GLBT DIGEST - July 08, 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:

-Fake Ark. bouts showing men kissing draw suspicion
Crowds in Arkansas came for the lure of cage fighting and $1 beer, butpolice say what they got instead was men ripping each others' clothes offand kissing -- a stunt suspected of being orchestrated by Sacha Baron Cohenof ''Borat'' fame. ''We had a contract for cage fighting. We weredeceived,'' said Dwight Duncan, president and CEO of Four States FairGrounds in Texarkana, where the first of two Arkansas fights raisedsuspicions last month.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Faked-Fight-Nights.html?scp=9&sq=gay&st=nyt

-Church of England split on women bishops
The Church of England's ruling body has voted its support for women tobecome bishops without giving traditionalist supporters of male-onlypriesthood the concessions they had sought. One bishop broke down in tearsat the meeting of senior British church leaders Monday in York, northernEngland, as he described his distress at the church's lack of willingness toaccommodate traditionalists who have threatened to leave if they felt theywere not adequately protected.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Britain-Women-Bishops.html?scp=6&sq=gay&st=nyt

-Study: Military gays don't undermine unit cohesion
Congress should repeal the ''don't ask, don't tell'' law because thepresence of gays in the military is unlikely to undermine the ability tofight and win, according to a new study released by a California-basedresearch center. The study was conducted by four retired military officers,including the three-star Air Force lieutenant general who in early 1993 wastasked with implementing President Clinton's policy that the military stopquestioning recruits on their sexual orientation.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-Military-Gays.html?scp=7&sq=gay&st=nyt

-Ted Koppel Tours a China Brimming With Dreams and Consumerism
Interviewing millionaires and peasants, drag queens and students as he tours nightclubs, classrooms, factories and upscale malls, Ted Koppel takesviewers beyond the oft-seen China in "Koppel on Discovery: The People'sRepublic of Capitalism," an ambitious four-part series that begins Wednesdaynight on the Discovery Channel. The series, which depicts the complexitiesof an emerging capitalist economy tethered to an authoritarian government,vividly demonstrates the interdependence of the economies of China and theUnited States.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/arts/television/08kopp.html?scp=5&sq=gay&st=nyt


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

-Study: Military gays don't undermine unit cohesion
Congress should repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law because the presenceof gays in the military is unlikely to undermine the ability to fight andwin, according to a new study released by a California-based researchcenter. The study was conducted by four retired military officers,including the three-star Air Force lieutenant general who in early 1993 wastasked with implementing President Clinton's policy that the military stopquestioning recruits on their sexual orientation.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/08/AR2008070800350.html



=
Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Okeechobee Gay-Straight Alliance wants to meet on school grounds this year
The Gay-Straight Alliance wants to be able to meet on campus when the newschool year begins in August at Okeechobee High School, according to courtpapers filed Monday. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federallawsuit in November 2006 on behalf of the club, which was denied the rightto meet at the school. A judge initially approved an injunction allowing thegroup to meet while the lawsuit is pending, but the injunction was dissolvedafter the ACLU said the club had no more members.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/


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

-Anglicans Embroiled In New Controversy
(London) The Church of England's ruling body voted its support Monday forwomen to become bishops, a move that risks further division because itlacked accommodation for traditionalists opposed to the idea.

-New Guide Offers Support To Parents Of Trans Youth
(Toronto, Ontario) To the outside world, Jamie was male. On the inside, itwas a different story.

-Heir's Adoption Of Lesbian Lover Annulled In Maine
An adult adoption involving lesbian partners and a claim on one of America'spremier business fortunes has been annulled.

-Study: Military Gays Do Not Undermine Unit Cohesion
Congress should repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy because thepresence of gays in the military is unlikely to undermine the ability tofight and win, according to a new study released by a California-basedresearch center.

-London Marks Anniversary Of Terrorist Attack
(London) Londoners marked the third anniversary Monday of suicide bombattacks that killed 52 bus and subway passengers.

-Gay Foes See Red Over Pink Golden Arches
The American Family Association is taking on the nation's largest fast foodchain calling on its members to boycott McDonald's over the company'ssupport for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.


