GLBT DIGEST November 28, 2008

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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
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-'Milk': A Hero With a Human Side
Once in a while, a movie arrives at such a perfect moment, its message and meaning so finely tuned to the current zeitgeist, that it seems less a cinematic event than a cosmic convergence, willed into being by a once-in-a-lifetime alignment of the stars. Such are the goose bumps induced by "Milk," Gus Van Sant's vivid, affecting portrait of Harvey Milk, who in 1978 joined the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as the first openly gay man to be elected to American public office. Just nine months later, he was assassinated by former fellow board member Dan White, who also murdered San Francisco mayor George Moscone. The list of things "Milk" gets right is a long one. But the first item has to be Sean Penn, who virtually disappears into his character, burying any trace of native mannerism or accent and emerging as a wholly convincing New York Jewish boy made good.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/26/AR2008112601531.html


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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
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-Election loss, new film put fresh spin on Harvey Milk's legacy 30 years after assassination
There are parallels between the gay rights battle of Milk's time and today. Defeating a ballot measure - a ban on openly gay teachers in public schools - was the apex of Milk's short career. And now, with passage of California's ban on gay marriage, activists re-examining Milk's legacy are questioning whether an outsized political leader could have made the difference this time. [...] David Mixner, who co-managed the campaign against the teachers ban, said same-sex couples might still have the right to wed in California if today's leaders had been less polite. "It wasn't that Harvey was universally loved back then," Mixner said. "He was a hard-core player and at times he was difficult to love, but ... damn, did I respect him."
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-remembering-milk,0,713320.story


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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
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-Florida: Bias blinds DCF to these parents' good
OUR OPINION: Agency should follow its own credo: Put children first
When stripped of all its emotional and legal baggage, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cindy Lederman's decision Tuesday allowing a North Miami man to adopt two foster children boils down to this: She did what was best for the children. It is too bad -- and in this case, a tragic miscalculation -- that the Department of Children & Families doesn't see the issue this way. The DCF, which claims as its mantra to always act in the best interest of children, has unwisely decided to stand against allowing two loving parents to continue caring for two damaged boys whom they have painstakingly nurtured to good health. Instead, the DCF has asked the state attorney general's office to appeal the decision, which challenges Florida's ban on adoption by gays. Instead of standing up for the well-being of children, the DCF embraces Florida's position of state-supported bias against gays. [...] No longer neglected - More's the pity, because in appealing the case, the DCF argues that gay men and women are less capable parents because they are more likely to suffer with mental illnesses, substance abuse or other ailments than are heterosexuals. Those contentions were thoroughly debunked by expert witnesses whose testimony Judge Lederman found more believable than DCF's witnesses. [...] Qualified parents - Over time, the boys blossomed under the care of Mr. Gill -- a college-educated, licensed foster parent -- and his partner. The couple has three other children. The DCF's bias against gays is made plain by its commendable willingness to help and encourage most people who want to adopt, including single adults, unmarried couples, couples who never plan to marry, disabled people, chronically ill people or those who are HIV-positive. The agency does not automatically exclude felons or people with criminal records, including someone who has abused, abandoned or neglected a child. ''The most important factor in ensuring a welladjusted child is the quality of parenting,'' Judge Lederman said. That should be the DCF's policy.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/790513.html

-More indigenous Guatemalans turn to sex work, stoking HIV fears
As more indigenous women migrate to cities to be sex workers, health officials in Guatemala fear they will bring diseases back to their villages.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/front-page/story/790525.html


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

-Malaysia's fatwa council explains how 'tomboys' become lesbians
A Malaysian religious leader has spoken for the first time in detail about the ramifications of the fatwa passed last month that ruled against women indulging in activities deemed as 'masculine,' including lesbian sex and dressing like a man.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9694.html

-Estimated HIV infections among gay men in China rises to 5% in three years
A new survey of gay men in China has found that 4.9% are living with HIV. In 2005 the figure was 0.4%. The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said the survey questioned more than 18,000 gay men in 61 Chinese cities.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9699.html

-Comment: Gay judge reflects on thirty years as an out lawyer
Earlier this month, Queen Mary, University of London, launched a specialist legal advice centre for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people. The Pink Law Legal Advice Centre, the first of its kind in higher education, has been established in partnership with three top City law firms and will offer free and impartial legal advice on issue such as employment discrimination, civil partnerships and cohabitation.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9698.html

-Writers create pro-gay 'Princess Diana' bible
Film-maker Max Mitchell has announced plans to publish a pro gay translation of The Bible to be called 'The Princess Diana Bible'. Revision Studios in New Mexico, USA will fund the new translation of the Bible, in which God says it is better to be gay than straight.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9697.html

-Rugby league join gay workplace equality scheme
The decision of the Rugby Football League to join the Diversity Champions Programme run by gay equality organisation Stonewall has been hailed as a major breakthrough. The league becomes the first national governing body of a major sport to join the scheme.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9696.html

-Polish Catholics boycott IKEA over catalogue "promoting" homosexuality
Catholics in Poland are calling for a boycott of furniture retailer IKEA because its catalogue features pictures of same-sex couples. National newspapers and news websites have covered the story and the concerns of some religious people that the Swedish company is "trampling" on Christian concepts of family.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9693.html

-HIV-positive man faces jail sentence for deliberately infecting partners
A judge in Victoria, Australia said that an HIV-positive grandfather from Melbourne preyed on "vulnerable" gay men when he tried to infect them with the virus.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9691.html


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