**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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Forwarded from Euro-Queer
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article:
-I received word tonight from Tomasz Szypula, spokesman for the CampaignAgainst Homophobia, one of Poland's gay political organizations, thatBrendan Fay and Tom Moulton, the US gay couple whose wedding is being usedby Poland's president to spread hate and fear of same-sex loving people, aretraveling to Warsaw this weekend. To get more information on their trip, Icalled Brendan at home. He gave me the scoop. He have been invited by aPolish TV network to come and appear on a program, all expenses paid by thenetwork. Brendan and Tom touch down in Warsaw on Saturday morning. Inaddition to being guests on the TV show, they will be meeting with gayactivists and with the staff of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights,and also attending church.
-Iran: Private Homes Raided for 'Immorality'
Authorities Escalate Arbitrary Arrests, Harassment
The arrest of more than 30 men attending a party in a private home in thecity of Esfahan signals renewed efforts by Iranian authorities to enforce"morality" codes, and highlights the fragility of basic rights in a countrywhere police powers routinely undermine privacy, Human Rights Watch saidtoday. It urged Iranian authorities to release the men reportedly arrestedin late February, and to drop charges against people accused of consensualhomosexual conduct, drinking alcohol, and other related "morals" offenses.
"When police routinely break down doors to enforce a brand of morality, itmeans a line has been crossed to invade people's privacy at any time," saidJoe Stork, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Iran's repressivesystem of controlling people's dress, behavior, and personal lives violatesfundamental rights." Sources inside Iran report to Human Rights Watch thaton February 28-29, police in Esfahan raided a private home and arrested 30or more men attending a party. They have been jailed for almost four weekswithout access to lawyers and without charge. Police reportedly referredthem to a forensic medical examiner to look for "evidence" that they haveengaged in homosexual conduct.
http://www.hrw.org/doc?t=mideast&c=iran
-Musical Pranksters and Tricksters - Sunday 30 March 2008
The Iain Burnside show on BBC Radio 3 this week celebrates the work of Gaycomposers and explores the link between sexuality and music.
To coincide with the 22nd London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Iain pondersthe relationship between music and sexuality. His guest is culturalcommentator David Benedict and the music includes pieces by Szymanowski,Saint-Saens, Britten and Tippett. BBC Radio 3 can be received live and freeworldwide on the internet:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/
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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
-From American Family Association
General Motors Supports The Gay Agenda
General Motors has made a decision to help promote the homosexual agenda.
The automaker supports the gay agenda with advertising in homosexualpublications and on the gay TV cable channel LOGO. GM's Cadillac regularlyplaces full-page ads in The Advocate, a magazine dedicated to pushing thehomosexual agenda. The LOGO TV network carries programs promoting thelifestyle. Jon Brancheau, director of media operations for Saturn (asubsidiary of General Motors), left no doubt about General Motors' supportfor the homosexual lifestyle. In a letter to someone who complained aboutGM's sponsorship of an episode of the LOGO program "Adam and Steve," Mr.Brancheau wrote. "Given that this film aired on the LOGO network, which iswidely know(n) to offer content oriented for a gay, lesbian, bisexual andtransgender audience, we feel comfortable with our decision to advertiseduring LOGO's broadcast of the film."
-National Black Lesbian Conference in Las Vegas
Prepare yourself to join us in Las Vegas, Nevada as we embark upon the Timeto be Renewed. Get ready to learn, share your expertise, network withhundreds of skilled organizers, business professionals, and communitymembers - a diverse group of Lesbians from more than 35 states and over 60different cities around the country and abroad. It all starts with you!!
"Time To Be Renewed"
http://zunainstitute.org/
-GLSEN Partners with Logo to Launch PSA in Wake of Lawrence King Tragedy
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is honored topartner with Logo on a new public service announcement campaign denouncinghate in the wake of junior high student Lawrence King's murder.
King, a 15-year-old from Oxnard, Calif., was shot and killed in school onFeb. 12 by a 14-year-old classmate because of King's sexual orientation andgender expression. Click here to view the PSA:
http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/2277.html
-A Pew Research Center News Interest Index survey earlier in March found that
79% of the general public had heard rumors that Obama is Muslim, and 38% hadheard "a lot" about this. The current survey finds that most voters have nomisconceptions about Obama's religious beliefs - 53% say that he isChristian. But one in ten believes Barack Obama is Muslim.
Roughly a third (34%) say they don't know what his religious beliefs are,though 9% say the reason they don't know is that they've heard differentthings about his religion, not that they haven't heard about it. Notably,the impression that Obama is Muslim crosses party lines: 14% of Republicans,10% of Democrats and 8% of independents think he is Muslim.
Within both parties, ideology is a major factor: 16% of conservativeRepublicans believe Obama is Muslim, compared with 9% of moderates andliberals. And 13% of conservative and moderate Democrats believe Obama isMuslim, compared with just 5% of liberal Democrats.
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Supreme Court refuses to hear Arpaio's appeal of rulings on abortionThe U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to consider an appeal from theMaricopa County Sheriff's Office on whether it should be forced to takefemale jail prisoners to abortion clinics.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0325arpaio0325.html
-Shocker: Mass Resistance declared a hate group
Brian Camenker, Amy Contrada, and the rest of the anti-gay activists at Mass Resistance have finally received some long-overdue recognition. In the mostrecent issue of its Intelligence Report the Southern Poverty Law Center, anorganization that tracks hate groups across the country, added MassResistance to its list of anti-gay hate groups. Camenker and co. join theillustrious ranks of Fred Phelps's Westboro Baptist Church and Lou Sheldon'sTraditional Values Coalition.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=72242
-Peter Sprigg Apologizes
Current immigration laws deny the foreign partners of gay Americans theability to immigrate to the U.S, unlike their heterosexually-marriedcounterparts. A bill is stalled in Congress which would address thisproblem. Last week, we awarded the LaBarbera Award to the Family "Research"Council's Peter Sprigg for suggesting that instead of uniting gays andlesbians with their partners, we should export gays instead:
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/03/27/1708
-Conservative seminary in Israel pushes pro-gay event off campus
In a sign of continuing friction among Conservative Jews over the issue ofhomosexuality, a ceremony in Jerusalem to mark the first anniversary of thedecision to admit gays to the Jewish Theological Seminary was held away fromthe campus of the movement's main educational institution there.
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=19149
-Anti-Emo Riots Break Out Across Mexico
A series of attacks on dyed-hair, eye-makeup-wearing emo kids began in earlyMarch when several hundred people went on an emo-beating rampage inQuerétaro, a town of 1.5 million about 160 miles north of Mexico City.
http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/03/anti-emo-riots.html
-Sex-education classes prevent few problems
Every poor, awkward preadolescent that goes through the American schoolsystem has endured a similar scenario: staring at egregiously largeprojections of male and female sexual anatomy, listening to a teacher droneon about the functions of these mysterious body parts and shifting uneasilyin their seat while their fellow classmates elicit snickers. This is thehorror of sex-ed.
http://media.www.dailytrojan.com/media/storage/paper679/news/2008/03/28/Opinion/SexEducation.Classes.Prevent.Few.Problems-3289278.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition
-Clinton Owes Obama An Apology
I've had it with the Clintons.
The past few months I've tried to defend Bill and Hillary Clinton againstsome of the more unreasonable attacks from their critics. Just last weekendon CNN's Ballot Bowl, I defended Bill Clinton when critics accused of him ofquestioning Barack Obama's patriotism. The critics may have misinterpretedClinton's remarks, I said, giving the former president the benefit of thedoubt.
http://www.jasmynecannick.com/blog/?p=1567
-Freepers turn on Condi Rice over comments on Obama's speech on race
Did I call it or not? You'll recall that the denizens of the Free Republicwere huge fans of Condoleezza Rice - in fact there was a draft Condi in 08movement there. However, I was certain once she commented positively aboutObama's speech about race, the love affair would be OVER in the swamps.
These are the mild, straightforward comments that landed Dr. Rice in theconservative dog house.
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4909
-Obama is the answer for gay, lesbian community
I have been called stupid, naive and a traitor for going against HillaryClinton and supporting Barack Obama as the right candidate for the Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community.
http://media.www.studentprintz.com/media/storage/paper974/news/2008/03/27/Opinion/Between.The.Lines.Obama.Is.The.Answer.For.Gay.Lesbian.Community-3285971.shtml
-Gay Jews Confront Their Heritage
Gay Jews face the double challenge of fitting in with the larger Jewishcommunity as they come to terms with their sexual identities, and alsosearch for a place in the GLBT community.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=local&sc2=photoalbum&sc3=&id=72092
-Rev. Jeremiah Wright Gets LGBT Support
Several LGBT people have come out in support of Democratic presidentialcandidate Sen. Barack Obama's controversial former pastor following mediauproar over short clips from his past sermons.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=72174
-Lay Church Leader Slain; 'Gay Panic' Defense Employed
Victim Victor Manious (Source:The Grand Rapids Press)
In the latest deployment of the so-called "gay panic defense," a Mich.attorney claimed that his client, accused of killing a 62-year-old churchlayman with a bat, was acting in self-defense.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=72268
-Kansas Public School May Expell Student for Being Gay
Naturally, no public school would openly state that they were expelling astudent because he was gay. But the facts of the story, as reported by theWichita Eagle, seem to indicate that this is what is happening in Wichita.
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/03/27/1704
-What's So Threatening About a Boy in a Prom Dress?
Last December, Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit in Indiana on behalf of Kevin "KK" Logan, a gay transgender high school student who was barred fromentering his prom because he arrived in a dress. Principal Diane Rouseliterally stretched her arms across the door to bar KK from entering. Nowthe Gary Community School Corporation has moved to dismiss KK's lawsuit.
According to GCSC's memorandum of law, KK's expression of his femininegender identity is not constitutionally protected expression. The GCSCadministrators claim that they excluded KK not because of his sex butbecause "he wore a pink ankle length dress to the prom." They claim to havebeen motivated by a "concern for all of the students who attended the prom."
But the other students at prom had known for a long time that KK wasfeminine; they understood the message he sent through his gender expressionover the prior two school years, and they accepted him for who he was.
Rather, the school administrators singled KK out for discriminatorytreatment, and now insist that KK's unequivocal feminine self-expression isunworthy of First Amendment protection.
http://www.lambdalegal.org/our-work/publications/general/whats-so-threatening.html
-Lambda Legal Reaches Settlement on Behalf of University of Wisconsin
Student Who Suffered Violent Antigay Attack
'This is the first time the civil provision in the hate crime law hasresulted in a settlement of an antigay violence case --- it sends a strongmessage that you can't assault someone and get away with it.'
http://www.lambdalegal.org/news/pr/lambda-legal-reaches-settlement-1.html
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Gay & Lesbian Leadership SmartBrier
http://www.smartbrief.com/index.jsp
Go to this link for the following articles:
-PFLAG: Kern taking first steps in dialogue on gay rights
Although Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern in a meeting with PFLAG did notapologize for her widely circulated anti-gay comments, she did express somesupport for protecting gay and lesbian workers from job discrimination,according to this article. "We appreciate this initial meeting [and] we lookforward to continuing today's conversation and working with Kern to moveequality forward," said Jody M. Huckaby, executive director of PFLAG. Readthe blogosphere's reaction to the meeting at Pam's House Blend, PageOneQ,Queerty and The PFLAG National Blog. 365Gay.com (3/27)
-Grab your tickets now for Victory Fund's 8th Annual Champagne Brunch!
Sunday, April 6th, at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C. Just a few daysremain to purchase tickets to the fun, fabulous Victory Fund ChampagneBrunch, honoring Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and featuring Iowa State Sen.Matt McCoy. All proceeds benefit the mission of the Gay & Lesbian VictoryFund-to grow the number of openly LGBT elected officials across the U.S.Join us April 6th at the Mayflower Hotel to honor Congresswoman Baldwin, oneof just two openly LGBT Members of Congress and a true hero in the fight forequality for all. Tickets are going fast, so buy yours online right now!
-Couple reaches golden milestone
Virginia couple John Cook, 88, and Waverly Cole, 78, who will mark their50th anniversary on April 15, are profiled. The two, who are both Armyveterans, have been generous supporters of LGBT advocacy groups, includingServicemembers Legal Defense Network, Lambda Legal, Human Rights Campaign,Equality Virginia and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network.
Washington Blade (3/21)
-Did mainstream media push dead soldier back into closet?
The mainstream media coverage of the death of highly decorated U.S. ArmyMaj. Alan Rogers, 40, in Baghdad, whom friends say was openly gay, failed toinclude his sexual orientation, according to this article. Although Rogersreportedly was out to friends and active in the Washington, D.C., chapter ofAmerican Veterans for Equal Rights, which opposes the military's gay ban,neither The Washington Post nor The Gainesville Sun in Florida foundsufficient evidence to describe Rogers as being gay. Washington Blade (3/27)
-Meet the DNC's first black trans delegate
Marisa Richmond, the first black transgender delegate to the DemocraticNational Convention, is interviewed about her groundbreaking appointment.The college history professor from Tennessee is a delegate for U.S. Sen.Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., but said she would be pleased, from an LGBT-rightsperspective, if Clinton or U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., secured thenomination. Washington Blade (3/26)
-Anti-gay campaigns target out Midwestern candidates
Paul Karr, director of media field strategy for GLAAD, writes of thechallenges faced by several out Midwestern candidates for local offices whoare being targeted by anti-gay forces. For more details, visit Read Betweenthe Lines.
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From HRC
http://www.hrc.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Don't let hatred stain our state constitutions.
Don't let bigotry sway this election.
Renew your membership BEFORE our fiscal year ends on Monday.
We've received an outpouring of support for Eric Breidenbaugh since we firstshared his story last week.
Eric's devastating experience - having to learn of his partner's death fromthe TV because he was "not an actual family member" - epitomizes the crueltyof laws that discriminate against GLBT couples. Watch the video »
https://secure.ga3.org/03/r_states/nT7q0dDFq5fig
But his story has also helped focus attention on a chilling reality: aconstitutional ban on same-sex marriage on the 2008 ballot in Eric's homestate of Florida - and, if you can believe it, more anti-GLBT measuresmoving toward the ballot in California, Arizona, Arkansas, and Oregon.
Renew before Monday - help us enter the new fiscal year prepared to stopthese tactics in their tracks and elect leaders who will protect GLBTfamilies.
https://secure.ga3.org/03/r_states/nT7q0dDFq5fig
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From Transgender Equality
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-Maine: Jennifer Finney Boylan never set out to be the public face for the transgendered.
Jennifer Finney Boylan wrote about her 2000 sex change change in thebest-selling memoir "She's Not There." But the novelist and Englishprofessor at Colby College was thrust into that role by her 2002best-selling memoir about the transition to womanhood that freed her fromthe decades-long torment of being a female trapped in a male body. Withthree appearances on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," two on "Larry King Live" andnumerous other interviews and public appearances, Boylan, 49, has become asunny-faced activist for the nation's transgendered and one of the mostwidely recognized transsexuals of recent years.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/03/26/transgendered.author.ap/
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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Hot Button Ballot Issues Back In Election
DALLAS (Reuters) - When Americans cast ballots on November 4 to elect apresident, some states also will ask voters hot-button questions likewhether or not to ban gay marriage.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-usa-ballotinitiatives.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=gay&st=nyt&oref=slogin
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Faithful may quote Scripture to support bigotry
Re Cal Thomas' anti-gay column, "Value system clashes at home and school"
(March 12): The curriculum changes introduced by intelligent officials likethose in California are largely responsible for the reduction of systemicanti-Semitism and blatant racial stereotypes - both of which had beenendorsed by religious leaders who defended their ignorance with scripturalpassages. It's a pity so many "religious" Americans think like troglodytes.