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

-Task force set to cut same-sex domestic violence
Plans to create a subcommittee aimed at reducing incidents of domesticviolence among same-sex couples were approved today by a Los Angeles CityCouncil committee. The City Council still must approve setting up thesubcommittee, which will be overseen by the city's Domestic Violence TaskForce. If approved, members of the subcommittee also would be charged withreviewing how laws are enforced in domestic violence cases involvingsame-sex partners.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_9808595?source=rss

-McCain, Obama oppose gay marriages, but how to ban them is the issue
With four months to go until the election, msnbc.com is presenting a weeklyseries, Briefing Book: Issues '08 which will assess issues and controversiesthat the next president must confront once he takes the oath of office.This week, we look at the courts and marriage. Can same-sex couples marry?Is such a right is guaranteed by state constitutions and by the UnitedStates Constitution?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25555532/

-What the Pregnant Man didn't deliver
Thomas Beatie brought us a media circus and late-night punch lines. Butthere's something missing, say some transgender advocates -- more respect.By the time Thomas Beatie, "the Pregnant Man," strode across Oprah Winfrey'sstage on April 3, his story had already become a worldwide phenomenon.Beatie -- a transgendered man who was born a woman and became pregnantthrough artificial insemination -- had captured headlines, and worldwideattention, in the preceding weeks. On the show, Oprah clutched Beatie'sbelly like a touchy aunt and asked him nosy questions about his family, hissex life and the appearance of his clitoris. ("It looks like a penis," heanswered, uncomfortably.)
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/07/03/pregnant_man/index.html?source=newsletter


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

-Sci-fi Writer Thomas Disch Commits Suicide
Science fiction writer and poet Thomas Disch has committed suicide. Dischdied July 4 and his body was discovered July 5, according to the New YorkCity Police Department. He was 68. The author of popular sci-fi novels CampConcentration and 334, Disch had been openly gay since 1968. Following the2004 death of his partner, poet Charles Naylor, Disch reportedly begansuffering from depression.
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid57207.asp

-No Homo: The NFL Joke of Choice
Professional sports locker rooms are one of the last bastions for gay humor.That's because there's never been any gay athletes. So, you see, the veryidea of anyone being gay is always funny. Which brings me to the first bigscoop of my illustrious Deadspin career: The phrase "No Homo" has taken overNFL locker rooms. It's everywhere, on every single team, the NFL equivalentof the late 90's Macarena dance. No Homo owes its popularity to theremarkably varied and infinitely complicated nature of its use. Or theopposite. One or the other. It's applied thusly: LenDale White says toVince Young: "Vince, you've got great nips. No homo."
http://deadspin.com/5022396/no-homo-the-nfl-joke-of-choice

-McCain hires another senior gay staffer, one week after he promisesreligious right to be more anti-gay
The Gay-Talk Express strikes again. John McCain needs to decide who hewants to be. Two weeks ago, McCain met with gay Republican leaders (peoplehis staff had met with repeatedly before). After the religious right flippedout, McCain then met with virulently anti-gay religious right leaders, andpromised those leaders that he would be more vocally anti-gay in public inthe future. Then one week after that, McCain outfoxed those same religiousright leaders by hiring a gay man to one of the most senior positions in hiscampaign.
http://www.americablog.com/2008/07/mccain-hires-another-senior-gay-staffer.html

-Obama's Faith-Based Program Meets With Skepticism
Senator Obama's pledge to spend $500 million to expand religions' socialservices for people in need is a tough sell to many LGBT activists, even assome lean toward cautious optimism.
http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid57267.asp

-Anglican Archbishop Rebukes "Ungracious" Criticism of Archbishop ofCanterbury
The archbishop of York on Saturday rebuked some Anglican traditionalists forwhat he calls ungracious behavior toward Archbishop of Canterbury RowanWilliams.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid57262.asp

-Heir's Adoption of Lesbian Lover Annulled in Maine
An adult adoption involving lesbian partners and a claim on one of America'spremier business fortunes has been annulled. At issue is whether it waslegal for a judge in Maine to allow Olive Watson to adopt Patricia Spado in1991. Watson's father was Thomas Watson, who built IBM into a computergiant.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid57260.asp

-The Story Thus Far...
David Sedaris opens up about embarrassing hairs, gay marriage, and whetheror not he's gay enough
Is there anything left to know about David Sedaris? After all, the man hasopened up in many a personal essay. What else is there to learn about theunabashed National Public Radio contributor and best-selling author of Nakedand Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim? Plenty. In fact, when we caughtup with Sedaris -- currently on a cross-country book tour for his latestwork When You Are Engulfed in Flames -- we got an earful.
http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid57258.asp

