GLBT DIGEST - September 24, 2008

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

-Clay Aiken to reveal he is gay
After years of dodging questions, former "American Idol" singer Clay Aiken
will acknowledge he is a gay man in an interview with People magazine set to
run on its Web site Wednesday, according to media reports.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/23/AR2008092302886.html


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Steve Rothaus
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:

-GLAAD: 'We congratulate Clay ... This has tremendous impact'
From GLAAD:
Statement from The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
President Neil G. Giuliano regarding Clay Aiken coming out in this week's People magazine: "We congratulate Clay for making this decision and for setting an example for others and his family. As we're seeing, more and more gay people, including celebrities, are living openly and honestly, and this has tremendous impact in terms of creating awareness, understanding and acceptance."
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/

-S. Florida: Luigi Ferrer named new executive director of Pridelines Youth Services
Luigi Ferrer, a longtime South Florida activist has been named new executive director of Pridelines Youth Services. He is a board member of BiNet USA.
From the group's website:
As an umbrella organization and voice for bisexual people, BiNet USA will facilitate the development of a cohesive network of bisexual communities, promote bisexual visibility, and collect and distribute educational information regarding bisexuality. To accomplish these goals, BiNet USA will provide a national network for bisexual organizations and individuals across the United States, and encourage participation and organizing on local and national levels.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/

-Florida: For gay father, adoption ruling is `a defining moment'
After seven years, a Key West foster dad fulfilled a 12-year-old boy's greatest dream: to have a real father. In doing so, he may help smash a controversial Florida law.
Two months after the foster child came to live in Wayne LaRue Smith's two-story Key West home, the brown-eyed 5-year-old boy looked up from the kitchen table and, in a plaintive voice, asked what seemed a simple question. ``Will you be my daddy?'' At first, Smith, a foster father who has cared for 33 children in state custody, could not say yes. Smith, who is openly gay, could raise other people's children. But in Florida, the only state that outright bans all gay people from adopting, he could never adopt a child of his own. Until now. Last month, a Monroe Circuit judge became only the second judge in Florida history to allow a gay man or lesbian to adopt a child.

-Lindsay Lohan confirms romantic relationship with Samantha Ronson
It's official: Lindsay Lohan and DJ Samantha Ronson told an L.A. talk host they've been together "a long ... a very long time.''
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/

-Richard Gray sells Fort Lauderdale's gay Royal Palms resort
Richard Gray, vice chairman of the Broward County Tourist Development Council has sold his popular gay resort, The Royal Palms in Fort Lauderdale.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/

-Miami: Pandora Events celebrates 10th anniversary with Oct. 11 event to benefit Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Pandora Events news release: Over the past ten years, Pandora Events has grown to become the top women's event producers on the East Coast. Their signature style is seen in the hundreds of events they produce every year, which attract over 20,000 women annually. From South Beach to Atlanta, Orlando to New York and cities in between their "estrogen only" parties, soirees, shows and week long festivals have not only brought the lesbian community together but have created a new culture in giving back.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/


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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-A gay father finds victory in his family
After seven years, a foster dad has fulfilled a 12-year-old boy's dream to have a real father, as a judge rules against Florida's ban on gay adoptions.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/top-stories/story/698941.html


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South Florida Blade
http://www.floridablade.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-'Some Men' premieres at Rising Action Theatre
Terrence McNally comedy/drama staged in Oakland Park
Rising Action Theatre, Inc. presents The South Florida Premiere of "Some Men" by Terrence McNally. Eight men attend a gay wedding, and subsequently look back on their lives from 1922 through present day, exploring how gay life, love, self worth and relationships have changed through the decades. And yes, this is gay theater, so some of the guys take their shirts off. The show runs from Sept. 24 through Nov. 2, just one month!
http://www.floridablade.com/blog/index.cfm#21206

-Sexiest Men over 50: Harrison Ford, Tom Brokaw make the list
The website "Women on the Web"--www.wowowow.com-has compiled a list of the 50 sexiest men over 50, in the worlds of business, journalism, and entertainment. Compiled by the likes of writers Liz Smith, Cynthia McFadden, and others, some of the contenders are shoo-ins (Harrison Ford), while others make us wonder what these women are thinking (Mike Bloomberg?). Although our favorite is most certainly Sean Connery...today, tomorrow, forever. J'adore.