Albert E. Menard
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-brmail996pnmar29,0,5144232.story
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Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-New on the Web: a gay real estate directory
One of today's fastest growing home owner market segments is our gay familycommunities. They are highly successful and very influential members of ourAmerican society. They have the means and the need to secure loans andpurchase homes in some of the wealthiest communities. They are searching forlike minded as well as opened minded business professionals to help themachieve their life goals.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
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Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Nittany Lion love
Those of us living in urban "gay ghettos" sometimes forget what it's like tolive outside of our little insulated worlds where we can stroll hand-in-handwithout incident or attend a gay-affirming church or have a drink in a gaybar before dinner in a gay restaurant.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/blog/index.cfm?type=blog&start=3/23/08&end=3/30/08#17416
-Porno Pete Want To Out Gov. Crist
A few years ago when Florida Governor Charlie Crist was running for office,allegations surfaced that Crist was gay. Crist has repeatedly denied it -not that there's anything wrong with that. After all, he isn't opposed tocivil unions, and he did direct the state Republican Party to halt fundingof the anti-gay marriage initiative.
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/03/27/1710
-Gravel Still Fighting For The Gays
An Exclusive Letter From The Presidential (Very) Hopeful
The former Alaska governor, who this week jumped from Democratic party tothe Libertarians, sent us an exclusive letter pledging to fight for gaymarriage. The issue, he says, has been ignored during this campaign, anabsence he blames on both corporate media and his former colleagues in theDemocratic party.
http://www.queerty.com/gravel-still-fighting-for-the-gays-20080328/
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Pa. Sen. Endorses Obama
(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey endorsed DemocratBarack Obama on Friday, a move that could help the presidential candidatemake inroads with white working-class voters dubbed "Casey Democrats" in theKeystone State.
-Sen. Leahy To Clinton: Quit Now
(Burlington, Vermont) Sen. Patrick Leahy is suggesting that Democraticpresidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton abandon her White House run.
-Former Iowa Lt Govs Support Gay Marriage Case
(Des Moines, Iowa) Two former Iowa Lieutenant Governors, one a Republicanthe other a Democrat, submitted a brief Friday to the state Supreme Courtarguing that the court, not the legislature or voters, is the place todecide the constitutionality of same-sex marriage.
-Clock Ticking On Illinois Civil Unions Bill
(Springfield, Illinois) There is no indication when, or even if, Illinoislawmakers will vote a bill that would allow same-sex couples to have civilunions in the state.
-Report Shows 48% Hike In US HIV Cases
(Washington) Reported new HIV infections in the United States increased by48 percent in 2006 according to new data from the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention.
-FDA Reviews Safety Of HIV Drugs On Heart Attack Concerns
(Washington) The Food and Drug Administration says recent data show patientstaking HIV drugs from GlaxoSmithKline and Bristol-Myers Squibb may haveincreased risk of heart attack.
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Gay Men Risk of HIV 'Still High'
The Health Protection Agency made the warning after new diagnoses among gaymen topped 2,600 for the third year. But the figures do seem to have begunto plateau after a surge at the turn of the century. Overall, the number ofnew cases hit an estimated 6,840 in 2007 - a fall of 1,400 from the previousyear.
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The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Obama Holds LGBT Fund-raiser In New York City
Sen. Barack Obama waded deep into Clinton territory Thursday evening at aprivate LGBT fund-raiser in New York City where the price of admission was$2,300 per person.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid53048.asp
-Group Urges Iran to Release Gay Prisoners
A human rights group is urging Iranian police to release more than 30 menwho were arrested at a house party for allegedly engaging in gay sexualconduct, drinking alcohol, and other activities that violate Iran's moralcodes. Iranian police raided the house in February, Human Rights Watchreported on Friday. The men have been in jail since their arrest withoutaccess to attorneys and without charge.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid53038.asp
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Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-RainbowWeddingNetwork.com has chosen Seattle as the newest location for thecompany's upcoming GLBTQ Wedding & Family Expo and Rally for Equality. Theevent will be held Sunday April 6, 2008 from 12:30 - 3:30 pm at the SeattleMarriott Waterfront. Dozens of local wedding vendors are scheduled toparticipate, who actively support equal rights in marriage. Other highlightsinclude Music, Ceremony Tips, Samples, Fashion and Informative Presentationsabout the issues concerning equality in marriage and adoption for the GLBTQcommunity. Admission is free, and all supporters of equality are encouragedto attend.
-A gay rights group filed legal arguments today in a case that will decidewhether the state's ban on same-sex marriage is legal. Lambda Legal is a NewYork-based group that filed the arguments in a lawsuit on behalf of 6 gayand lesbian couples in Iowa who were denied marriage licenses, as well as 3of the couples' children.
Lambda Legal maintains that the ban denies gay and lesbian couples theconstitutionally guaranteed right to liberty and privacy and equalprotection under the law.
-H&R Block's TaxCut Online software doesn't support tax filings for civilunion couples, as two Connecticut men have found out. The ACLU has sent ademand letter to the company asking it to change its system. The ACLU alsostates "Although the tax requirements for couples with civil unions inConnecticut are very similar to the requirements for married gay couples inMassachusetts, H&R Block's online tax preparation service seems toaccommodate married gay couples there."
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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-London: Met Police criticised for allowing gay hate concert
The Metropolitan Police have allowed a concert by artist Bounty Killer to goahead, despite his lyrics inciting homophobic hatred and violence. TheJamaican reggae and dancehall DJ, born Rodney Basil Price, has already hadtwo concerts cancelled in Bradford and Birmingham following protests by thegay human rights group Outrage! The Met have previously stated that artistswould not be allowed to perform unless they sign the Reggae CompassionateAct (RCA).
click here for the full article
-Scottish campaign aims to stop deportation of gay teenager
A campaign has been launched to save a teenager from Syria being deported tohis homeland.
Jojo Jako Yakob, 19, claims he will be executed if he is returned. He hasbeen held at Polmont Young Offenders in Falkirk, Scotland for the last 12months after being arrested for possessing a fake Belgian passport. Hislawyers say an asylum application for his stay in the UK was mistakenlywithdrawn.
click here for the full article
-Evangelicals attack Ecuador's protection of sexual minorities
A member of Ecuador's National Assembly has caused outrage throughout thegay community by comparing homosexuality to paedophilia and bestiality.
Rosanna Queirolo, a former model, television news anchor and triathlonathlete, won election on a manifesto of environmental protection. However,since joining the Assembly she has caused controversy by embracing thecountry's ultra-conservative Christian Evangelical movement.
click here for the full article
-Politicians and church leaders back gay marriage in Iowa
The fight for gay equality continues in the heart of rural America thisweek, as the Iowa Supreme Court considers a lawsuit brought by six same-sexcouples denied marriage licences in the state. Senior attorneys from LambdaLegal, joined by former Iowa solicitor general Dennis Johnson, will arguethat denying marriage to same-sex couples violates the equal protection anddue process guarantees in the state's Constitution. In August 2007 a trialcourt ruled that denying marriage to same-sex couples was unconstitutional.
click here for the full article
-Irish teachers face dismissal for being gay
Gay and lesbian teachers in Ireland could be sacked if their lifestyle isseen as undermining the religious ethos of schools, a conference was toldthis week. Members of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) group at the IrishNational Teachers' Organisation conference said that the Employment EqualityAct permits schools to dismiss homosexual teachers from religious schools.
Section 37 of the Act states that schools that promote certain religiousvalues can take action to protect their "religious ethos."
click here for the full article
-Mayor "not ready" to support gay rights
One of Europe's most bigoted politicians has once again defended nakedprejudice in his city. Juozas Imbrasas, the Mayor of Vilnius, the capital ofLithuania, was asked by journalists if he would back a campaign affirmingfreedom of assembly and expression for LGBT people in Europe. 19 mayors fromacross the EU have signed up, but Mr Imbrasas said: "I am not ready for suchthings yet." His response was unsurprising considering that Vilnius citycouncil has effectively banned any gay Pride events.
click here for the full article
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Washington Post
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Gay Youth's Slaying Spurs Call for Tolerance
LOS ANGELES -- With his school uniform, eighth-grader Lawrence "Larry" Kingwore purple eye shadow, nail polish and pink lipstick. In the weeks beforehe died, he added purple boots with three-inch heels.
Classmates at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, Calif., mocked hismakeup and slung anti-gay slurs at him in the halls. Sometimes, the wordstransformed the expressive teenager into a wallflower.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032803350.html?hpid=moreheadlines
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
Saturday, March 29, 2008
NATIONAL & WORLD DIGEST March 29, 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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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-French are right on Olympic stance
French have it right this time
Americans have had their gripes with the French in recent years, but let'sgive France some credit. They are doing the right thing in trying to applypressure on China to ease up on its crackdown in Tibet.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editgstibetcappnmar28,0,3349743.story
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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-PRESIDENCY
How senior is too senior?
It was probably not wise for the 64-year-old Brit Hume to describe the71-year-old John McCain as having a ''senior moment.'' A blip would havebeen better. Or a gaffe. Or even a dent in the candidate's ''experience''armor.
http://www.miamiherald.com/851/story/474692.html
-Musicians getting in tune with Obama
Caribbean artists' tributes to Barack Obama are symbolic of the senator'sgrowing appeal beyond U.S. borders and the global excitement enveloping hiscandidacy -- even among those who can't vote.
http://www.miamiherald.com/campaign08/story/474673.html
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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-McCain Forecloses Early
I don't see how anybody could deny that John McCain is a straight-talker.
The country is terrified of economic collapse and he's been sounding likeMr. Potter, the banker in "It's a Wonderful Life." You can't get moreforthright than that.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/opinion/29collins.html?ref=opinion
-Endorsement of Obama Points Up Clinton's Obstacles
The surprise endorsement of Senator Barack Obama by a popular senator in abattleground state on Friday underlined the ferment in the Democraticnominating race and the serious obstacles facing Senator Hillary RodhamClinton as she tries to rescue her candidacy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/us/politics/29dems.html?hp
-Obama Communicates, Even Without Words
Senator Barack Obama didn't go on "The View" on Friday solely to talk aboutrace and the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. He also wanted to address thegender issue. And if the fluttery response of the show's five co-hosts isany harbinger, Mr. Obama will not have any trouble assuaging female votersif Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton drops out of the Democratic race for theWhite House.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/us/politics/29watch.html
-Surprise Backing From Senator Reflected Frustration and Desire for Healing
Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania left for his Easter vacation in Floridadetermined to remain neutral in the increasingly bitter battle for theDemocratic presidential nomination. But rain there kept him inside, and hebegan ruminating about the election and what was at stake.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/us/politics/29penn.html
=
Washington Post
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-In Pa., She's Got a Friend In Murtha
UNIONTOWN, Pa. -- They waited for three hours in a chilly gymnasium, morethan 2,000 people standing shoulder to shoulder on the hardwood floor, theirpatience waning through a cheerleading routine, a pep rally and four noisyspeeches from local politicians.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032803409.html?hpid=topnews
-Dollar Signs In Double Helixes
Firm Brings Genetic Testing to the Masses
For years, women have been able to go to the drugstore to answer a question:pregnant or not? Now science has taken testing a step further, and thosesame drugstore shelves are stocking kits to answer another, equally pressingquestion: daddy or not?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032803511.html?hpid=moreheadlines
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-French are right on Olympic stance
French have it right this time
Americans have had their gripes with the French in recent years, but let'sgive France some credit. They are doing the right thing in trying to applypressure on China to ease up on its crackdown in Tibet.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editgstibetcappnmar28,0,3349743.story
=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-PRESIDENCY
How senior is too senior?
It was probably not wise for the 64-year-old Brit Hume to describe the71-year-old John McCain as having a ''senior moment.'' A blip would havebeen better. Or a gaffe. Or even a dent in the candidate's ''experience''armor.
http://www.miamiherald.com/851/story/474692.html
-Musicians getting in tune with Obama
Caribbean artists' tributes to Barack Obama are symbolic of the senator'sgrowing appeal beyond U.S. borders and the global excitement enveloping hiscandidacy -- even among those who can't vote.
http://www.miamiherald.com/campaign08/story/474673.html
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-McCain Forecloses Early
I don't see how anybody could deny that John McCain is a straight-talker.
The country is terrified of economic collapse and he's been sounding likeMr. Potter, the banker in "It's a Wonderful Life." You can't get moreforthright than that.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/opinion/29collins.html?ref=opinion
-Endorsement of Obama Points Up Clinton's Obstacles
The surprise endorsement of Senator Barack Obama by a popular senator in abattleground state on Friday underlined the ferment in the Democraticnominating race and the serious obstacles facing Senator Hillary RodhamClinton as she tries to rescue her candidacy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/us/politics/29dems.html?hp
-Obama Communicates, Even Without Words
Senator Barack Obama didn't go on "The View" on Friday solely to talk aboutrace and the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. He also wanted to address thegender issue. And if the fluttery response of the show's five co-hosts isany harbinger, Mr. Obama will not have any trouble assuaging female votersif Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton drops out of the Democratic race for theWhite House.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/us/politics/29watch.html
-Surprise Backing From Senator Reflected Frustration and Desire for Healing
Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania left for his Easter vacation in Floridadetermined to remain neutral in the increasingly bitter battle for theDemocratic presidential nomination. But rain there kept him inside, and hebegan ruminating about the election and what was at stake.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/us/politics/29penn.html
=
Washington Post
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-In Pa., She's Got a Friend In Murtha
UNIONTOWN, Pa. -- They waited for three hours in a chilly gymnasium, morethan 2,000 people standing shoulder to shoulder on the hardwood floor, theirpatience waning through a cheerleading routine, a pep rally and four noisyspeeches from local politicians.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032803409.html?hpid=topnews
-Dollar Signs In Double Helixes
Firm Brings Genetic Testing to the Masses
For years, women have been able to go to the drugstore to answer a question:pregnant or not? Now science has taken testing a step further, and thosesame drugstore shelves are stocking kits to answer another, equally pressingquestion: daddy or not?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032803511.html?hpid=moreheadlines
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
FLORIDA DIGEST March 29, 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.
=
Anthony Niedwiecki Campaign for
Oakland Park City Commission
The first fundraising quarter of the year ends on Monday March 31, and ourcampaign is very close to breaking the $10,000 mark in total donations. Weneed your help to reach this milestone by Monday! Please donate any amountyou can and send a signal that we are set to move the city forward! Clickhere to contribute today!
www.Anthony09.com
=
From Mark LaFontaine
Running for Florida Legislature from House District 92
Just a quick note to let you know that I am appearing on "4 Sunday Morningwith Eliott Rodriguez" this Sunday at 11am to discuss the amendment to theFlorida Constitution that the Taxation and Reform Commission just placed onthe November ballot. This dangerous amendment will gut the section ofFlorida's Constitution that guarantees the separation of church and state.
I oppose this drastic step that would remove the prohibition on using taxdollars to fund religious activities and allow the government to earmarkyour tax dollars to sponsor government-funded religion. I think you'llagree with me in saying this is not the right direction for Florida.
Please take a few minutes to watch my interview. When I'm in theLegislature in Tallahassee I'll speak out to put an end to these right-wingattacks on our Constitution.
PS: I can't get to Tallahassee without your help. You've come through inthe past but I'd appreciate if you could contribute again before the quarterends on March 31. Click HERE to contribute to check out my website andlearn more.
http://marklafontaine.com/
=
From Transgender Equality
Making it clear that anti-gay bullying is destructive does not promotehomosexuality
People on the right have a troubling tendency to cherry-pick the typesof bigotry they choose to denounce. We saw this recently when Sen.John McCain issued a carefully worded, "categorical" repudiation ofRev. John Hagee's anti-Catholic remarks. McCain, who had earlierembraced Hagee's endorsement of his candidacy and publicly praised theright-wing preacher, was careful not to mention anything about Hagee'santi-gay statements or his anti-Muslim statements in his belatedrepudiation.
Unfortunately, a similar thing is happening with the Safe Schools Billthat is currently being considered in the Florida Legislature. Thebill seeks to address the problem of bullying in the public schools,which as we have seen recently can have deadly consequences. StateRep. Nick Thompson, who introduced the bill in the Florida House, hasinsisted that it is intended to protect all students from bullying. Infact, the text of the bill says it would "prohibit bullying andharassment of any student or employee of a public K-12 educationalinstitution."