-Testimony Heard in Machete Attack on Gay Bermuda Man
A jury in Bermuda heard testimony last week concerning an alleged antigayhate crime that left one man with fractured facial bones and a two-inch gashover his eye, the Bermuda Sun reports. According to medical evidencepresented Thursday in the island nation's supreme court, the victim, ShawnNusum, had his cheek and jaw broken in the machete assault, while his nosewas fractured and his ability to raise the injured eyebrow impaired.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid57243.asp


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

-Campaign Warns Gay Community of Crystal Meth Danger
An aggressive new campaign seeks to educate Capital Region residents - andgays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people, in particular - aboutthe dangers of crystal meth. A new website, www.crystalfree.org, providesinformation on crystal meth and where to seek treatment for an addiction.Billboards on the campaign were displayed for over a month in Albany, Troy,Schenectady, Montgomery and Saratoga counties, and another round isscheduled to go up in late July. Advertisements have also run in localnewspapers, and a brochure on the risks of crystal meth has been created.

-HIV Clinic in South Los Angeles Sees More Teenagers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a worrisome reportlate last month on a jump in newly diagnosed HIV cases among young gay men.From 2001 to 2006, such cases among all gay males ages 13 to 24 rose by 12%,which was ominous enough. But the steepest increase was among young gayblacks -- up 15%, compared with 8% for young gay Latinos and 9% for younggay whites.

-No Gay Rights At NYC Rite Aid
Rite Aid simply ain't right. A reader sent in this image from one of thepharmacy's New York City locations (on Sixth Avenue at West 13th Street)and, as you can see, it's not the most welcoming message. This isn't thefirst time Rite-Aid has found itself in a queer controversy. A DC-basedmanager came under fire last year after booting an "overly affectionate" gaycouple. The best part of this sign, we think, is mention of "anything thatwould make our customers uncomfortable is prohibited in the store." Wesuppose manager Tom Marquez didn't consider the gay customers in that one,huh? Someone else must have, because the sign, which appeared around 7am onSunday, was soon removed.

-Lindsay Lohan Comes Out As a Lesbian
According to MTV.CO.UK, actress Lohan has finally come clean about herrelationship with Samantha Ronson... Lindsay Lohan has admitted she's in aromantic relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson after months of speculation.At her 22nd birthday party the Mean Girls actress came clean about tha ladyin her life saying: "I just wanna live a healthy happy year, continue on thepath I've been on and be with the person I care about."

-Minneapolis: Airport Stall May Return to Spotlight
t's a bathroom door the GOP would rather keep closed. Thousands of membersof the international media will have to walk past it when they land at theMinneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for the Republican NationalConvention in St. Paul at the end of the summer. Many will feel obligated tostop and file a story.

-Minister of Equalities Jeered at London's Gay Pride
Harriet Harman MP, government minister of equalities and deputy leader ofthe Labour Party, was booed and heckled as she spoke from the main stage atthe gay Pride London celebrations in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon.Gay Pride organisers came on stage and appealed to the crowd to stop jeeringand listen to what she had to say. But their appeal had limited effect asthe crowd which packed Trafalgar Square expressed their anger at theGovernment's approach to gay men and women who seek refuge in the UK afterfeeling from danger.


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

-'Charming children's book deals with gay marriage'
Link: McClatchy Newspapers via Centre Daily Times
Summer is wedding season. It seems especially so this year with the flurryof newly legal same-sex marriages. Here's a timely picture book that adds toever-growing diversity in today's children literature. "Uncle Bobby'sWedding," by Sarah S. Brannen, is the tale of a girl and her favorite uncle.Uncle Bobby takes Chloe for walks, for rowboat rides on the river andteaches her about the stars. Life is good until the day Mama throws a familypicnic and Uncle Bobby announces that he and his friend Jamie are gettingmarried. Everyone is excited except Chloe. She tells her mother, "Bobby ismy special uncle. I don't want him to get married."

