ever do, so calls, letters,e-mails or postcards can have tremendous impact. You can change their minds.


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

GENITAL CUTTING IN A GLOBALIZED AGE: A FORUM FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY DEBATE
A major international conference in London - Friday 4 July 2008
The Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 0AE
"Why a focus on surgery can't improve healthcare services for Disorders ofSex Development"
A groundbreaking event bringing together medical doctors and researchers,
social and behavioural scientists, scholars in literary and culturalstudies, lawyers, artists, philosophers and historians who share a criticalinterest in genital modification in the clinical, political and culturalspheres. The remit will be to examine practices and discourses of health,harm and sexuality in their historical and contemporary contexts. Theconference will explicitly address the discursive and legislativeinconsistencies relating to genital cutting, and tackle the ideological,political and ethical implications of current practices.
Topics:
.Childhood surgery for ambiguous genitalia
.Sex reassignment surgery for transsexual people
..Female genital mutilation
.Male circumcision
.Genital cosmetic surgery


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Forwarded from Gays Without Borders
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article

-SUBALTERN VOICES SEMINAR SERIES
CREA invites you to a panel event April 15, 2008
Queer Bodies and Desires: Impacts of State and Society on Transgender,Intersex, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in Latin America and
South/Southeast Asia
http://lists.creaworld.org/listinfo.cgi

-Human Rights First is currently accepting nominations for the 2008 Roger N.Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award. Those involved in human rights throughoutthe world are encouraged to nominate individuals or organizations who havedemonstrated an exceptional commitment to international human rightsadvocacy. The award will be presented during a ceremony in New York City inMay of 2008 and the winner will receive a $25,000 prize.

-Yesterday. Mehdi, the 19 years old gay Iranian being detained by theauthorities in the Netherlands, was returned to UK earlier today. He wasinterviewed at London Heathrow airport by immigration officials, was"released" and will be staying with one of his uncles until his situation isresolved. No further details are expected until after the weekend.
http://ukgaynews.org.uk/latest.htm

-Olympics Runner: I will be in touch with John about your suggestions, andI will offer my help to him, if he wants to help draw attention to Hu Jia.
The torch relay is on Thursday, so there's some time to reach out to John.
There is also an event on Tuesday that I think would be perfect for asolidarity action with Hu Jia. Movie star and AIDS activist Richard Gere,along with Nobel peace prize winner Desmond Tutu are holding a number of pro-Tibet actions, and I hope to round a few SF activists to be attheir press conference, so we can hold signs about Hu Jia, gays and peoplewith AIDS.
http://www.sfteamtibet.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102&Itemid=66/


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Philadelphia Gay News

-Clinton talks; Obama balks
The Democratic race for president has been heating up for months. And whereonce eight contenders graced the national stage, only two have made it toPennsylvania's primary: Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. In thesemonths, an alliance of LGBT papers sought to speak with the top threecontenders - Clinton, Obama and former Sen. John Edwards - to no avail. Now,with the delegate spread hovering around 150, smaller constituencies,including the LGBT community and their superdelegates, are playing a largerrole. PGN invited both Clinton and Obama, as well as presumptive Republicancandidate John McCain, to speak with us. Only Clinton granted an interview.
... PGN: I assume that you and President Clinton have gay friends. Can yougive me your impression of one of those couples that you socialize with,without giving any names?
http://www.epgn.com/


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From MoveOn.Org

-10 things you should know about John McCain (but probably don't):
1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor ofDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he'scontinued to oppose key civil rights laws.
2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush onIraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain"will make Cheney look like Gandhi."
3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCainvoted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bushfor vetoing that ban.
4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support
Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."4
5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator inCongress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill lastyear, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.
6. He's one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires.The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! YetMcCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facingforeclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.
7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he's too reckless tobe commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of hisbeing president sends a cold chill down my spine. He's erratic. He'shotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."
8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but hiscampaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The governmentwatchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money forhis campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates.
9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right inrecent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley,believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a"false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacherJohn Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gayrights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult."
10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0-yes,zero-from the League of Conservation Voters last year.
John McCain is not who the Washington press corps make him out to be.Please help get the word out-forward this email to your personal network.
And if you want us to keep you posted on MoveOn's work to get the truth outabout John McCain, sign up here:
http://pol.moveon.org/mccaintruth/?id=12407-5533006-NbEfV8&t=232


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BBC
http://www.bbc.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-HIV 'raises heart disease risk'
HIV infection may increase the risk of heart disease, research suggests.
Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco found HIVpatients had higher rates of atherosclerosis, or clogged arteries.
The condition also progressed more quickly in HIV positive people.
Writing in Circulation: the Journal of the American Heart Association, theysaid HIV patients should be treated for high blood pressure and cholesterol.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3516134.stm


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