But in the section of the bill that defines bullying, the bill onlyspecifies "sexual, religious or racial harassment" as categories ofbullying based on a person's inherent characteristics or ethnicbackground.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/view/editorial/4541.cfm
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-School vouchers shouldn't be part of Florida's needed tax and budget reform
ISSUE: Since when do school vouchers qualify as a tax and budget reform?
Floridians are closer than they think to a vote on whether to spend taxdollars on religious institutions, including private schools. It's not likethe public's clamoring for it, as they are for property tax and insurancereform, but that hasn't deterred the Florida Taxation and Budget ReformCommission.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editdltaxandbudgetdebaclepnmar29,0,2486333.story?track=rss
-5 Myths About No Child Left Behind
It's the 800-pound gorilla of U.S. education. The No Child Left Behind Act(NCLB), the sweeping legislation enacted six years ago to improve publicschools, seems to make a lot of people unhappy. But President Bush,undaunted by the barrage of criticism aimed at this beleaguered measure bystates, teachers' unions and politicians on both sides of the aisle, ispushing Congress to reauthorize it this year . Many Capitol Hill observersbelieve that it won't survive without the political clout a new presidentand Congress would bring -- but after a starring role in five straightpresidential elections, education is a bit player at best in the 2008 race.
Could these widespread myths about No Child Left Behind have poisoned thewell?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032802976.html
-Funding may dry up for Glades restoration
Budget plans could slash health care
TALLAHASSEE - Restoration of the Everglades could come to a grinding haltunder a House plan to slash $200 million from the project because of thestate's dropping revenues.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/legislature/sfl-flfspend0328sbmar28,0,1334057.story
-Florida unemployment rate holds steady
Unemployment in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties rose in Februarycompared with the same month a year ago, according to state agency figures.
Palm Beach County had the biggest jump in jobless at 4.7 percent, comparedwith 3.6 percent a year ago.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-0328jobless,0,1263606.story
-More Broward County families becoming homeless
Linda Smith has five kids, two jobs and no home.
Her husband walked out a few months ago, she says, not telling her theirmortgage hadn't been paid and their house would soon be foreclosed. Sheworks nights at an upscale department store, substitute teaches in BrowardCounty and has no idea where she'll wind up.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbhomeless0329sbmar29,0,3071327.story
-Florida's unemployment rate up sharply from a year ago
State posts 4.5% jobless rate
Construction workers bore the brunt of job losses in February, more evidenceof an unrelenting housing crisis statewide.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzunemployment0329sbmar29,0,62497.story
-Increase in Florida's cigarette tax makes sense
ISSUE: Cigarette tax touted as revenue source.
Hard economic times call for drastic measures, and Florida's budget crisisqualifies as such an occasion. The current financial crunch has requiredcutting, but lawmakers also have to find new revenue options.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editajjcigarettetaxpnmar29,0,3399208.story
=
Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-FAU gay student group, Equality Florida hold town hall meeting on marriagevote
I moderated a town hall meeting Thursday night to discuss Florida'sconstitutional marriage amendment, which will be on the ballot in November.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/03/fau-gay-student.html
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Undaunted Nelson Urges Major Political Reforms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says he fully intended to equate thetaking away of Florida's Democratic presidential delegates to historicalwrongs such as slavery or denying women and minorities the right to vote.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/28/na-undaunted-nelson-urges-major-political-reforms/?news-politics
=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Stay tough on crime -- by preventing it
OUR OPINION: JUVENILE ASSESSMENT CENTERS CAN DIVERT CRIMINALS
In a year of the steepest budget cuts in Florida history, some state-fundedoperations will actually get more tax dollars. These would be private-prisonoperators and prison-construction companies. The Legislature is poised tospend millions of dollars to build two prisons a year for the next fiveyears. The state prison system is near capacity with nearly 100,000 inmates.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/473152.html
-LEGISLATURE
Gun lobby has property rights in its sights
In Tallahassee, you sometimes hear outlandish statements, and we all haveour favorite examples. This, year I haven't yet heard of anything as odd asthe retail industry's gun sellers being labeled ''anti-gun.'' The paradoxmight be amusing if it weren't so troubling. The U.S. Supreme Court'sdeliberation on Washington D.C.'s gun ban now promises to add another layerof irony for our consideration.
http://www.miamiherald.com/851/story/474694.html
-DEMOGRAPHICS
Florida's population slowing to 30-year low, study shows
A University of Florida economics professor finds Florida's population's isdipping to 30-year low.
A new study has reaffirmed a growing demographic trend in Florida: The stateis seeing its population growth slow to its lowest level in three decades.
http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/474647.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
Anthony Niedwiecki Campaign for
Oakland Park City Commission
The first fundraising quarter of the year ends on Monday March 31, and ourcampaign is very close to breaking the $10,000 mark in total donations. Weneed your help to reach this milestone by Monday! Please donate any amountyou can and send a signal that we are set to move the city forward! Clickhere to contribute today!
www.Anthony09.com
=
From Mark LaFontaine
Running for Florida Legislature from House District 92
Just a quick note to let you know that I am appearing on "4 Sunday Morningwith Eliott Rodriguez" this Sunday at 11am to discuss the amendment to theFlorida Constitution that the Taxation and Reform Commission just placed onthe November ballot. This dangerous amendment will gut the section ofFlorida's Constitution that guarantees the separation of church and state.
I oppose this drastic step that would remove the prohibition on using taxdollars to fund religious activities and allow the government to earmarkyour tax dollars to sponsor government-funded religion. I think you'llagree with me in saying this is not the right direction for Florida.
Please take a few minutes to watch my interview. When I'm in theLegislature in Tallahassee I'll speak out to put an end to these right-wingattacks on our Constitution.
PS: I can't get to Tallahassee without your help. You've come through inthe past but I'd appreciate if you could contribute again before the quarterends on March 31. Click HERE to contribute to check out my website andlearn more.
http://marklafontaine.com/
=
From Transgender Equality
Making it clear that anti-gay bullying is destructive does not promotehomosexuality
People on the right have a troubling tendency to cherry-pick the typesof bigotry they choose to denounce. We saw this recently when Sen.John McCain issued a carefully worded, "categorical" repudiation ofRev. John Hagee's anti-Catholic remarks. McCain, who had earlierembraced Hagee's endorsement of his candidacy and publicly praised theright-wing preacher, was careful not to mention anything about Hagee'santi-gay statements or his anti-Muslim statements in his belatedrepudiation.
Unfortunately, a similar thing is happening with the Safe Schools Billthat is currently being considered in the Florida Legislature. Thebill seeks to address the problem of bullying in the public schools,which as we have seen recently can have deadly consequences. StateRep. Nick Thompson, who introduced the bill in the Florida House, hasinsisted that it is intended to protect all students from bullying. Infact, the text of the bill says it would "prohibit bullying andharassment of any student or employee of a public K-12 educationalinstitution."
But in the section of the bill that defines bullying, the bill onlyspecifies "sexual, religious or racial harassment" as categories ofbullying based on a person's inherent characteristics or ethnicbackground.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/view/editorial/4541.cfm
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-School vouchers shouldn't be part of Florida's needed tax and budget reform
ISSUE: Since when do school vouchers qualify as a tax and budget reform?
Floridians are closer than they think to a vote on whether to spend taxdollars on religious institutions, including private schools. It's not likethe public's clamoring for it, as they are for property tax and insurancereform, but that hasn't deterred the Florida Taxation and Budget ReformCommission.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editdltaxandbudgetdebaclepnmar29,0,2486333.story?track=rss
-5 Myths About No Child Left Behind
It's the 800-pound gorilla of U.S. education. The No Child Left Behind Act(NCLB), the sweeping legislation enacted six years ago to improve publicschools, seems to make a lot of people unhappy. But President Bush,undaunted by the barrage of criticism aimed at this beleaguered measure bystates, teachers' unions and politicians on both sides of the aisle, ispushing Congress to reauthorize it this year . Many Capitol Hill observersbelieve that it won't survive without the political clout a new presidentand Congress would bring -- but after a starring role in five straightpresidential elections, education is a bit player at best in the 2008 race.
Could these widespread myths about No Child Left Behind have poisoned thewell?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032802976.html
-Funding may dry up for Glades restoration
Budget plans could slash health care
TALLAHASSEE - Restoration of the Everglades could come to a grinding haltunder a House plan to slash $200 million from the project because of thestate's dropping revenues.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/legislature/sfl-flfspend0328sbmar28,0,1334057.story
-Florida unemployment rate holds steady
Unemployment in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties rose in Februarycompared with the same month a year ago, according to state agency figures.
Palm Beach County had the biggest jump in jobless at 4.7 percent, comparedwith 3.6 percent a year ago.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-0328jobless,0,1263606.story
-More Broward County families becoming homeless
Linda Smith has five kids, two jobs and no home.
Her husband walked out a few months ago, she says, not telling her theirmortgage hadn't been paid and their house would soon be foreclosed. Sheworks nights at an upscale department store, substitute teaches in BrowardCounty and has no idea where she'll wind up.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbhomeless0329sbmar29,0,3071327.story
-Florida's unemployment rate up sharply from a year ago
State posts 4.5% jobless rate
Construction workers bore the brunt of job losses in February, more evidenceof an unrelenting housing crisis statewide.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzunemployment0329sbmar29,0,62497.story
-Increase in Florida's cigarette tax makes sense
ISSUE: Cigarette tax touted as revenue source.
Hard economic times call for drastic measures, and Florida's budget crisisqualifies as such an occasion. The current financial crunch has requiredcutting, but lawmakers also have to find new revenue options.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editajjcigarettetaxpnmar29,0,3399208.story
=
Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-FAU gay student group, Equality Florida hold town hall meeting on marriagevote
I moderated a town hall meeting Thursday night to discuss Florida'sconstitutional marriage amendment, which will be on the ballot in November.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/03/fau-gay-student.html
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Undaunted Nelson Urges Major Political Reforms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says he fully intended to equate thetaking away of Florida's Democratic presidential delegates to historicalwrongs such as slavery or denying women and minorities the right to vote.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/28/na-undaunted-nelson-urges-major-political-reforms/?news-politics
=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Stay tough on crime -- by preventing it
OUR OPINION: JUVENILE ASSESSMENT CENTERS CAN DIVERT CRIMINALS
In a year of the steepest budget cuts in Florida history, some state-fundedoperations will actually get more tax dollars. These would be private-prisonoperators and prison-construction companies. The Legislature is poised tospend millions of dollars to build two prisons a year for the next fiveyears. The state prison system is near capacity with nearly 100,000 inmates.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/473152.html
-LEGISLATURE
Gun lobby has property rights in its sights
In Tallahassee, you sometimes hear outlandish statements, and we all haveour favorite examples. This, year I haven't yet heard of anything as odd asthe retail industry's gun sellers being labeled ''anti-gun.'' The paradoxmight be amusing if it weren't so troubling. The U.S. Supreme Court'sdeliberation on Washington D.C.'s gun ban now promises to add another layerof irony for our consideration.
http://www.miamiherald.com/851/story/474694.html
-DEMOGRAPHICS
Florida's population slowing to 30-year low, study shows
A University of Florida economics professor finds Florida's population's isdipping to 30-year low.
A new study has reaffirmed a growing demographic trend in Florida: The stateis seeing its population growth slow to its lowest level in three decades.
http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/474647.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
Friday, March 28, 2008
GLBT DIGEST March 28, 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:
-Religion in the News
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- An evangelical group that wants to reshape themovement's political reputation for being focused on opposing abortion andsame-sex marriage is hoping that a series of meetings stressing its roots inwomen's suffrage and abolition will help it break out of the mold.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Religion-in-the-News.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=GAY&st=nyt&oref=slogin
-Dutch Koran Film Angers Iran And Indonesia
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Iran and Indonesia condemned on Friday a film by aDutch lawmaker that accuses the Koran of inciting violence, and Dutch Muslimleaders urged restraint.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-dutch-islam-film.html?scp=5&sq=GAY&st=nyt
-Indie Producer Here! For Gay - Themed Movies
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Gay-themed movies are the very definitionof niche releases.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/arts/entertainment-gay.html?scp=7&sq=GAY&st=nyt
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Killing of gay Fort Lauderdale teen turns into call for action
At school, his mother said, they teased him: "Gay! Faggot!"
Around the neighborhood, a friend recalled, some mistook him for a youngwoman and catcalled - "Hey lil' momma!" - and he ran, knowing what wouldhappen when they came closer and realized he was a boy.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbwilliams0328sbmar28,0,344159.story
=
Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Kids animated cartoon character joins gay rights group
Omaha, NE (PRWEB) March 26, 2008 -- COLAGE welcomes Buddy G as theorganization's newest member. The organization is a national movement ofchildren, youth and adults who have one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual,transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) parents. Buddy G is the starring animatedcharacter of the show Buddy G, My Two Moms and Me, an animated cartoonseries for children starring a character with same sex parents. As the namesuggests, Buddy G has two lesbian moms in the cartoon.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
-Mariela Castro champions gay rights in Cuba
HAVANA -- Not the new president, Raul, although he has promised to pushthrough "structural and conceptual" changes to this communist island in theCaribbean. It is Raul's daughter, Mariela Castro. As head of thegovernment-funded National Centre for Sex Education, she is trying to changepeople's attitudes towards minority groups in the community. She iscurrently attempting to get the Cuban National Assembly to adopt what wouldbe among the most liberal gay and transsexual rights law in Latin America.
-Teacher avoids jail for blackmailing gay lover
AAP -- A Melbourne, Australia, teacher who blackmailed his gay lover using avideo of them involved in a sex act has been fined and given a suspendedsentence. David Robert Hicks, 31, has pleaded guilty to one count ofblackmail. Hicks, whose address has been withheld for legal reasons,appeared today in the Victorian County Court for sentencing.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
=
Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Gay Film Festival Draws Opposition In Dade City
DADE CITY - A gay film festival that is planned to start Friday and runthrough the weekend is generating opposition from a Tampa-based familygroup.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/27/gay-film-fest-draws-opposition-dade-city/?news-breaking-yahoo
-Media, military kept soldier in closet after death
Friends say gay man killed in Iraq would want the truth to be known
The death of a gay soldier in Iraq is drawing renewed attention to how the"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy - and the mainstream media - help ensure thatgays stay in the closet, even in death.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17404
-Female author writes about her own male past
Finney Boylan never set out to be the public face for the transgendered.
But the novelist and English professor at Colby College was thrust into thatrole by her 2002 best-selling memoir about the transition to womanhood thatfreed her from the decades-long torment of being a female trapped in a malebody.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/03/26/transgendered.author.ap/
-Kids openly gay earlier than ever
When a gay teenager was gunned down earlier this year at an Oxnard school,the violence resulted in the unexpected: Young people, gay and straight,rallied across the nation for civil rights.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_8709749
-Obama Fathers Two-Headed Gay Terrorist Baby: The National Enquirer-izationof American Politics
As campaign politics in America lurches, zombie-like, deeper and deeper intothe muck, with Hillary Clinton desperately flogging the Reverend Wright"scandal" in all its idiotic glory, it's time to study the true masters ofsmear-ology -- the supermarket tabloids. Here, in the sick, teeming id ofAmerica, tales of lust, drunkeness, treason and murder are laid out weeklyfor the delectation of short-attention-span shoppers, without the boringpro-forma pretense of actual policy debate; and here we can view,uncensored, the understory of modern American politics.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-eskow/obama-fathers-twoheaded-_b_93767.html
-Our two cents on Bill Clinton's DOMA rant
Former President Bill Clinton was asked earlier this week by an MTVUeditorial board member about his involvement in the Defense of Marriage Act(DOMA) in 1996. The question was prompted by a comment Melissa Etheridgemade during last year's HRC/Logo Presidential forum where she said PresidentClinton "threw gays and lesbians under the bus" when he signed DOMA intolaw.
http://prideagenda.blogspot.com/2008/03/our-two-cents-on-bill-clintons-doma.html
-A controversial 'spiritual advisor'
Openly lesbian Ms. Cleo to be special guest at Palm Beach Pridefest
"I am not a psychic," says Ms. Cleo in response to a question about thenotoriety she gained earlier this decade as a spokeswoman for the PsychicNetwork. "I am a mambo [spiritual advisor], and I take care of a villagethat has members throughout the Americas. If there is any controversy aboutme, it is because I am outspoken about our rights and I'm not afraid to tellpeople what I think."