-Washington Times: 'Gay marriage gives Newsom an edge;
San Francisco mayor eyes governorship'
Link: Washington Times
Four years ago, when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom began grantingmarriage licenses to same-sex couples, he seemed to put the kibosh on anythought of a statewide political career. After all, that same yearCalifornia voters approved Proposition 22, a defense-of-marriage initiative,by more than 61 percent. A Field Poll taken in May 2004 showed thatCalifornians disapproved of same-sex marriage by a margin of 50 percent to44 percent. Fast forward to 2008, however, and suddenly Mr. Newsom lookspolitically reborn. Mr. Newsom, 40, announced last week the formation of anexploratory committee for a 2010 California gubernatorial run, and politicalstrategists agree that his strong identification with the gay-marriage issueshould help him in the Democratic primary.


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

-MEPs demand European Commission action after Pride violence
The European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights has accusedthe Hungarian government of being unable to guarantee the safety of theircitizens and visitors to the country.

-Will Smith movie Hancock criticised for homophobic dialogue
Hancock, the story of a seriously messed up superhero starring Will Smith,took home the top spot at US cinemas last weekend, taking home an estimated$66 million (£33m) for Sony Pictures.

-Court rules Russia's President is immune for gay legal action
Organisers of Moscow's Pride event have been told their complaint againstthe President of Russia will not be considered because he is immune fromlegal action.

-Volunteers needed as Black Pride comes to Regents Park in August
Tickets are now on sale for official UK Black Pride festival (UKBP) thatwill take place on Saturday 16th August in Regents Park, London.

-Sex education leaves lesbians in the dark
More voices are being added to the call for more and better Sex andRelationship Education. The Family Planning Association and Brook, two ofthe UK's leading sexual health charities, recently called for SRE to betaught at a younger age.

-Gay history exhibit at City Hall is a hit with school groups
An exhibition has been set up in London's City Hall that draws attention tothe "shameful way LGBT lives have been neglected in British museums andarchives." has proved popular with all sorts of visitors.

-Photos: Pride was a busy day for Sir Ian McKellen
The man perhaps best-known around the globe as Wizard Gandalf in the Lord ofthe Rings trilogy certainly fulfilled his duties to the gay community atPride London on Saturday.


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

-Obama on Same-Sex Immigration
Throughout the primary season I was angry that no gay reporter or gay personasked either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama a question about same seximmigration, the issue I care about most. As a result, I decided to takethings into my own hands. I would find a way to personally lobby theDemocratic nominee how important this issue is for me and tens of thousandsof others in the gay community. That opportunity arose tonight in Atlanta atan Obama fundraiser. I attended the Obama VIP reception which entailed aphoto with Barack and maybe the possibility of 10 seconds chat time whilethe photo was being taken. I consulted Rachel Tiven of Immigration Equalityfor her suggestion as to what the best 10 second bite would be. Shesuggested to be as emotional as possible and gave me, "I have to choosebetween the love of my life and my country because I am gay. Please supportimmigration rights for gay and lesbian families."

-Dubai Police Target Indecent Acts on Beaches
Dubai Police have formed an undercover unit to combat homosexual andindecent activity on the emirate's public beaches, a recent press reportsaid. An unnamed official at Dubai Police's Criminal InvestigationDepartment told UAE daily Al-Emarat al-Youm that police officers in civilianclothing are patrolling local beaches after complaints from the public ofindecent behavior, especially at night time. He encouraged the public toreport any activity they find offensive. According to Dubai governmentstatistics, out of 2.97 million beach visitors last year, 641 people werecaught engaging in indecent acts. There were also seven cases of alcoholconsumption, five cases of alcohol possession, and five attempted robberies.

-PCUSA Gay Clergy Decision Changes Nothing, Scholar Says Church Executive
While supporters of gay ordination say a recent vote by the highestgoverning body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gives the green light forgay clergy, one professor is arguing that the decision changes nothing. Ina soon-to-be published analysis, Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon, associateprofessor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, said hebelieves there is a "reasonable possibility" that the actions by the 218thGeneral Assembly of the PC(USA) last weekend in favor of homosexuality "willhave no material effect on changing the denomination's stance againstordaining, unrepentant, homosexually active persons to church office."During the biennial meeting in San Jose, Calif., the Assembly on June 27approved an "authoritative interpretation" (A.I.) of the churchconstitution - which currently bans ordaining non-celibate gays andlesbians. The vote would allow gay and lesbian candidates for ordination toconscientiously object the current standard requiring fidelity in marriage(between a man and a woman) and chastity in singleness. And the localordaining body would be required to discern whether the declared objectionis disqualifying and consider such requests on a case-by-case basis. Anauthoritative interpretation does not change the church constitution and isthus effective immediately. Gay advocates in the denomination praised thedecision and some believe gays and lesbians can be ordained now. Gagnon,however, has reason to believe otherwise.