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

-Withers: Why does the sexuality of a McCain staffer matter?
Never met Mark Buse. Couldn't pick him out of a line-up. I know he is John McCain's chief of staff and that means there's not much we agree on. That's enough for me. His sexuality, just like the love life of "singer" Clay Aiken, are bits of information that do not need to be added to the flotsam and jetsam in my head.
http://www.365gay.com/blog/092408-mccains-chief-of-staff-supposedly-gay/

-Palin int'l affairs session tightly controlled
Sarah Palin met her first world leaders Tuesday. It was a tightly controlled crash course on foreign policy for the Republican vice presidential candidate, the mayor-turned-governor who has been outside North America just once.
http://www.365gay.com/news/palin-intl-affairs-session-tightly-controlled/

-Cartoon; Troy 212: Hot, sexy hubby
http://www.365gay.com/troy/troy-212-hot-sexy-hubby/

-Video/ George Takei weds Brad Altman in California
http://www.365gay.com/video/video-george-takei-weds-brad-altman-in-california/

-Newsom, Paterson Host Gay Marriage Fundraiser
Funds raised to support a California ban on same-sex marriage are outpacing funds to defeat the ban and keep gay marriage by nearly a third, so San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will head to New York on Thursday to seek cash.
http://www.365gay.com/news/newsom-paterson-host-gay-marriage-fundraiser/


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

-Sex Star to Host Obama Benefit
On Friday night Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker will host a fund-raiser for Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. The event will be held at Vida Fitness and will be Parker's second Obama fund-raiser; her first was an event she cohosted with Vogue editor Anna Wintour on September 9 in New York City.
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid62162.asp

-Palin's Pit Bull Persona Puts Gay Teens at Risk
The other day I went to the Facebook page of my 16-year-old gay nephew, who lives in a rural area of a Red State. Among his pictures was a shot of him and a female friend, frozen in mid-air, leaping, barefoot, arms flailing, frolicking in a gorgeous grassy park. I surprised myself by getting a little choked up. And it wasn't even the fact that, at 37, I no longer have much of a vertical leap. I found myself thinking about how amazing it is to see that joy in him. It's heartening to know he can get that much air underneath him. He must feel a freedom and lightness I never felt at that age.
http://www.advocategenq.com/2008/09/palins-pit-bull.html

-California Republicans Join the Fight for Marriage
A political consultant and fund-raiser for the past decade, Charles Moran knows his way around the California Republican Party. As a politically active gay man he also knows his way around the larger LGBT movement in California. Moran is bringing his expertise together as the finance director for Republicans Against 8, a group dedicated to defeating Proposition 8, which would nullify the California supreme court's recent ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.
http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid62113.asp


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

-Advocating for Out of Home Youth
"It's a pretty disturbing picture," Jody Marksamer says of the "very interesting information" revealed in a new study by the Equity Project examining why LGBT youths enter the juvenile justice system and what their experiences inside are like. For the past three years Marksamer-who uses male pronouns but says he doesn't like to talk about his gender identity to the media-has coordinated the Equity Project, a collaboration between the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the Legal Services for Children (a San Francisco Bay Area organization providing legal services to youth) and The National Juvenile Defenders Center (a national resource service for juvenile offenders).


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

-Archbishop chastises vicar for blessing lesbian couple
The Archbishop of Wales has reprimanded a vicar for blessing a lesbian couple's civil partnership in his church.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9093.html

-Sex and the City star shows support for gay families
An organisation that represents lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender headed families has attacted support from one of the most prominent out women in Hollywood. Cynthia Nixon, the star of TV and movie hit Sex and the City, will speak about the importance of equality for LGBT families at the Family Equality Council's 5th annual National Awards Dinner in California next month.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9080.html


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

-CA: The Floundering Yes on 8 Campaign--One Million Missing Lawn Signs Found in China
Link: Calitics
by Julia Rosen
Excerpt: This past weekend the Yes on 8 campaign had talked up passing out ONE MILLION lawn signs. It was going to be their big splash event, something big and bold to get a bunch of earned media. To counter that push, the No on 8, Equality for All campaign organized a bunch of visibility events for the media and to raise the public face/profile of the campaign. Then shuttled the the volunteers back inside to do the work that will bring this election home: calling undecided voters.