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/locallife/spiritualty/4536.cfm
-FRIEND OF THE WEEK
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Our Friend of the Week honors go to Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa.
On April 8, Bishop Tutu will receive the 2008 Outspoken Award from theInternational Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission.
FOE OF THE WEEK
Peter Sprigg
Vice president of policy researchFamily Research Council
In a videotaped interview that is now making the rounds on the Internet, aspokesperson from the right-wing religious group Family Research Councilmade an incredibly hateful and dehumanizing comment about gay people inresponse to a question about immigration policy.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/view/friendfoe/4542.cfm
-Media plays up 'sex crimes' while downplaying war crimes
Lying to start a war is OK, but lying about paying for sex seemsunacceptableAmerica loves a good sex scandal. Once again we have been treated to thewalk of shame with another parade of disgrace, denial and denunciation.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/view/columns/4543.cfm
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Can There Be Peace In The Valley For Dems?
(Fayetteville, North Carolina) They may bicker daily over issues, characterand innuendo, but both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama appear toagree on one thing: Democratic voters will coalesce around a nominee andcarry him or her to victory in November over Republican John McCain.
-Another Clinton Misspeak?
(Belfast, Northern Ireland) Hillary Rodham Clinton cites her role inbringing peace to Northern Ireland as one of the top foreign policycredentials of her presidential bid.
-Obama Says He Would Have Left If Wright Stayed
(Washington) White House hopeful Barack Obama suggests he would have lefthis Chicago church had his longtime pastor, whose fiery anti-Americancomments about U.S. foreign policy and race relations threatened Obama'scampaign, not stepped down.
-New Twist In Okeechobee Gay Club Suit
(Okeechobee, Florida) A lengthy lawsuit by the ACLU against the Okeechobeeschool district over its refusal to allow a Gay-Straight Alliance to meet oncampus has taken a new twist a week after it was learned the GSA had nostudents.
-Concerts By Anti-Gay Singer Cancelled
(London) Two British concerts by a Jamaican reggae singer whose musicadvocates killing gays have been cancelled following complaints by LGBTrights groups.
-Kern Meets With PFLAG Group
(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Members of the Oklahoma City Chapter of Parents,Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays met Thursday with Oklahoma StateRep. Sally Kern (R) to express concern about her recent comment that gaysare "the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism."
-Battle Intensifies Over Fla. Anti-Gay Amendment
(Tallahassee) The two major sides in the battle over a proposed amendmentbanning gay marriage squared off in a debate that laid out their keypositions.
-AIDS Activist Honored For Leadership
(Los Angels, California) AIDS advocate Gregg Gonsalves has been selected asthe first-ever recipient of the $100,000 John M. Lloyd AIDS LeadershipAward.
=
National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Florida Man Told He's 'Not an Actual Family Member' When Partner is Killedin Plane Crash
Eric Breidenbaugh knew something was wrong. His partner and his partner'sparents were all missing - hours overdue from a family flight aboard a smallprivate plane. Eric called his local airport, near Pinellas Park, Florida,to see if they had any information. They did, but they wouldn't give it tohim. They said he was "not an actual family member," so they couldn't tellhim whether his partner was alive or dead.
-Calling on Rhee
Students at D.C.'s public high schools who identify as gay, lesbian orbisexual were four times more likely to attempt suicide over the past year,according to a fact sheet released by D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) on Monday,March 24. This and other startling data were extracted from the biennialYouth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) conducted by DCPS and the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2007. The preliminary data from thatsurvey was presented six months ago.
-Record Number Sponsor Florida Gay Rights Legislation
A record number of Florida lawmakers are asking their colleagues to considerlegislation prohibiting discrimination against gays and lesbians in publicand private employment, housing, and public accommodations. "For the firsttime in Florida's history, thirty-seven legislators are seeking to insurethat gay men and lesbians living and working in our state be afforded thesame rights as all other Floridians," said retired judge Rand Hoch.
=
Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Same-sex couples that establish a legal relationship in a state that allowsit and then move to a state that does not might be stuck in the relationshipwith no access to divorce. DOMA upsets the normal operation of matrimoniallaw, in which courts adjudicate domestic relations disputes under their ownlaws and, where appropriate, may also apply the laws of another state thathas an "interest" in the relationship. Those judgments are ordinarilyentitled to enforcement in any court in the United States "whether theyagree with the original basis for the marriage or not," according to StanleyCox, a professor at the New England School of Law.
-Opposition to this weekend's same sex commitment ceremony at Penn State washand delivered to university officials and to the man who will preside overthe ceremony itself - the mayor of State College.
Pastor Gary Dull of the Altoona Baptist Church said he is against thesame-sex commitment ceremony because it doesn't follow the values laid outin the Bible. But, State College Mayor Bill Welch said the ceremony is notabout the Bible, but about love and commitment.
=
Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-2,630 gay men diagnosed with HIV in 2007
The Health Protection Agency has revealed that there were an estimated 6,840new HIV diagnoses in the UK last year, more than a third of them gay men. Itis the third successive year that new diagnoses among gay men have risenabove 2,600, the highest levels since records began. Increased testing islikely to have contributed in part to these recent high numbers of HIVdiagnoses. 2,630 gay men were diagnosed as HIV positive last year.
click here for the full article
-Homophobia claims rejected by police complaints body
Sixteen allegations of homophobia made against the eight Devon and Cornwallpolice officers have been rejected by the Independent Police ComplaintsCommission. The complaints were made in 2004 and 2005 by Malcolm Lidbury, alocal LGBT activist. He claimed he was "treated poorly" because of hissexuality and claimed that the Devon and Cornwall police have an "inherentlyhomophobic" attitude.
click here for the full article
-UK asylum system "not fit for purpose"
A commission established to examine asylum policy and practice in the UK hasconcluded that it falls below the standards of a civilised nation.The12-member Independent Asylum Commission's findings have been rejected by theBorder and Immigration Agency, who claim they treat people with "care andcompassion." The volume of people seeking asylum in the UK has fallensharply and last year there were just over 23,000.
click here for the full article
-'Obama Girl' wants Hillary Clinton out of Presidential race
Amber Lee Ettinger, also known as "Obama Girl," has released a new video
calling for New York Senator Hillary Clinton to drop out of the USPresidential race against Barack Obama. The first "Obama Girl" video wasreleased last summer and rapidly spread like wildfire, launching Ettingerinto semi-stardom. The videos are the creation of BarelyPolitical.com andthe original video has been viewed more than seven million times onYouTube.com alone.
click here for the full article
-US martial arts fighter reveals he is gay
Mixed martial arts has become a national phenomenon in America, and with thecreation of the Ultimate Fighting Championships, only continues to grow inpopularity. This week, competitor Shad Smith became the first openly gayfighter in the sport when he revealed his sexuality in a New York Timesinterview.According to the article, Smith entered his first fight in 2000shortly after his release from prison, where he was serving time forcarjacking, one of his many stints.
click here for the full article
-Gay 'wedding' planners to sponsor London Falcons
London's newest gay-friendly football club is landed a major sponsor.
Perfect Partnerships promote and specialise in co-ordinating civilpartnerships, gay and lesbian stag and hen weekends, commitment ceremonies,gay honeymoons and overseas gay weddings. London Falcons Football Club,which fields teams in both 5-a-side and 11-as-side competitions, was foundedless than two years ago but already boasts more than 100 members. Theyrecently reached the final of the Yorkshire Terriers 5-a-side tournament.click here for the full article
=
Forwarded from Euro-Queer
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article:
- Ireland: Law may leave gay teachers open to being dismissed
INTO CONFERENCE: GAY AND lesbian teachers could be dismissed if theirlifestyle is seen as undermining the religious ethos of schools, the IrishNational Teachers' Organisation (INTO)conference was told yesterday.
Sheila Crowley, who chairs INTO's Lesbian Gay and Bisexual (LGB) teachers'group, said Section 37 of the Employment Equality Acts permits schools thatpromote certain religious values to take "necessary action to prevent anemployee from undermining the religious ethos of the institution".
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Libby Post
http://www.proudlyout.typepad.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Hitler's Play Book
Sally Kern must be studying Hitler's play book.Hitler demonized Jews bysaying we controlled the world's commerce and banks.Kern thinks gay money isbeing used to control the political process.Hitler considered Jews thepersonification of the Devil.Kern thinks LGBT people are the personificationof the sin undermining America's Christian society.Hitler believed that Jewswere the springboard for sedition.Kern believes that "good citizenship" isnot within the realm of LGBT people because we are not good Christians.
Hitler believed Jews have "always been a people with definite racialcharacteristics and never a religion." Kern believes all religions are notequal. I could go on and on.
http://www.proudlyout.com
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Forwarded from Gays Without Borders
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-I received word tonight from Tomasz Szypula, spokesman for theCampaign Against Homophobia, one of Poland's gay politicalorganizations, that Brendan Fay and Tom Moulton, the US gay couplewhose wedding is being used by Poland's president to spread hate andfear of same-sex loving people, are traveling to Warsaw this weekend.
To get more information on their trip, I called Brendan at home. Hegave me the scoop. He have been invited by a Polish TV network to comeand appear on a program, all expenses paid by the network. Brendan andTom touch down in Warsaw on Saturday morning.
http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2008/03/polish-tv-flying-us-gay-couple-to.html
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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
-Third sex gets official status in Tamil Nadu
CHENNAI: So far Pooja, a 25-year-old transsexual from Salem in TamilNadu, had nothing to prove her existence in government recordsbecause she had refused to be identified as either a male or afemale, the only two options available in the gender column of theapplication forms. Finally, the state has recognized her as an individualand given hera ration card where the sex column is marked T instead of M or F.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//articleshow/2869909.cms
-GAY IRANIAN SAFE -- FOR NOW by Doug Ireland
Under Global Pressure, U.K. government rethinks deportation
In the latest protest aimed at preventing the UK from deporting 19-year-oldIranian Mehdi Kazemi to his homeland where he faces probable execution, 150demonstrators braved hail, snow, and rain in London on Saturday, March 22,to rally outside 10 Downing Street, the official residence of British PrimeMinister Gordon Brown. Protesters demanded that Brown's government refrainfrom efforts to deport any gay and lesbian Iranians.
http://gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19429156&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=6
-Officer LGBT-friendly
Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis assumed leadership of the Boston Police Department in December 2006 with a promise to strengthen ties between thedepartment and Boston's diverse communities. And a little over a year intohis tenure, he's getting rave reviews for his outreach to both gay membersof the force and the broader LGBT community in Boston. Read
http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=72201
-Oldest profession tempts pair of 93-year-olds
It's the world's oldest profession, but two Florida johns should have beenold enough to know better. An undercover prostitution sting in Bradentonnetted two hot-blooded 93-year-olds, cops said. "The first thing that goesthrough people's minds is, 'Did they have Viagra?'" said Dave Bristow of theManatee County Sheriff's Department. "I cannot remember anyone anywhere nearthat age."
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/03/26/2008-03-26_oldest_profession_tempts_pair_of_93yearo.html?ref=rss
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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Obama Weathers Wright Storm, Clinton Faces Credibility Problem
Obama's personal image remains more favorable than Clinton's -- and heretains a 10-point advantage over her in the race for the nomination. Butcertain beliefs and attitudes among older, white, working-class Democratsare associated with his lower levels of support among this group. Views ofHillary Clinton among white Democratic voters are more influenced byperceptions that she is "phony." Read more
-Speech on Race Arguably Biggest Event of Campaign
Fully 85% of Americans say they have heard about Obama's speech, and 70%have heard more about him in the last week than any other candidate. Readmore
-Complex Speech Challenges Media
For a full week, political prognosticators and pundits grappled with theintricacies of Barack Obama's multilayered address on race relations. Readmore
-Few in China Complain About Internet Controls
Many Americans assume that China's internet users are unhappy about theirgovernment's control of the internet, but a new survey by Chineseresearchers finds most Chinese say they approve of internet regulation,especially by the government. Read more
-Dismal Views of the Economy
It's the Inflation, Stupid
The public's satisfaction with the state of the nation hits a 20-year low,but optimism about the future rises somewhat. Rising prices top the listwhen it comes to Americans' personal economic concerns. Read more
-Changes in Catholicism
American Catholics on the Eve of Pope Benedict's Visit
When Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the U.S. on April 15, he will be greetedby a flock that is undergoing rapid ethnic and demographic changes. Read
more
-Watching War - Why News of Iraq Didn't Surge
In the history of the Iraq conflict, May 24, 2007 may not go down as a redletter date; but it marked a turning point in media coverage of thethird-longest war in U.S. history. Read more
-Daily Number
28% - Awareness of Iraq War Fatalities Plummets
Shortly before the count of U.S. military fatalities reached 4,000, a Pewsurvey found that only 28% of U.S. adults were able to correctly specify theapproximate number of Americans who have died in the Iraq war, far fewerthan the number able to estimate troop deaths correctly in earlier surveys.
Check back every weekday for another number in the news. Read more
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From MoveOn.Org
http://www.moveon.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:
This is pretty outrageous: a group of Clinton-supporting big Democraticdonors are threatening to stop supporting Democrats in Congress becauseNancy Pelosi said that the people, not the superdelegates, should decide thePresidential nomination.1
It's the worst kind of insider politics-billionaires bullying our electedleaders nto ignoring the will of the voters.
But when we all pool our resources, together we're stronger than the fatcats. So et's tell Nancy Pelosi that if she keeps standing up for regularAmericans, housands of us will have her back. And we can more than matchwhatever the CEOs and illionaires refuse to contribute. Clicking here willadd your name to our statement:
http://pol.moveon.org/democracy/o.pl?id=12391-5533006-jRsB_G&t=273
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Religion in the News
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- An evangelical group that wants to reshape themovement's political reputation for being focused on opposing abortion andsame-sex marriage is hoping that a series of meetings stressing its roots inwomen's suffrage and abolition will help it break out of the mold.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Religion-in-the-News.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=GAY&st=nyt&oref=slogin
-Dutch Koran Film Angers Iran And Indonesia
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Iran and Indonesia condemned on Friday a film by aDutch lawmaker that accuses the Koran of inciting violence, and Dutch Muslimleaders urged restraint.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-dutch-islam-film.html?scp=5&sq=GAY&st=nyt
-Indie Producer Here! For Gay - Themed Movies
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Gay-themed movies are the very definitionof niche releases.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/arts/entertainment-gay.html?scp=7&sq=GAY&st=nyt
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Killing of gay Fort Lauderdale teen turns into call for action
At school, his mother said, they teased him: "Gay! Faggot!"
Around the neighborhood, a friend recalled, some mistook him for a youngwoman and catcalled - "Hey lil' momma!" - and he ran, knowing what wouldhappen when they came closer and realized he was a boy.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbwilliams0328sbmar28,0,344159.story
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Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Kids animated cartoon character joins gay rights group
Omaha, NE (PRWEB) March 26, 2008 -- COLAGE welcomes Buddy G as theorganization's newest member. The organization is a national movement ofchildren, youth and adults who have one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual,transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) parents. Buddy G is the starring animatedcharacter of the show Buddy G, My Two Moms and Me, an animated cartoonseries for children starring a character with same sex parents. As the namesuggests, Buddy G has two lesbian moms in the cartoon.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
-Mariela Castro champions gay rights in Cuba
HAVANA -- Not the new president, Raul, although he has promised to pushthrough "structural and conceptual" changes to this communist island in theCaribbean. It is Raul's daughter, Mariela Castro. As head of thegovernment-funded National Centre for Sex Education, she is trying to changepeople's attitudes towards minority groups in the community. She iscurrently attempting to get the Cuban National Assembly to adopt what wouldbe among the most liberal gay and transsexual rights law in Latin America.