-Could Nunn's Gay Rights Record be an Asset to Obama?
The New York Times has posted a fairly comprehensive guide to theVeepstakes. They may have put this on their site a while back, but today isthe first time I saw it, and I think part of their assessment of Sam Nunn isworth discussing: Mr. Nunn was known for the most part as a conservativeDemocrat, and he led a high-profile fight against Bill Clinton's effort toallow homosexuals to serve openly in the military. Mr. Obama would certainlyencounter some heat from his supporters if he turned to Mr. Nunn.The Timesis hardly the first outlet to raise the issue of Nunn's record on gays inthe military and it's hardly a stretch to say this record doesn't sit wellwith gay rights activists and much of the party's base. But this is lookingat the issue the wrong way. On the whole, Nunn's resistance to gays in themilitary - 15 years ago, it ought to be noted - would be a plus for anObama-led ticket, not a minus. Obama, unlike John McCain, doesn't reallyhave a problem with his base in this election. Yes, a smattering of Hillarydiehards will hold out until the very end, but Obama's real challenge is tooffer reassurance to voters in the center and slightly to the right of thecenter of the political spectrum - the folks who couldn't bring themselvesto vote for Al Gore or John Kerry.

-Churches' Secret Talks to Stop Gay Surge
The Church of England has refused to deny that its most senior bishops heldsecret discussions with their Vatican counterparts this weekend in anhistoric union to topple the controversial Anglican push to admit gay unionsand the ordination of women bishops. In an unprecedented turn of events, ahandful of Pope Benedict XVI's most trusted advisers are believed to havemet senior Anglican Bishops in York over the weekend to build closerinter-church ties - and to stymie the liberalisation of significanttraditions. The meetings, reported by Anglican websites and London'sTelegraph , suggest that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams,was not informed of the talks.


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

-Score One for the NGOs
From the Brookings Institution
The Bush Administration and other critics of the United Nations' HumanRights Council are quick to decry every slight setback in Geneva or New Yorkas proof that the entire organization should fold up and go home. Sincethat won't happen, the U.S. State Department has decided to abandon thefield to its adversaries. But while the Bush Administration remains missingin action, another story is unfolding -- one that shows the growinginfluence of the global human rights movement and its ability to strengthenthe U.N. Human Rights Council. Six months ago, it seemed inevitable thatEgypt would take over the presidency of the Human Rights Council, the UnitedNations' main forum for monitoring state behavior on human rights. Africa'sturn at the rotating presidency was coming up, and no country had expressedany willingness to stand against Egypt, the Africa group chair. Last week,however, it was Nigeria, not Egypt, that was elected to the presidency,marking a major victory for human rights organizations in Africa and aroundthe world. Nigeria is far from perfect as a council president, but it iscertainly better than Egypt.

-Belfast Pride: Amnesty welcomes Peter Tatchell to Belfast to shine light onhomophobia
On Monday 28 July Amnesty International members will welcome well-known gayrights activist Peter Tatchell to Belfast to deliver the AmnestyInternational Pride Lecture as part of the city's gay pride festival. Hewill also join in a panel discussion, Pride Talks Back, following theAmnesty lecture. The human rights organisation is drawing attention to howlesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people experience homophobia anddiscrimination in different parts of the world.
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=17814

-Native Portlander recounts experiences at Turkey's anti-homophobia march
As the Portland waterfront becomes a tribute to taking pride in being partof a sexual or gender minority, could we be taking our freedoms for granted?While thousands gather to watch a parade and lend visibility to the fightfor marriage and equal treatment under the law, queers in other corners ofthe world, like Turkey, fight simply to exist. Chaos Gay Lesbian-a queernongovernmental organization in Ankara, Turkey-held its annual internationalanti-homophobia conference May 16. Much like Portland Pride, the conferenceis a place to celebrate sexualities, march in the street, have politicaldiscussions about gay rights and party. But imagine a Pride parade with nomusic, no leather, no chaps, nor feathers nor wands nor whips, no Dykes onBikes, no mayors, no children, no commercial advertising. In this city witha population of 4 million, 100 people march with the passion of a thousand. Turkey's queer community is facing "systematic violence," according to HumanRights Watch. The structural oppression that sexual minority organizationsare experiencing can be observed through the actions taken by the governorof Istanbul.
http://www.justout.com/archives/issues/06_13_08/