-Dino Rossi, WA GOP candidate says he'd veto a marriage equality bill if elected governor
Link: Qnews
Excerpt: In an interview with the Seattle Times last week, the Republican candidate for governor said he would veto a bill authorizing marriage equality in the state. Asked directly if he would veto a bill if passed, Dino Rossi said, "Yes. They can go to the people if they like and convince the people it's a good idea." For a story published Friday Seattle Gay News writer Mike Andrew asked a Rossi campaign spokeswoman Jill Strait if the Times report was correct.

-NY: County, adoption agencies recruit gay couples considering kids
Link: Lower Hudson Journal News
Excerpt: With 900 Westchester County children needing homes, and social attitudes evolving rapidly about who's qualified to raise them, county social workers and several private adoption agencies on Thursday will meet with gay couples and singles who are considering kids. David Juhren, a 47-year-old communications consultant who has been raising four children with his partner since they formed a household in Cold Spring six years ago, will speak about his experiences.


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Daily Queer News
www.dailyqueernews.com
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Gun Lobbyist Ordered to Pay Lesbians Compensation
AdelaideNow
A GUN lobbyist and former Queensland councillor has been ordered to pay a group of lesbians $12,500 for displaying an anti-gay bumper sticker. Ron Owen, of Gympie, has been told he must also also issue a public statement acknowledging he offended the town's homosexual community. Queensland's Anti-Discrimination Tribunal found Mr Owen guilty of inciting hatred against homosexuals with a bumper sticker when he parked his car outside the Cooloola Shire Council officers in Gympie, north of Brisbane.

-Gay Conservative Candidate Resigns
Xtra.ca
The openly gay Conservative candidate in the riding of Toronto-Centre has resigned after the controversial contents of his blog became public. Chris Reid, an environmental engineer, resigned from the race on Sep 20 after excerpts from his blog "Political Thoughts from a Gay Conservative" were posted online. The site at Conservativeandgay.blogspot.com has been closed, but parts can still be accessed through Google searches. Writing about queer Canadians, Reid said, "What I found them to tolerate is promoting promiscuity, drug usage and prostitution."

-UT: Census: More Utahns Cohabiting, Living with Same-Sex Partners
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/2288/

-TX: In Dallas, A Lesbian Sheriff Under Siege
Blabbeando
Lupe Valdez (right) was sworn as Dallas County Sheriff on January 1st, 2005. Valdez, a Democrat, was long seen as an underdog in the race not only because it had been held by Republicans for decades but also because she became the first Latino person to hold the job as well as the first openly gay person as well (and the only female sheriff in the state). Today, as she runs for re-election, some say that an increasing Democratic base in Dallas and the fact that the vote takes place on November 4th - the same date that voters elect the next president of the United States with Barack Obama on the ballot - will make it difficult for Republicans to regain the Dallas sheriff's office.

-Court Allows Transgender Woman to Legally Change Name w/out Requiring Gender Reassignment Surgery
Blabbeando
A judge in the Argentinian province of Mar de Plata has ruled in favor of a 25 year old transgender woman and allowed her to officially change her name to Tania without requiring gender-reassignment surgery. "This ruling brings resolution to my life but I don't want it to be an isolated case" said Tania Luna to Clarin in an article posted online yesterday ("Born a man and will have a woman's name in his ID without having surgery").

-Laws Regarding Homosexual Adoption
Charlie Butts | OneNewsNow
An appeals court has rejected a Kentucky lesbian adoption case. Liberty Counsel, in a recent press release, explains that "the Kentucky Court of Appeals has strongly rebuked an activist lower family court for allowing a lesbian woman to illegally adopt her female companion's child, in clear violation of both Kentucky law and the state constitution." The statement adds that step-parent adoptions in Kentucky are legal only when a step-parent is married to a biological parent. The court also reiterated that marriage in the state can only be between one man and one woman. The decision went on to say, "It's not the court's role to judge whether the legislature's prohibition of same-sex marriage is morally defensible or socially enlightened".

-PA: Co-Ed Dorms for Gender-Confused Males?
Charlie Butts | OneNewsNow
The University of Pittsburgh is changing its anti-discrimination policy to include gender identity. The new policy means that a man who feels like he is a woman can be housed in the women's dormitory and vice versa. And that involves "showering and using the restroom and the whole shebang," explains Diane Gramley, president of American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA). Gramley mentally puts herself in the position of being in a women's dorm restroom, when a man walks in to use the facilities. "I think that she would be shocked and dismayed - and I would think she would also be concerned about her safety," she contends.