-Teacher avoids jail for blackmailing gay lover
AAP -- A Melbourne, Australia, teacher who blackmailed his gay lover using avideo of them involved in a sex act has been fined and given a suspendedsentence. David Robert Hicks, 31, has pleaded guilty to one count ofblackmail. Hicks, whose address has been withheld for legal reasons,appeared today in the Victorian County Court for sentencing.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
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Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Gay Film Festival Draws Opposition In Dade City
DADE CITY - A gay film festival that is planned to start Friday and runthrough the weekend is generating opposition from a Tampa-based familygroup.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/27/gay-film-fest-draws-opposition-dade-city/?news-breaking-yahoo
-Media, military kept soldier in closet after death
Friends say gay man killed in Iraq would want the truth to be known
The death of a gay soldier in Iraq is drawing renewed attention to how the"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy - and the mainstream media - help ensure thatgays stay in the closet, even in death.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17404
-Female author writes about her own male past
Finney Boylan never set out to be the public face for the transgendered.
But the novelist and English professor at Colby College was thrust into thatrole by her 2002 best-selling memoir about the transition to womanhood thatfreed her from the decades-long torment of being a female trapped in a malebody.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/03/26/transgendered.author.ap/
-Kids openly gay earlier than ever
When a gay teenager was gunned down earlier this year at an Oxnard school,the violence resulted in the unexpected: Young people, gay and straight,rallied across the nation for civil rights.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_8709749
-Obama Fathers Two-Headed Gay Terrorist Baby: The National Enquirer-izationof American Politics
As campaign politics in America lurches, zombie-like, deeper and deeper intothe muck, with Hillary Clinton desperately flogging the Reverend Wright"scandal" in all its idiotic glory, it's time to study the true masters ofsmear-ology -- the supermarket tabloids. Here, in the sick, teeming id ofAmerica, tales of lust, drunkeness, treason and murder are laid out weeklyfor the delectation of short-attention-span shoppers, without the boringpro-forma pretense of actual policy debate; and here we can view,uncensored, the understory of modern American politics.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-eskow/obama-fathers-twoheaded-_b_93767.html
-Our two cents on Bill Clinton's DOMA rant
Former President Bill Clinton was asked earlier this week by an MTVUeditorial board member about his involvement in the Defense of Marriage Act(DOMA) in 1996. The question was prompted by a comment Melissa Etheridgemade during last year's HRC/Logo Presidential forum where she said PresidentClinton "threw gays and lesbians under the bus" when he signed DOMA intolaw.
http://prideagenda.blogspot.com/2008/03/our-two-cents-on-bill-clintons-doma.html
-A controversial 'spiritual advisor'
Openly lesbian Ms. Cleo to be special guest at Palm Beach Pridefest
"I am not a psychic," says Ms. Cleo in response to a question about thenotoriety she gained earlier this decade as a spokeswoman for the PsychicNetwork. "I am a mambo [spiritual advisor], and I take care of a villagethat has members throughout the Americas. If there is any controversy aboutme, it is because I am outspoken about our rights and I'm not afraid to tellpeople what I think."
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/locallife/spiritualty/4536.cfm
-FRIEND OF THE WEEK
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Our Friend of the Week honors go to Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa.
On April 8, Bishop Tutu will receive the 2008 Outspoken Award from theInternational Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission.
FOE OF THE WEEK
Peter Sprigg
Vice president of policy researchFamily Research Council
In a videotaped interview that is now making the rounds on the Internet, aspokesperson from the right-wing religious group Family Research Councilmade an incredibly hateful and dehumanizing comment about gay people inresponse to a question about immigration policy.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/view/friendfoe/4542.cfm
-Media plays up 'sex crimes' while downplaying war crimes
Lying to start a war is OK, but lying about paying for sex seemsunacceptableAmerica loves a good sex scandal. Once again we have been treated to thewalk of shame with another parade of disgrace, denial and denunciation.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/view/columns/4543.cfm
=
365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Can There Be Peace In The Valley For Dems?
(Fayetteville, North Carolina) They may bicker daily over issues, characterand innuendo, but both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama appear toagree on one thing: Democratic voters will coalesce around a nominee andcarry him or her to victory in November over Republican John McCain.
-Another Clinton Misspeak?
(Belfast, Northern Ireland) Hillary Rodham Clinton cites her role inbringing peace to Northern Ireland as one of the top foreign policycredentials of her presidential bid.
-Obama Says He Would Have Left If Wright Stayed
(Washington) White House hopeful Barack Obama suggests he would have lefthis Chicago church had his longtime pastor, whose fiery anti-Americancomments about U.S. foreign policy and race relations threatened Obama'scampaign, not stepped down.
-New Twist In Okeechobee Gay Club Suit
(Okeechobee, Florida) A lengthy lawsuit by the ACLU against the Okeechobeeschool district over its refusal to allow a Gay-Straight Alliance to meet oncampus has taken a new twist a week after it was learned the GSA had nostudents.
-Concerts By Anti-Gay Singer Cancelled
(London) Two British concerts by a Jamaican reggae singer whose musicadvocates killing gays have been cancelled following complaints by LGBTrights groups.
-Kern Meets With PFLAG Group
(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Members of the Oklahoma City Chapter of Parents,Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays met Thursday with Oklahoma StateRep. Sally Kern (R) to express concern about her recent comment that gaysare "the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism."
-Battle Intensifies Over Fla. Anti-Gay Amendment
(Tallahassee) The two major sides in the battle over a proposed amendmentbanning gay marriage squared off in a debate that laid out their keypositions.
-AIDS Activist Honored For Leadership
(Los Angels, California) AIDS advocate Gregg Gonsalves has been selected asthe first-ever recipient of the $100,000 John M. Lloyd AIDS LeadershipAward.
=
National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Florida Man Told He's 'Not an Actual Family Member' When Partner is Killedin Plane Crash
Eric Breidenbaugh knew something was wrong. His partner and his partner'sparents were all missing - hours overdue from a family flight aboard a smallprivate plane. Eric called his local airport, near Pinellas Park, Florida,to see if they had any information. They did, but they wouldn't give it tohim. They said he was "not an actual family member," so they couldn't tellhim whether his partner was alive or dead.
-Calling on Rhee
Students at D.C.'s public high schools who identify as gay, lesbian orbisexual were four times more likely to attempt suicide over the past year,according to a fact sheet released by D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) on Monday,March 24. This and other startling data were extracted from the biennialYouth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) conducted by DCPS and the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2007. The preliminary data from thatsurvey was presented six months ago.
-Record Number Sponsor Florida Gay Rights Legislation
A record number of Florida lawmakers are asking their colleagues to considerlegislation prohibiting discrimination against gays and lesbians in publicand private employment, housing, and public accommodations. "For the firsttime in Florida's history, thirty-seven legislators are seeking to insurethat gay men and lesbians living and working in our state be afforded thesame rights as all other Floridians," said retired judge Rand Hoch.
=
Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Same-sex couples that establish a legal relationship in a state that allowsit and then move to a state that does not might be stuck in the relationshipwith no access to divorce. DOMA upsets the normal operation of matrimoniallaw, in which courts adjudicate domestic relations disputes under their ownlaws and, where appropriate, may also apply the laws of another state thathas an "interest" in the relationship. Those judgments are ordinarilyentitled to enforcement in any court in the United States "whether theyagree with the original basis for the marriage or not," according to StanleyCox, a professor at the New England School of Law.
-Opposition to this weekend's same sex commitment ceremony at Penn State washand delivered to university officials and to the man who will preside overthe ceremony itself - the mayor of State College.
Pastor Gary Dull of the Altoona Baptist Church said he is against thesame-sex commitment ceremony because it doesn't follow the values laid outin the Bible. But, State College Mayor Bill Welch said the ceremony is notabout the Bible, but about love and commitment.
=
Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-2,630 gay men diagnosed with HIV in 2007
The Health Protection Agency has revealed that there were an estimated 6,840new HIV diagnoses in the UK last year, more than a third of them gay men. Itis the third successive year that new diagnoses among gay men have risenabove 2,600, the highest levels since records began. Increased testing islikely to have contributed in part to these recent high numbers of HIVdiagnoses. 2,630 gay men were diagnosed as HIV positive last year.
click here for the full article
-Homophobia claims rejected by police complaints body
Sixteen allegations of homophobia made against the eight Devon and Cornwallpolice officers have been rejected by the Independent Police ComplaintsCommission. The complaints were made in 2004 and 2005 by Malcolm Lidbury, alocal LGBT activist. He claimed he was "treated poorly" because of hissexuality and claimed that the Devon and Cornwall police have an "inherentlyhomophobic" attitude.
click here for the full article
-UK asylum system "not fit for purpose"
A commission established to examine asylum policy and practice in the UK hasconcluded that it falls below the standards of a civilised nation.The12-member Independent Asylum Commission's findings have been rejected by theBorder and Immigration Agency, who claim they treat people with "care andcompassion." The volume of people seeking asylum in the UK has fallensharply and last year there were just over 23,000.
click here for the full article
-'Obama Girl' wants Hillary Clinton out of Presidential race
Amber Lee Ettinger, also known as "Obama Girl," has released a new video
calling for New York Senator Hillary Clinton to drop out of the USPresidential race against Barack Obama. The first "Obama Girl" video wasreleased last summer and rapidly spread like wildfire, launching Ettingerinto semi-stardom. The videos are the creation of BarelyPolitical.com andthe original video has been viewed more than seven million times onYouTube.com alone.
click here for the full article
-US martial arts fighter reveals he is gay
Mixed martial arts has become a national phenomenon in America, and with thecreation of the Ultimate Fighting Championships, only continues to grow inpopularity. This week, competitor Shad Smith became the first openly gayfighter in the sport when he revealed his sexuality in a New York Timesinterview.According to the article, Smith entered his first fight in 2000shortly after his release from prison, where he was serving time forcarjacking, one of his many stints.
click here for the full article
-Gay 'wedding' planners to sponsor London Falcons
London's newest gay-friendly football club is landed a major sponsor.
Perfect Partnerships promote and specialise in co-ordinating civilpartnerships, gay and lesbian stag and hen weekends, commitment ceremonies,gay honeymoons and overseas gay weddings. London Falcons Football Club,which fields teams in both 5-a-side and 11-as-side competitions, was foundedless than two years ago but already boasts more than 100 members. Theyrecently reached the final of the Yorkshire Terriers 5-a-side tournament.click here for the full article
=
Forwarded from Euro-Queer
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article:
- Ireland: Law may leave gay teachers open to being dismissed
INTO CONFERENCE: GAY AND lesbian teachers could be dismissed if theirlifestyle is seen as undermining the religious ethos of schools, the IrishNational Teachers' Organisation (INTO)conference was told yesterday.
Sheila Crowley, who chairs INTO's Lesbian Gay and Bisexual (LGB) teachers'group, said Section 37 of the Employment Equality Acts permits schools thatpromote certain religious values to take "necessary action to prevent anemployee from undermining the religious ethos of the institution".
=
Libby Post
http://www.proudlyout.typepad.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Hitler's Play Book
Sally Kern must be studying Hitler's play book.Hitler demonized Jews bysaying we controlled the world's commerce and banks.Kern thinks gay money isbeing used to control the political process.Hitler considered Jews thepersonification of the Devil.Kern thinks LGBT people are the personificationof the sin undermining America's Christian society.Hitler believed that Jewswere the springboard for sedition.Kern believes that "good citizenship" isnot within the realm of LGBT people because we are not good Christians.
Hitler believed Jews have "always been a people with definite racialcharacteristics and never a religion." Kern believes all religions are notequal. I could go on and on.
http://www.proudlyout.com
=
Forwarded from Gays Without Borders
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-I received word tonight from Tomasz Szypula, spokesman for theCampaign Against Homophobia, one of Poland's gay politicalorganizations, that Brendan Fay and Tom Moulton, the US gay couplewhose wedding is being used by Poland's president to spread hate andfear of same-sex loving people, are traveling to Warsaw this weekend.
To get more information on their trip, I called Brendan at home. Hegave me the scoop. He have been invited by a Polish TV network to comeand appear on a program, all expenses paid by the network. Brendan andTom touch down in Warsaw on Saturday morning.
http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2008/03/polish-tv-flying-us-gay-couple-to.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
-Third sex gets official status in Tamil Nadu
CHENNAI: So far Pooja, a 25-year-old transsexual from Salem in TamilNadu, had nothing to prove her existence in government recordsbecause she had refused to be identified as either a male or afemale, the only two options available in the gender column of theapplication forms. Finally, the state has recognized her as an individualand given hera ration card where the sex column is marked T instead of M or F.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//articleshow/2869909.cms
-GAY IRANIAN SAFE -- FOR NOW by Doug Ireland
Under Global Pressure, U.K. government rethinks deportation
In the latest protest aimed at preventing the UK from deporting 19-year-oldIranian Mehdi Kazemi to his homeland where he faces probable execution, 150demonstrators braved hail, snow, and rain in London on Saturday, March 22,to rally outside 10 Downing Street, the official residence of British PrimeMinister Gordon Brown. Protesters demanded that Brown's government refrainfrom efforts to deport any gay and lesbian Iranians.
http://gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19429156&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=6
-Officer LGBT-friendly
Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis assumed leadership of the Boston Police Department in December 2006 with a promise to strengthen ties between thedepartment and Boston's diverse communities. And a little over a year intohis tenure, he's getting rave reviews for his outreach to both gay membersof the force and the broader LGBT community in Boston. Read
http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=72201
-Oldest profession tempts pair of 93-year-olds
It's the world's oldest profession, but two Florida johns should have beenold enough to know better. An undercover prostitution sting in Bradentonnetted two hot-blooded 93-year-olds, cops said. "The first thing that goesthrough people's minds is, 'Did they have Viagra?'" said Dave Bristow of theManatee County Sheriff's Department. "I cannot remember anyone anywhere nearthat age."
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/03/26/2008-03-26_oldest_profession_tempts_pair_of_93yearo.html?ref=rss
=
Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Obama Weathers Wright Storm, Clinton Faces Credibility Problem
Obama's personal image remains more favorable than Clinton's -- and heretains a 10-point advantage over her in the race for the nomination. Butcertain beliefs and attitudes among older, white, working-class Democratsare associated with his lower levels of support among this group. Views ofHillary Clinton among white Democratic voters are more influenced byperceptions that she is "phony." Read more
-Speech on Race Arguably Biggest Event of Campaign
Fully 85% of Americans say they have heard about Obama's speech, and 70%have heard more about him in the last week than any other candidate. Readmore
-Complex Speech Challenges Media
For a full week, political prognosticators and pundits grappled with theintricacies of Barack Obama's multilayered address on race relations. Readmore
-Few in China Complain About Internet Controls
Many Americans assume that China's internet users are unhappy about theirgovernment's control of the internet, but a new survey by Chineseresearchers finds most Chinese say they approve of internet regulation,especially by the government. Read more
-Dismal Views of the Economy
It's the Inflation, Stupid
The public's satisfaction with the state of the nation hits a 20-year low,but optimism about the future rises somewhat. Rising prices top the listwhen it comes to Americans' personal economic concerns. Read more
-Changes in Catholicism
American Catholics on the Eve of Pope Benedict's Visit
When Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the U.S. on April 15, he will be greetedby a flock that is undergoing rapid ethnic and demographic changes. Read
more
-Watching War - Why News of Iraq Didn't Surge
In the history of the Iraq conflict, May 24, 2007 may not go down as a redletter date; but it marked a turning point in media coverage of thethird-longest war in U.S. history. Read more
-Daily Number
28% - Awareness of Iraq War Fatalities Plummets
Shortly before the count of U.S. military fatalities reached 4,000, a Pewsurvey found that only 28% of U.S. adults were able to correctly specify theapproximate number of Americans who have died in the Iraq war, far fewerthan the number able to estimate troop deaths correctly in earlier surveys.