-Dusseldorf: Gender Warrior Wins Case Against Surgeon
A 48-year-old woman who was forced to live much of her life as a man won adamages lawsuit in a 30-year-old medical case that promised to set aprecedent for intergender activists. Christiane Völling, who works as anurse in Düsseldorf, sued the doctor who removed her fully intact femaleinternal organs 30 years ago, when she was 18 years old. She sought 100,000euros ($148,000) in damages for pain and suffering, claiming the surgeonfailed to inform her about the full extent of the consequences of theoperation or about possible alternatives. The court decided in Völling'sfavor, although the amount the surgeon will have to pay will be decided in afuture trial.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3111505,00.html


=
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

-OAS Adopts Resolution to Protect Sexual Rights
States Condemn Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
(New York, June 6, 2008) - The General Assembly of the Organization ofAmerican States (OAS) has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning humanrights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, taking acrucial step to end the silence around violence against lesbian, gay,bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Americas, Human Rights Watchsaid today. Human Rights Watch called on OAS member governments to ensurethat the resolution is implemented in their countries, and to continue theirsupport for sexual rights internationally. "This resolution is a bold firststep toward ending violence and discrimination," said Scott Long, directorof the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program at HumanRights Watch.

-Our Government: Powerless to Outlaw Guns, Able to Outlaw Sexual Expression
By Dr. Marty Klein, Sexual Intelligence
The Supreme Court recently ruled that the government has virtually no rightto regulate guns in Washington, D.C. You may also have read about yetanother obscenity bust in Florida, which ended in a deal that puts morepeople in jail for selling videos of adults having (consensual,enthusiastic) sex with adults. If you expect logic from America about sex,the juxtaposition is bewildering. If you're more realistic, it's simplyenraging. Our Constitution says (2nd Amendment) that "A well regulatedMilitia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of thepeople to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." Our Constitution alsosays (1st Amendment) that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging thefreedom of speech, or of the press." To put it simply, Americans can ownguns, and Americans can express themselves as they wish. So if thegovernment can't restrict the first, why is it allowed to restrict thesecond? Oh, for a similar decision affirming our unrestricted right to freeexpression! The right to watch what we want on TV without FCC interference;to buy adult porn without FBI or Andy-of-Mayberry sheriffs bustingproducers; to see strippers close up and nude without county ordinancesrequiring tape measures and pasties; to enjoy swingers clubs without citycouncils closing them by inventing health emergencies out of thin air.
http://www.alternet.org/story/90252/

-Plans to clear undergrowth from gay sex spot branded discriminatory
A council has been accused of discriminating against homosexuals over plansto clear undergrowth from a notorious gay cruising spot. Bristol CityCouncil wants to prune bushes and remove cover from an area known as theDowns to improve the landscape and encourage rare wildlife. But its own gayrights group has opposed the move, claiming that cutting back the bushes was"discriminating" to homosexual men who used the area for late night outdoorsex known as dogging.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2263277/Plans-to-clear-undergrowth-from-gay-sex-spot-branded-discriminatory.html


=
Forwarded by Bill Sterling
whsterling1@yahoo.com

-Outfest celebrates 26 years. What hasn't changed?
In its 26th year, the gay and lesbian film festival reflects the community'sincreased integration. Now: What hasn't changed? Filmmaker Stewart Wade hasbeen attending Outfest: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festivalhe was akid growing up in Woodland Hills and Agoura Hills. Seeing movies that "spoketo my life so clearly," like the seminal 1986 AIDS drama "Parting Glances"with Steve Buscemi, inspired him to make movies himself.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-outfest8-2008jul08,0,542828.story


=
Mark's List Presents over 1,000 photos of LGBT Pride events in Florida.
Nobody covers the Sunshine State like Mark's List!
http://frontpage.jumponmarkslist.com/MSFL/2008/052908.htm

=

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