-'The Transgender Child' New Handbook has Tips for Parents Whose Children Don't Fit the Societal Mold, and Propably Never Will
Talia Kennedy | San Francisco Chronicle
A child may be born with female anatomy, but what if her first words are "I'm a boy," and she wants to live as a boy as she gets older? Or a boy enjoys playing with girly toys and sometimes expresses himself in traditionally feminine ways? Two Bay Area women who have worked with transgender and gender-fluid children have written a handbook for parents whose kids aren't typical boys or girls.

-Transgender Contestant is New Twist for "America's Next Top Model"
By Gillian Gaynair |The Associated Press | Seattle Times
As a little boy in the Washington suburbs, Darrell Walls liked to pretend to be Lil' Kim or a Pink Power Ranger. He felt different - like a girl mistakenly born a boy. But Walls eventually embraced that difference and today is living true, as Isis King. Now 22, King is the first transgender contestant on "America's Next Top Model," the CW Television Network reality show hosted by super model Tyra Banks.


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

-Outgames subsidises developing world participants
In an effort to help bring together people from countries in the developing world that suppress open expressions of homosexuality, the 2009 Copenhagen Outgames' Outreach Program will subsidize participants of their "Love of Freedom-Freedom from Love" conference. The three-day conference will focus on the concerns and issues of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) individuals, who will participate in the 2009 Copenhagen Outgames - an international event started in Montreal in 2006 that offers LGBT individuals and supporters the chance to compete in athletic tournaments of 38 different disciplines.
http://www.mcgilldaily.com/article/4453-outgames-subsidises-developing-world-participants

-Michael Petrelis has made a donation of Gay Lesbian books to the Wasilia (Palin) Library!
http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2008/09/ak-paper-gl-titles-donated-to-wasilla.html


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

-I'm delighted to report that our book, "End of the Rainbow: Increasing the sustainability of LGBT organizations through social enterprise" is finally complete! It is available for download (PDF) on our website at:
www.nesst.org/endoftherainbow. (I'm attaching a copy of the promotional postcard here). "End of the Rainbow" includes five chapters: an overview of the sustainability challenge for LGBT organizations, an introduction to various models of LGBT social enterprise, an outline of key challenges, perspectives of LGBT donors, and a concludin chapter with recommendations for fostering social enterprise. Now that the book is complete we'll be promoting it widely and we encourage you to do the same. I'm attaching a JPEF file of the cover of the book for you to insert into your newsletters, on your website, or other promotional materials. Please provide a link to www.nesst.org/endoftherainbow for others to download the book for free and encourage them to read and share it!

-Bosnia and Herzegovina: "Sarajevo Queer Festival" must be protected
The authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina must guarantee a climate free of intimidation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as they prepare for the first "Sarajevo Queer Festival", Amnesty International said today. This festival of art and culture, which includes exhibitions, performances, public discussions and films, is planned to take place between 24 and 28 September 2008, and organized by a non-governmental organization called Udruzenje Q. "Gay rights activists will use this festival to take to the public their message for equality before the law and an end to discrimination. However, in the run-up to the festival, certain parts of the media are unleashing a homophobic campaign which further cultivates deeply entrenched prejudices and may incite violence around the event," said Nicola Duckworth, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/bosnia-and-herzegovina-sarajevo-queer-festival-must-be-protectedb-200809


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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

-FRANK HAILS DECISION IN SUPPORT OF TRANSGENDER RIGHTS
Congressman Barney Frank today welcomed the thoughtful decision by U.S. District Judge James Robinson holding that the Library of Congress broke the law against sex discrimination by denying a job to an applicant solely because he transitioned from male to female. "The Library of Congress dishonored us by rescinding its job offer to Diane Schroer that had been made to her when she was David Schroer. Ms. Schroer was eminently qualified both before and after her transition to be a terrorism analyst, and I was very disappointed that the Library of Congress acted as it did. I did at the time try to persuade the Director of the Library of Congress, Mr. Billington, to drop this act of discrimination and I was troubled when he refused to do so.

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