Check back every weekday for another number in the news. Read more
=
From MoveOn.Org
http://www.moveon.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:
This is pretty outrageous: a group of Clinton-supporting big Democraticdonors are threatening to stop supporting Democrats in Congress becauseNancy Pelosi said that the people, not the superdelegates, should decide thePresidential nomination.1
It's the worst kind of insider politics-billionaires bullying our electedleaders nto ignoring the will of the voters.
But when we all pool our resources, together we're stronger than the fatcats. So et's tell Nancy Pelosi that if she keeps standing up for regularAmericans, housands of us will have her back. And we can more than matchwhatever the CEOs and illionaires refuse to contribute. Clicking here willadd your name to our statement:
http://pol.moveon.org/democracy/o.pl?id=12391-5533006-jRsB_G&t=273
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
FLORIDA DIGEST March 28, 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.
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Wilton Manors: United Way offers jazz Saturday at Hagen Park
United Way of Broward County's "All That Jazz and More on the Drive" is setfor noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Hagen Park, 2020 Wilton Drive.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbdig032817sbmar28,0,5329286.story
=
Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Okeechobee High's gay-straight alliance coming back
The ACLU plans to ask a judge to reinstate an order that Okeechobee HighSchool allow a gay-straight alliance on campus because the club has regainedmembers.
According to court documents filed Tuesday by the American Civil LibertiesUnion, two students want to revive the club, which was dismissed this monthas a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Okeechobee County School Boardbecause the club apparently had no members and had not met since the fall.
The club's founder, Yasmin Gonzalez, has graduated; subsequent clubpresidents have left the school. However, Okeechobee High School juniorBrittany Martin told a teacher last week she and another student want torevive the club and host a meeting next month.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
=
Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Morgan Stanley presents GLBT issues update
Financial services firm joins with Lambda Legal for Lauderdale event
The Fort Lauderdale Morgan Stanley office, in conjunction with Lambda Legal,presented the first annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender CommunityUpdate for Broward County earlier this month.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/news/localnews/4535.cfm
-SunServe to host Valuing Our Families Day
MCC event to offer workshops, support in 'reunion'-like setting
As any teen with gay parents will tell you, being a part of a GLBT family isa daily challenge. The straight world doesn't always understand familydynamics in a gay household, or worse, outsiders are quick to judge.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/locallife/pulse/4539.cfm
-A controversial 'spiritual advisor'
Openly lesbian Ms. Cleo to be special guest at Palm Beach Pridefest
"I am not a psychic," says Ms. Cleo in response to a question about thenotoriety she gained earlier this decade as a spokeswoman for the PsychicNetwork. "I am a mambo [spiritual advisor], and I take care of a villagethat has members throughout the Americas. If there is any controversy aboutme, it is because I am outspoken about our rights and I'm not afraid to tellpeople what I think."
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/locallife/spiritualty/4536.cfm
-Safe Schools Bill must protect all students
Making it clear that anti-gay bullying is destructive does not promotehomosexuality
People on the right have a troubling tendency to cherry-pick the types ofbigotry they choose to denounce. We saw this recently when Sen. John McCainissued a carefully worded, "categorical" repudiation of Rev. John Hagee'santi-Catholic remarks. McCain, who had earlier embraced Hagee's endorsementof his candidacy and publicly praised the right-wing preacher, was carefulnot to mention anything about Hagee's anti-gay statements or his anti-Muslimstatements in his belated repudiation.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/view/editorial/4541.cfm
=
The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-37 Lawmakers Cosponsor New Florida ENDA Bill
Thirty-seven Florida lawmakers have sponsored a bill that would prohibitdiscrimination against gays and lesbians in public and private employment,housing, and public accommodations.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid53008.asp
=
From Bill Rettinger, Co-Founder
MedicaidAdvocates.Com
To ALL MedicaidAdvocates.Com Members and Friends
If we are to have ANY chance of saving this program once again, we hadbetter ALL get our email fingers punching to our Legislators NOW! Do weneed to remind them AGAIN that this is a LIFE SAVING Prgram for those thatare in need of it AND that we, along with our friends and families, areVOTERS that WILL REMEMBER THEIR actions in NOVEMBER 2008? If they INSIST onsigning DEATH WARRANTS for these Floridians they need to be REMINDED to ALSOsign their OWN POLITICAL DEATH WARRANTS AT THE SAME TIME! I, for one, AM NOTgoing down WITHOUT a DAMN HARD FIGHT!
LEGISLATURE
Florida Senate plan would cut programs for medically needy
A Senate plan would cut $803M from state programs for the medically needy.
http://www/orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-spend2708mar27,0,4412895.story
=
Ft. Lauderdale: You are cordially invited to a Private Collections Exhibitto benefit ArtsUnited, Inc.
Friday, March 28, 2008 6-8pm - 3011 North Atlantic Blvd.
Several Collectors have loaned artwork from their private collectionsrepresenting some of the great artists of the 20th Century, for a one nightexhibit at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rocco DiBruno, Sr.
A $20 Donation is requested at the door.
RSVP 954.530.2723 or reply to artsunited1@aol.com
=
You're Invited - All Florida Voters and Elected Officials
Rally to make our primary votes count
Come Join Us On
Friday, March 28, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
South County Civic Center Outside Pavillion
16700 Jog Rd., Delray Beach, FL 33446
For more information and to rsvp, contact:
Floridavoterscount@gmail.com
or call: 561-322-8608
Please, no candidate's pins, t-shirts signs or other materials. This isn'tabout any one campaign - it's about all of us and our right to have ourvotes count.
=
Wilton Manors - "The Producers"
Free Movie Under the Stars!
Friday, March 28 at 7:30 pm at Hagen Park
After putting together another Broadway flop, down-on-his-luck producer MaxBialystock teams up with timid accountant Leo Bloom in a get-rich-quickscheme to put on the world's worst show.
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Wilton Manors: United Way offers jazz Saturday at Hagen Park
United Way of Broward County's "All That Jazz and More on the Drive" is setfor noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Hagen Park, 2020 Wilton Drive.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbdig032817sbmar28,0,5329286.story
=
Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Okeechobee High's gay-straight alliance coming back
The ACLU plans to ask a judge to reinstate an order that Okeechobee HighSchool allow a gay-straight alliance on campus because the club has regainedmembers.
According to court documents filed Tuesday by the American Civil LibertiesUnion, two students want to revive the club, which was dismissed this monthas a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Okeechobee County School Boardbecause the club apparently had no members and had not met since the fall.
The club's founder, Yasmin Gonzalez, has graduated; subsequent clubpresidents have left the school. However, Okeechobee High School juniorBrittany Martin told a teacher last week she and another student want torevive the club and host a meeting next month.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
=
Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Morgan Stanley presents GLBT issues update
Financial services firm joins with Lambda Legal for Lauderdale event
The Fort Lauderdale Morgan Stanley office, in conjunction with Lambda Legal,presented the first annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender CommunityUpdate for Broward County earlier this month.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/news/localnews/4535.cfm
-SunServe to host Valuing Our Families Day
MCC event to offer workshops, support in 'reunion'-like setting
As any teen with gay parents will tell you, being a part of a GLBT family isa daily challenge. The straight world doesn't always understand familydynamics in a gay household, or worse, outsiders are quick to judge.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/locallife/pulse/4539.cfm
-A controversial 'spiritual advisor'
Openly lesbian Ms. Cleo to be special guest at Palm Beach Pridefest
"I am not a psychic," says Ms. Cleo in response to a question about thenotoriety she gained earlier this decade as a spokeswoman for the PsychicNetwork. "I am a mambo [spiritual advisor], and I take care of a villagethat has members throughout the Americas. If there is any controversy aboutme, it is because I am outspoken about our rights and I'm not afraid to tellpeople what I think."
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/locallife/spiritualty/4536.cfm
-Safe Schools Bill must protect all students
Making it clear that anti-gay bullying is destructive does not promotehomosexuality
People on the right have a troubling tendency to cherry-pick the types ofbigotry they choose to denounce. We saw this recently when Sen. John McCainissued a carefully worded, "categorical" repudiation of Rev. John Hagee'santi-Catholic remarks. McCain, who had earlier embraced Hagee's endorsementof his candidacy and publicly praised the right-wing preacher, was carefulnot to mention anything about Hagee's anti-gay statements or his anti-Muslimstatements in his belated repudiation.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/3-27/view/editorial/4541.cfm
=
The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-37 Lawmakers Cosponsor New Florida ENDA Bill
Thirty-seven Florida lawmakers have sponsored a bill that would prohibitdiscrimination against gays and lesbians in public and private employment,housing, and public accommodations.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid53008.asp
=
From Bill Rettinger, Co-Founder
MedicaidAdvocates.Com
To ALL MedicaidAdvocates.Com Members and Friends
If we are to have ANY chance of saving this program once again, we hadbetter ALL get our email fingers punching to our Legislators NOW! Do weneed to remind them AGAIN that this is a LIFE SAVING Prgram for those thatare in need of it AND that we, along with our friends and families, areVOTERS that WILL REMEMBER THEIR actions in NOVEMBER 2008? If they INSIST onsigning DEATH WARRANTS for these Floridians they need to be REMINDED to ALSOsign their OWN POLITICAL DEATH WARRANTS AT THE SAME TIME! I, for one, AM NOTgoing down WITHOUT a DAMN HARD FIGHT!
LEGISLATURE
Florida Senate plan would cut programs for medically needy
A Senate plan would cut $803M from state programs for the medically needy.
http://www/orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-spend2708mar27,0,4412895.story
=
Ft. Lauderdale: You are cordially invited to a Private Collections Exhibitto benefit ArtsUnited, Inc.
Friday, March 28, 2008 6-8pm - 3011 North Atlantic Blvd.
Several Collectors have loaned artwork from their private collectionsrepresenting some of the great artists of the 20th Century, for a one nightexhibit at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rocco DiBruno, Sr.
A $20 Donation is requested at the door.
RSVP 954.530.2723 or reply to artsunited1@aol.com
=
You're Invited - All Florida Voters and Elected Officials
Rally to make our primary votes count
Come Join Us On
Friday, March 28, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
South County Civic Center Outside Pavillion
16700 Jog Rd., Delray Beach, FL 33446
For more information and to rsvp, contact:
Floridavoterscount@gmail.com
or call: 561-322-8608
Please, no candidate's pins, t-shirts signs or other materials. This isn'tabout any one campaign - it's about all of us and our right to have ourvotes count.
=
Wilton Manors - "The Producers"
Free Movie Under the Stars!
Friday, March 28 at 7:30 pm at Hagen Park
After putting together another Broadway flop, down-on-his-luck producer MaxBialystock teams up with timid accountant Leo Bloom in a get-rich-quickscheme to put on the world's worst show.
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
Thursday, March 27, 2008
GLBT DIGEST March 27, 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.
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-South Florida gay community mourning loss of icon, Michael 'La La' BrownGay bars have been known for defining communities more often than they areaccused of defiling them. In places like South Beach or Wilton Manors, theycan be characterized as chic destinations. In growing, and more rural areas,however, gay bars often survive as modest neighborhood havens supported byfriends and visitors seeking familiar faces, comfortable spaces oropportunities to be without judgment.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-plakas27forumsbmar27,0,3780802.story
=
Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-In first, black trans woman headed to Dem convention
Richmond, a Clinton delegate, would be happy with Obama as nomineeMarisa Richmond has been involved in national political conventions since1980, when she worked on Sen. Edward Kennedy's bid for president.
But this election year will likely be more memorable for Richmond, as she isset to become the first black transgender delegate to the DemocraticNational Convention.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17384
-Dem presidential hopefuls battle for gay votes in Pa.
Chelsea Clinton set to appear at Philly gay bar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won the endorsement Mondayof the Liberty City Democratic Club, Philadelphia's largest gay politicalgroup.
That boosts her support among gay voters at a time when polls show her aheadof rival presidential contender Barack Obama in Pennsylvania's Democraticprimary set for April 22.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17382
-Dean claims DNC fired gay man for poor performance
DNC chair acknowledges tension between blacks, gays over delegate selectionDemocratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean says poor job performance -not discrimination - prompted the organization to fire a gay man who is nowsuing for wrongful termination.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17377
-Judge considers new trial for LAPD's first openly gay officer
Jury ruled for the city last year in discrimination suit
A judge is considering whether to grant a new trial to the first openly gayLos Angeles police officer.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17361
-Both sides of Amendment 2 argument debate issue
TALLAHASSEE - The main sponsor of a constitutional ban on gay marriage saidtoday all "aberrant forms of marriage" might become legal unless Floridavoters adopt his proposal at the polls next November.
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/NEWS0120/80326058/1075
-Austrian poster competition to highlight homophobia in football
VIENNA (AFP) - With just over two months to go before the Euro 2008 footballchampionships start, a Vienna-based gay and lesbian group has launched aposter competition to draw attention to the homophobic side of the sport.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080326/lf_afp/fblauteuro2008gays_080326145637;_ylt=AhF8n4B3T.TFB_gr2aKxf1YmWccF
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Clinton Camp Blasts Pelosi Over Superdelegate Remarks
(Washington) Twenty top Democratic donors who are supporting Hillary RodhamClinton criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for saying superdelegatesshould support the presidential candidate with the most pledged delegates.
-Catholic Vote Critical For Dems In Pa.
(Scranton, Pennsylvania) Understanding Pennsylvania's rich Catholictradition and responding to it is an article of faith for Sens. HillaryRodham Clinton and Barack Obama as the April 22 primary looms in the stillunsettled and intense Democratic presidential race.
-Poll: Voters Split Over Obama Speech
(Washington) Barack Obama 's speech on race has left the public divided onwhether he has sufficiently put the issue behind him, a poll shows.
-Woman Argues Ohio Anti-Gay Amendment Bars Ex From Sharing Custody
(Columbus, Ohio) An Ohio woman says the state's ban on same-sex marriage isgrounds for barring her ex-partner from sharing custody with her son.
-Rumors Continue To Swirl Around SF Mayor Newsom
(San Francisco, California) Day by day San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom issounding more and more as though he already is running for Governor.
-Catholics Mount Protest Over Gay Diversity Course
(Vancouver, British Columbia) The Roman Catholic Church is escalating itsopposition to a British Columbia government teacher guide that encouragesdiversity in the public school system.
-Majority In Vt. Support Changing Civil Unions To Marriage
(Montpelier, Vermont) As a state commission prepares its report on whetherto amend Vermont's civil union law to allow for same-sex marriage a new pollfinds that the majority of people in the state believe gay and lesbiancouples should have the right to marry.
-Gay Marriage Supporter Gravel Drops Dems For Libertarians
(Washington) Long-shot presidential candidate Mike Gravel told supportersWednesday he is leaving the Democratic Party to join the Libertarian Party.
-Separation of Church and Pharmacy
Court upholds punishment for pharmacist who uses religion to keepprescriptions
unfilled.http://www.365gay.com/lifestylechannel/health/032608health.htm
=
National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Kids' Cartoon Character
Becomes Member of Gay Rights Group
COLAGE welcomes Buddy G as the organization's newest member. Theorganization is a national movement of children, youth and adults who haveone or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ)parents.
-Atlanta Pride Takes Part in Emory's Human Rights Week
Explaining how the battle for gay and lesbian rights fits into the globalstruggle for human rights is the goal of a display and discussion that ispart of the annual Human Rights Week opening today at Emory University.
-Equality Forum 2008 - International Focus
Gays and Lesbians in the Muslim World
The international focus of Equality Forum 2008 is Gays and Lesbians in theMuslim World. Equality Forum presents the largest annual national andinternational GLBT civil rights forum. Equality Forum 2008 (April 28-May 4)in Philadelphia has 34 panels, 14 parties and 15 special events.
=
The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Philadelphia's Stonewall Chapter Endorses Clinton
Philadelphia's Liberty City Democratic Club, one of three Pennsylvaniachapters of the National Stonewall Democrats, has endorsed Hillary Clintonfor president.
=
Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Opposition to this weekend's same sex commitment ceremony at Penn State washand delivered to university officials and to the man who will preside overthe ceremony itself - the mayor of State College. Pastor Gary Dull of theAltoona Baptist Church said he is against the same-sex commitment ceremonybecause it doesn't follow the values laid out in the Bible. But, StateCollege Mayor Bill Welch said the ceremony is not about the Bible, but aboutlove and commitment. Welch said, "To biblical liturgists, this commitmentceremony is probably like the Apocalypse, but to me it isn't." He said thatthe majority of the feedback he's received for agreeing to oversee thisSaturday's ceremony has been positive.
-A Chinese lesbian stands next to two banners bearing the signatures ofindividuals from across China who support same sex-marriage rights. Thebanners were displayed in Beijing last Sunday March 23 as part of a campaignby gays and lesbians in China's capital city to win same-sex marriageequality. Homosexuality was only removed from the communist government'slist of mental illnesses in 2001, since which time gays and lesbians havebecome more accepted in Chinese society. However, while homosexuality hasbecome a more acceptable topic in state-owned newspapers and magazines, asrecently as 2005, Beijing's first gay and lesbian film festival was shutdown by authorities.
-This is the response of Focus on the Family's Glenn Stanton to yesterdays'post, "An Anthropologist Critiques Focus on the Family's "Anthropological"Report on Marriage." As with Professor Chapman's post, Stanton's is too longto be adequately excerpted here. See the Box Turtle Bulletin blog for thecomplete text. Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson debated Glenn Stanton in2005. Also see the comments appended to today's post at Box Turtle Bulletin.
-A legislative committee charged with hearing Vermonters' views on same-sexmarriage will release its long-awaited report next month, but members aretight-lipped as to what its final contents will be.
-A state Senate committee on March 18 approved an amendment toPennsylvania's state constitution that would ban marriage between people ofthe same sex. But gay marriage is already prohibited by a 1996 law, so thisproposal was mainly an opportunity for speeches and demagoguery.
-If you happen to own shares of Wells Fargo, make sure to open the proxystatement you should have received recently, and take the time to vote yourproxy. Item 9, "Stockholder Proposal Regarding Neutral Sexual OrientationEmployment Policy" (pages 105-107) is a vicious, anti-LGBT proposal askingthe company to create an equal opportunity policy without reference to "anymatters related to sexual interests, activities, or orientation." As asupporting statement, the proposal adds "While the legal institution ofmarriage between a man and a woman should be protected, the sexualinterests, inclinations and activities of all employees should be a privatematter, not a corporate concern." There's more bile from the ultra-right,but I won't repeat it here.
=
Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Activist calls on people to ditch the LGBT labels
An ambitious campaign that aims to change the ways in which young peoplelabel themselves was launched last week in the form of a funky teen-orientedwebsite. The website Ditch the Label (www.DitchtheLabel.com) was 'virtually'launched last Saturday night in a co-ordinated browsing of the new site,after being advertised via its original Myspace and the founder's personalMyspace sites. The launch night attracted in excess of one millionnon-unique hits (which refers to when a person looks at different pagesthroughout the site).
click here for the full article
-Obama and Clinton supporters attracted by McCain
A surprising number of supporters of both Barack Obama and Hillary Clintonwould throw their votes to Republican John McCain if their candidate doesnot become the Democratic Presidential nominee, according to a new Galluppoll released yesterday. While only 19 percent of Obama supporters said theywould vote for McCain over Clinton, 28 percent of Clinton supporters wouldswitch their vote to the Republican nominee.
click here for the full article
-Mardi Gras clergy feel the wrath of fundamentalists
Some Sydney-based clergy who marched in this year's 30th anniversary MardiGras have had their careers threatened by those who objected to their publicparticipation and support of gay rights. Some 35 ministers marched,alongside eight people who acted as proxies on behalf of their church'sReverends, as part of a group known as 100Revs.The name refers to the 100Reverends who signed a formal apology to the LGBT community.
click here for the full article
-Stonewall "disappointed" over free vote on gay equality
Gay equality organisation Stonewall has criticised the Prime Minister'sdecision to give Labour MPs a free vote on provisions in the HumanFertilisation and Embryology Bill that aim to give gay and lesbian peopleequal access to NHS fertility and assisted conception services. The bill,currently before Parliament, would replace the current need for doctors toconsider the need for a father when decided whether or not to provide suchtreatments with the need for supportive parenting.
click here for the full article
-INTERVIEW: How the internet changed gay society
Channel 4 News technology correspondent Benjamin Cohen spoke to
PinkNews.co.uk about what his report into how the gay dating site Gaydarchanged the lives of the gay community. The report, one of a series ofthree marking ten years since the dot.com boom for More 4 News, will bebroadcast this evening. Ownership and Control, to be broadcast tomorrowevening, compares the development of the internet to the division of landinto enclosed, private areas, controlled by the few to control the masses.
click here for the full article
-London's Irish LGBT community to be studied
A new project that will Irish gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people chooseto settle in London is appealing for participants. The research study by theUniversity of Essex is being funded by an £82,000 grant from the Economicand Social Research Council. Dr Roisin Ryan-Flood of the Department ofSociology, said: "Metropolitan centres have long been associated withtolerance of sexual diversity and established queer communities."
click here for the full article
-New England captain has learnt from past mistakes
Rio Ferdinand's appointment as the new captain of the England football squadhas been accompanied by a pledge from the player that he has learnt frompast mistakes. The 29-year-old stirred controversy in 2006 during aninterview with Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, in which he used the word "faggot."
In 2003 he failed to appear to give a drugs test and was suspended from cluband international games for eight months and fined £50,000.
click here for the full article
=
Forwarded from Gays Without Borders
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
- London
Jamaican "murder music" hate-monger, Bounty Killer, has had two of his threeUK concerts cancelled in the last week, following a campaign by the gayhuman rights group OutRage! His concerts in Bradford and Birmingham wereaxed, losing him thousands of pounds in performance fees. In Germany, BountyKiller's performance in Essen was cancelled and other German concert datesare now in doubt. Gay human rights groups are coordinating a Europe-widecampaign to halt his "Deadly Alliance" tour of the Netherlands, France,Belgium, Italy and Switzerland.
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-State Department urged to address 'shocking' violations
120 countries cited for abuse, harassment of gay citizens
A new advocacy group is calling on the U.S. State Department to address gayrights violations detailed in a recently published report.
http://washblade.com/2008/3-21/news/national/12267.cfm
-Taranaki: Trans women sent to male prison
A transgendered woman in New Plymouth who admitted to the aggravated robberyof a taxi driver has been charged and sentenced to three years and threemonths inside a male prison.
http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_5745.php
-'Inhumane and oppressive': the final verdict on Britain's asylum policy
The most comprehensive examination of the UK's asylum system ever conductedhas found it "marred by inhumanity" and "not yet fit for purpose".
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/inhumane-and-oppressive-the-final-verdict-on-britains-asylum-policy-801219.html
-Catholics could join the royal succession
Gordon Brown is to consider abolishing the Act that prevents Roman Catholicsmarrying into the Royal Family or becoming king or queen, in a move thatcould lead to the disestablishment of the Church of England.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/27/ncatholic127.xml
-Openly Gay and Lesbian Candidates Face Mixed Reactions in Midwest
Openly gay candidates and politicians are not unheard of in theMidwest-Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin has been widely profiled in the mediafor more than 10 years, and Ohio judge, the honorable Mary Wiseman hasgarnered media attention in the past six months. But unfortunately attackson these openly gay politicians are becoming as common as openly gaypoliticians themselves.
http://glaadorg.nexcess.net/2008/03/openly-gay-and-lesbian-candida.html
-Action, Not Words
It seems as if a lot of the gay community attention and energy that wouldnormally go to advancing gay equality is being siphoned off by thepresidential race, primarily by the contest between Barack Obama and HillaryClinton for the Democratic nomination.
http://www.indegayforum.org/news/show/31484.html
-Former Surgeon General: Mainstream Medicine Has Endorsed Medical Marijuana
An historic document from the 12,4000-member American College of Physicianscertifies the medical value of marijuana.
http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/80582/
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Two GLBT Democratic Delegates selected
One pledged to Clinton and one to Obama
On March 15, the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Democratic Party metin Nashville to complete selection of the state's delegation to theDemocratic National Convention in Denver. The meeting was postponed fromMarch 8, due to inclement weather in the Nashville area that day.
http://outandaboutnewspaper.com/article.php?id=2490
-Abby: Parents' prejudice leads to son's suicide
DEAR ABBY: I am struggling with the question of whether to reveal aconfidence made more than two years ago. My boyfriend at the time, "Jerry,"revealed to me that he was gay. We remained friends, but I started datingsomeone else.
Jerry never confided his secret to anyone else and, eventually feelingovercome with depression, took his own life. Jerry told me more than oncethat he knew how his parents would feel if he told them he was gay. He sawthe way they snickered when they saw a gay couple. They made it very clearto him that they didn't think it was normal. Jerry was sure, seeing the wayhis parents viewed gay people, that this was how he, too, would be viewed.
His parents are now blaming me for Jerry taking his own life. They say it was because we broke up. Would it be selfish of me to tell them the truth -that THEY are the real reason? Or should I continue to keep his secret? -
His Best Friend, Rochester, N.Y.
DEAR BEST FRIEND: You should reveal that your friend told you he was gay andwas worried about how his parents would accept it. However, when you tellthem, do not expect them to believe you. It will be far easier for them tocontinue pointing the finger at you than to accept that they had a role intheir son's suicide.
http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/544254.html
-FBI Probed Gays Over Hoax Threats Against Falwell, Claims Christian
Publication
Seemingly a propos of nothing, a Christian news service reports that 25years ago the FBI looked into reports that the GLBT community might have itin for Falwell. By the way, the Feds decided there was nothing to thoserumors.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=72073
-UNITED KINGDOM: Don't Believe Iranian Propaganda on Gays, Urges GayHumanists
Government's "no evidence" claim slammed
LONDON, March 24, 2008 - The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA)has demanded that the Government clarify its approach to the deportation ofgay people to Iran after a spokesman in the House of Lords claimed there wasno evidence that gays were being executed because of their sexuality.
http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/08/Mar/2402.htm
-An open door: Gay Dominicans seek more visibility
It was a balmy Friday night late last month as hundreds of gay men, lesbiansand transgender people gathered in Parque Duarte in the heart of SantoDomingo's Colonial Zone to meet friends, drink and even cruise. A handful of"bugarrones" or male prostitutes discreetly worked the crowd, but Ariel, a25-year-old from the northern city of Santiago, described the park as ahaven of sorts for the capital's LGBT residents.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=features&sc3=&id=71830
-BBC:Teachers reject 'Army propaganda'
Teachers have voted to oppose military recruitment activities in schools ifthey employ "misleading propaganda".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7311917.stm
-Sea levels rising too fast for Thames Barrier
A fear that sea levels will rise far faster than predicted this century hasled to a revision of the plan to protect London from a devastating floodcaused by the sort of storm surge in the North Sea that resulted in theclosure of the Thames Barrier yesterday.
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/sea-levels-rising-too-fast-for-thames-barrier-799303.html
-Rev. Wright, Obama and me
It's time to inject a bit of sanity into the discussion of the video clipsof Barack Obama's pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright that surfaced 10 days ago.
After struggling with how to put Reverend Wright's moments of hate anddivisiveness into context, I decided that the only way to judge this man wasto put myself in his shoes. I certainly wouldn't want to be judged by themost outrageous two minutes of utterances in my career.
http://citizenchris.typepad.com/citizenchris/2008/03/rev-wright-obam.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-South Florida gay community mourning loss of icon, Michael 'La La' BrownGay bars have been known for defining communities more often than they areaccused of defiling them. In places like South Beach or Wilton Manors, theycan be characterized as chic destinations. In growing, and more rural areas,however, gay bars often survive as modest neighborhood havens supported byfriends and visitors seeking familiar faces, comfortable spaces oropportunities to be without judgment.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-plakas27forumsbmar27,0,3780802.story
=
Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-In first, black trans woman headed to Dem convention
Richmond, a Clinton delegate, would be happy with Obama as nomineeMarisa Richmond has been involved in national political conventions since1980, when she worked on Sen. Edward Kennedy's bid for president.
But this election year will likely be more memorable for Richmond, as she isset to become the first black transgender delegate to the DemocraticNational Convention.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17384
-Dem presidential hopefuls battle for gay votes in Pa.
Chelsea Clinton set to appear at Philly gay bar
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won the endorsement Mondayof the Liberty City Democratic Club, Philadelphia's largest gay politicalgroup.
That boosts her support among gay voters at a time when polls show her aheadof rival presidential contender Barack Obama in Pennsylvania's Democraticprimary set for April 22.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17382
-Dean claims DNC fired gay man for poor performance
DNC chair acknowledges tension between blacks, gays over delegate selectionDemocratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean says poor job performance -not discrimination - prompted the organization to fire a gay man who is nowsuing for wrongful termination.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17377
-Judge considers new trial for LAPD's first openly gay officer
Jury ruled for the city last year in discrimination suit
A judge is considering whether to grant a new trial to the first openly gayLos Angeles police officer.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17361
-Both sides of Amendment 2 argument debate issue
TALLAHASSEE - The main sponsor of a constitutional ban on gay marriage saidtoday all "aberrant forms of marriage" might become legal unless Floridavoters adopt his proposal at the polls next November.
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/NEWS0120/80326058/1075
-Austrian poster competition to highlight homophobia in football
VIENNA (AFP) - With just over two months to go before the Euro 2008 footballchampionships start, a Vienna-based gay and lesbian group has launched aposter competition to draw attention to the homophobic side of the sport.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080326/lf_afp/fblauteuro2008gays_080326145637;_ylt=AhF8n4B3T.TFB_gr2aKxf1YmWccF
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Clinton Camp Blasts Pelosi Over Superdelegate Remarks
(Washington) Twenty top Democratic donors who are supporting Hillary RodhamClinton criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for saying superdelegatesshould support the presidential candidate with the most pledged delegates.
-Catholic Vote Critical For Dems In Pa.
(Scranton, Pennsylvania) Understanding Pennsylvania's rich Catholictradition and responding to it is an article of faith for Sens. HillaryRodham Clinton and Barack Obama as the April 22 primary looms in the stillunsettled and intense Democratic presidential race.
-Poll: Voters Split Over Obama Speech
(Washington) Barack Obama 's speech on race has left the public divided onwhether he has sufficiently put the issue behind him, a poll shows.
-Woman Argues Ohio Anti-Gay Amendment Bars Ex From Sharing Custody
(Columbus, Ohio) An Ohio woman says the state's ban on same-sex marriage isgrounds for barring her ex-partner from sharing custody with her son.
-Rumors Continue To Swirl Around SF Mayor Newsom
(San Francisco, California) Day by day San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom issounding more and more as though he already is running for Governor.
-Catholics Mount Protest Over Gay Diversity Course
(Vancouver, British Columbia) The Roman Catholic Church is escalating itsopposition to a British Columbia government teacher guide that encouragesdiversity in the public school system.
-Majority In Vt. Support Changing Civil Unions To Marriage
(Montpelier, Vermont) As a state commission prepares its report on whetherto amend Vermont's civil union law to allow for same-sex marriage a new pollfinds that the majority of people in the state believe gay and lesbiancouples should have the right to marry.
-Gay Marriage Supporter Gravel Drops Dems For Libertarians
(Washington) Long-shot presidential candidate Mike Gravel told supportersWednesday he is leaving the Democratic Party to join the Libertarian Party.
-Separation of Church and Pharmacy
Court upholds punishment for pharmacist who uses religion to keepprescriptions
unfilled.http://www.365gay.com/lifestylechannel/health/032608health.htm
=
National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Kids' Cartoon Character
Becomes Member of Gay Rights Group
COLAGE welcomes Buddy G as the organization's newest member. Theorganization is a national movement of children, youth and adults who haveone or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ)parents.
-Atlanta Pride Takes Part in Emory's Human Rights Week
Explaining how the battle for gay and lesbian rights fits into the globalstruggle for human rights is the goal of a display and discussion that ispart of the annual Human Rights Week opening today at Emory University.
-Equality Forum 2008 - International Focus
Gays and Lesbians in the Muslim World
The international focus of Equality Forum 2008 is Gays and Lesbians in theMuslim World. Equality Forum presents the largest annual national andinternational GLBT civil rights forum. Equality Forum 2008 (April 28-May 4)in Philadelphia has 34 panels, 14 parties and 15 special events.
=
The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Philadelphia's Stonewall Chapter Endorses Clinton
Philadelphia's Liberty City Democratic Club, one of three Pennsylvaniachapters of the National Stonewall Democrats, has endorsed Hillary Clintonfor president.
=
Marriage Equality News
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Opposition to this weekend's same sex commitment ceremony at Penn State washand delivered to university officials and to the man who will preside overthe ceremony itself - the mayor of State College. Pastor Gary Dull of theAltoona Baptist Church said he is against the same-sex commitment ceremonybecause it doesn't follow the values laid out in the Bible. But, StateCollege Mayor Bill Welch said the ceremony is not about the Bible, but aboutlove and commitment. Welch said, "To biblical liturgists, this commitmentceremony is probably like the Apocalypse, but to me it isn't." He said thatthe majority of the feedback he's received for agreeing to oversee thisSaturday's ceremony has been positive.
-A Chinese lesbian stands next to two banners bearing the signatures ofindividuals from across China who support same sex-marriage rights. Thebanners were displayed in Beijing last Sunday March 23 as part of a campaignby gays and lesbians in China's capital city to win same-sex marriageequality. Homosexuality was only removed from the communist government'slist of mental illnesses in 2001, since which time gays and lesbians havebecome more accepted in Chinese society. However, while homosexuality hasbecome a more acceptable topic in state-owned newspapers and magazines, asrecently as 2005, Beijing's first gay and lesbian film festival was shutdown by authorities.
-This is the response of Focus on the Family's Glenn Stanton to yesterdays'post, "An Anthropologist Critiques Focus on the Family's "Anthropological"Report on Marriage." As with Professor Chapman's post, Stanton's is too longto be adequately excerpted here. See the Box Turtle Bulletin blog for thecomplete text. Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson debated Glenn Stanton in2005. Also see the comments appended to today's post at Box Turtle Bulletin.
-A legislative committee charged with hearing Vermonters' views on same-sexmarriage will release its long-awaited report next month, but members aretight-lipped as to what its final contents will be.
-A state Senate committee on March 18 approved an amendment toPennsylvania's state constitution that would ban marriage between people ofthe same sex. But gay marriage is already prohibited by a 1996 law, so thisproposal was mainly an opportunity for speeches and demagoguery.
-If you happen to own shares of Wells Fargo, make sure to open the proxystatement you should have received recently, and take the time to vote yourproxy. Item 9, "Stockholder Proposal Regarding Neutral Sexual OrientationEmployment Policy" (pages 105-107) is a vicious, anti-LGBT proposal askingthe company to create an equal opportunity policy without reference to "anymatters related to sexual interests, activities, or orientation." As asupporting statement, the proposal adds "While the legal institution ofmarriage between a man and a woman should be protected, the sexualinterests, inclinations and activities of all employees should be a privatematter, not a corporate concern." There's more bile from the ultra-right,but I won't repeat it here.
=
Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Activist calls on people to ditch the LGBT labels
An ambitious campaign that aims to change the ways in which young peoplelabel themselves was launched last week in the form of a funky teen-orientedwebsite. The website Ditch the Label (www.DitchtheLabel.com) was 'virtually'launched last Saturday night in a co-ordinated browsing of the new site,after being advertised via its original Myspace and the founder's personalMyspace sites. The launch night attracted in excess of one millionnon-unique hits (which refers to when a person looks at different pagesthroughout the site).
click here for the full article
-Obama and Clinton supporters attracted by McCain
A surprising number of supporters of both Barack Obama and Hillary Clintonwould throw their votes to Republican John McCain if their candidate doesnot become the Democratic Presidential nominee, according to a new Galluppoll released yesterday. While only 19 percent of Obama supporters said theywould vote for McCain over Clinton, 28 percent of Clinton supporters wouldswitch their vote to the Republican nominee.
click here for the full article
-Mardi Gras clergy feel the wrath of fundamentalists
Some Sydney-based clergy who marched in this year's 30th anniversary MardiGras have had their careers threatened by those who objected to their publicparticipation and support of gay rights. Some 35 ministers marched,alongside eight people who acted as proxies on behalf of their church'sReverends, as part of a group known as 100Revs.The name refers to the 100Reverends who signed a formal apology to the LGBT community.
click here for the full article
-Stonewall "disappointed" over free vote on gay equality
Gay equality organisation Stonewall has criticised the Prime Minister'sdecision to give Labour MPs a free vote on provisions in the HumanFertilisation and Embryology Bill that aim to give gay and lesbian peopleequal access to NHS fertility and assisted conception services. The bill,currently before Parliament, would replace the current need for doctors toconsider the need for a father when decided whether or not to provide suchtreatments with the need for supportive parenting.
click here for the full article
-INTERVIEW: How the internet changed gay society
Channel 4 News technology correspondent Benjamin Cohen spoke to
PinkNews.co.uk about what his report into how the gay dating site Gaydarchanged the lives of the gay community. The report, one of a series ofthree marking ten years since the dot.com boom for More 4 News, will bebroadcast this evening. Ownership and Control, to be broadcast tomorrowevening, compares the development of the internet to the division of landinto enclosed, private areas, controlled by the few to control the masses.
click here for the full article
-London's Irish LGBT community to be studied
A new project that will Irish gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people chooseto settle in London is appealing for participants. The research study by theUniversity of Essex is being funded by an £82,000 grant from the Economicand Social Research Council. Dr Roisin Ryan-Flood of the Department ofSociology, said: "Metropolitan centres have long been associated withtolerance of sexual diversity and established queer communities."
click here for the full article
-New England captain has learnt from past mistakes
Rio Ferdinand's appointment as the new captain of the England football squadhas been accompanied by a pledge from the player that he has learnt frompast mistakes. The 29-year-old stirred controversy in 2006 during aninterview with Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, in which he used the word "faggot."
In 2003 he failed to appear to give a drugs test and was suspended from cluband international games for eight months and fined £50,000.
click here for the full article
=
Forwarded from Gays Without Borders
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
- London
Jamaican "murder music" hate-monger, Bounty Killer, has had two of his threeUK concerts cancelled in the last week, following a campaign by the gayhuman rights group OutRage! His concerts in Bradford and Birmingham wereaxed, losing him thousands of pounds in performance fees. In Germany, BountyKiller's performance in Essen was cancelled and other German concert datesare now in doubt. Gay human rights groups are coordinating a Europe-widecampaign to halt his "Deadly Alliance" tour of the Netherlands, France,Belgium, Italy and Switzerland.
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-State Department urged to address 'shocking' violations
120 countries cited for abuse, harassment of gay citizens
A new advocacy group is calling on the U.S. State Department to address gayrights violations detailed in a recently published report.
http://washblade.com/2008/3-21/news/national/12267.cfm
-Taranaki: Trans women sent to male prison
A transgendered woman in New Plymouth who admitted to the aggravated robberyof a taxi driver has been charged and sentenced to three years and threemonths inside a male prison.
http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_5745.php
-'Inhumane and oppressive': the final verdict on Britain's asylum policy
The most comprehensive examination of the UK's asylum system ever conductedhas found it "marred by inhumanity" and "not yet fit for purpose".
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/inhumane-and-oppressive-the-final-verdict-on-britains-asylum-policy-801219.html
-Catholics could join the royal succession
Gordon Brown is to consider abolishing the Act that prevents Roman Catholicsmarrying into the Royal Family or becoming king or queen, in a move thatcould lead to the disestablishment of the Church of England.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/27/ncatholic127.xml
-Openly Gay and Lesbian Candidates Face Mixed Reactions in Midwest
Openly gay candidates and politicians are not unheard of in theMidwest-Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin has been widely profiled in the mediafor more than 10 years, and Ohio judge, the honorable Mary Wiseman hasgarnered media attention in the past six months. But unfortunately attackson these openly gay politicians are becoming as common as openly gaypoliticians themselves.
http://glaadorg.nexcess.net/2008/03/openly-gay-and-lesbian-candida.html
-Action, Not Words
It seems as if a lot of the gay community attention and energy that wouldnormally go to advancing gay equality is being siphoned off by thepresidential race, primarily by the contest between Barack Obama and HillaryClinton for the Democratic nomination.
http://www.indegayforum.org/news/show/31484.html
-Former Surgeon General: Mainstream Medicine Has Endorsed Medical Marijuana
An historic document from the 12,4000-member American College of Physicianscertifies the medical value of marijuana.
http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/80582/
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Two GLBT Democratic Delegates selected
One pledged to Clinton and one to Obama
On March 15, the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Democratic Party metin Nashville to complete selection of the state's delegation to theDemocratic National Convention in Denver. The meeting was postponed fromMarch 8, due to inclement weather in the Nashville area that day.
http://outandaboutnewspaper.com/article.php?id=2490
-Abby: Parents' prejudice leads to son's suicide
DEAR ABBY: I am struggling with the question of whether to reveal aconfidence made more than two years ago. My boyfriend at the time, "Jerry,"revealed to me that he was gay. We remained friends, but I started datingsomeone else.
Jerry never confided his secret to anyone else and, eventually feelingovercome with depression, took his own life. Jerry told me more than oncethat he knew how his parents would feel if he told them he was gay. He sawthe way they snickered when they saw a gay couple. They made it very clearto him that they didn't think it was normal. Jerry was sure, seeing the wayhis parents viewed gay people, that this was how he, too, would be viewed.
His parents are now blaming me for Jerry taking his own life. They say it was because we broke up. Would it be selfish of me to tell them the truth -that THEY are the real reason? Or should I continue to keep his secret? -
His Best Friend, Rochester, N.Y.
DEAR BEST FRIEND: You should reveal that your friend told you he was gay andwas worried about how his parents would accept it. However, when you tellthem, do not expect them to believe you. It will be far easier for them tocontinue pointing the finger at you than to accept that they had a role intheir son's suicide.
http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/544254.html
-FBI Probed Gays Over Hoax Threats Against Falwell, Claims Christian
Publication
Seemingly a propos of nothing, a Christian news service reports that 25years ago the FBI looked into reports that the GLBT community might have itin for Falwell. By the way, the Feds decided there was nothing to thoserumors.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=72073
-UNITED KINGDOM: Don't Believe Iranian Propaganda on Gays, Urges GayHumanists
Government's "no evidence" claim slammed
LONDON, March 24, 2008 - The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA)has demanded that the Government clarify its approach to the deportation ofgay people to Iran after a spokesman in the House of Lords claimed there wasno evidence that gays were being executed because of their sexuality.
http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/08/Mar/2402.htm
-An open door: Gay Dominicans seek more visibility
It was a balmy Friday night late last month as hundreds of gay men, lesbiansand transgender people gathered in Parque Duarte in the heart of SantoDomingo's Colonial Zone to meet friends, drink and even cruise. A handful of"bugarrones" or male prostitutes discreetly worked the crowd, but Ariel, a25-year-old from the northern city of Santiago, described the park as ahaven of sorts for the capital's LGBT residents.
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=features&sc3=&id=71830
-BBC:Teachers reject 'Army propaganda'
Teachers have voted to oppose military recruitment activities in schools ifthey employ "misleading propaganda".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7311917.stm
-Sea levels rising too fast for Thames Barrier
A fear that sea levels will rise far faster than predicted this century hasled to a revision of the plan to protect London from a devastating floodcaused by the sort of storm surge in the North Sea that resulted in theclosure of the Thames Barrier yesterday.
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/sea-levels-rising-too-fast-for-thames-barrier-799303.html
-Rev. Wright, Obama and me
It's time to inject a bit of sanity into the discussion of the video clipsof Barack Obama's pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright that surfaced 10 days ago.
After struggling with how to put Reverend Wright's moments of hate anddivisiveness into context, I decided that the only way to judge this man wasto put myself in his shoes. I certainly wouldn't want to be judged by themost outrageous two minutes of utterances in my career.
http://citizenchris.typepad.com/citizenchris/2008/03/rev-wright-obam.html
=
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#####
NATIONAL & WORLD DIGEST March 27, 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:
-Supplier Under Scrutiny on Aging Arms for Afghans
To arm Afghan forces to fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, the U.S. hasrelied on a fledgling company that has provided ammunition that is more than40 years old.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/world/asia/27ammo.html?hp
-How Not to Prevent Foreclosures
John McCain's talk therapy will not ease, let alone end, the worstforeclosure crisis since the Depression or the financial crisis that haserupted in its wake.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/opinion/27thu1.html?ref=opinion
-Obama, Clinton - and Echoes of Nader?
Yes, Hillary Rodham Clinton may still have a chance of winning theDemocratic nomination. But it's probably smaller than the chance that acontinued slugfest will hand the White House to John McCain.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/opinion/27kristof.html?ref=opinion
-A Foolish Immigration Purge
Leave it to the Bush administration to throw thousands of law-abidingAmerican workers and companies off a cliff in perilous economic times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/opinion/27thu2.html?ref=opinion
-Imagined Snipers, Real Challenges
Here's some news for Hillary Clinton: the Bosnian war was over in 1996.
Those of us, like myself, who first went to Bosnia at the start of the warin 1992 and then, in 1994 and 1995, endured President Bill Clinton'scircumlocutions as we sat in an encircled Sarajevo watching pregnant womengetting blown away by shelling from Serbian gunners, know that.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/opinion/27Cohen.html?ref=opinion
-McCain, in Foreign Policy Talk, Turns His Back on Unilateralism
LOS ANGELES-In a wide-ranging speech on foreign policy, Senator John McCainsought Wednesday to distance himself from the unilateralism that has been ahallmark of the Bush administration, saying Americans must, in the words ofthe Declaration of Independence, show "decent respect to the opinions ofmankind."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/us/politics/27campaign.html
-Weaning Teenagers Off Gossip, for One Hour at a Time
It would seem an odd, perhaps even absurd, announcement to make over a highschool's public address system.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/nyregion/27gossip.html
=
Ky. Loses Racial Quota for Teachers
School officials in a Kentucky district will no longer consider race whenhiring or transferring teachers.
http://www.teachermagazine.org/tm/articles/2008/03/26/08kyquota_ap.h19.html?tmp=1502808521
=
Delaware: Politics in the Classroom
A student alleges that her 5th grade teacher said Barack Obama is a Muslimwho â?obelieves in different things and is scary.
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/webwatch/2008/03/barack_obama_is_not_a_muslim.html
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Facing foreclosure? Talk to your lender
Facing Foreclosure? Contact your lender
If a lender puts you on Foreclosure notice: Don't ignore mail from yourlender. Stay in touch even after a Foreclosure notice has been filed. Mostlenders would rather work out options than foreclose on a home.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-flhlpforeclosurebox0326sbmar27,0,1621458.story
=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Iraqis who risked all deserve better
OUR OPINION: TRANSLATOR WHO HELPED TROOPS SHOULD BE WELCOMED
Saman Kareem Ahmad risked his life as a translator for U.S. forces in Iraq.How does the U.S. government thank him? By denying him permanent residency.This is unacceptable. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shouldreconsider the decision.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/471755.html
-Huckabee's empathy cools pundits' hot air BY LEONARD PITTS JR.
Thank you, Mike Huckabee. It was getting to be a bit much, the marathondenunciations of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright by the professional chatterers ofFOX News, MSNBC and the like. Their screams of high dudgeon had grownshrill, their show of moral affront was wearing thin. And then Huckabee,invited by MSNBC last week to condemn Wright's bitter words, invoked insteadthe era of racial segregation that shaped Barack Obama's former pastor.
''And you know what?'' he said. 'Sometimes people do have a chip on theirshoulder and resentment, and you have to just say, `I probably would, too.In fact, I may have had more of a chip on my shoulder, had it been me.' ''It bears repeating: a black Mike Huckabee would be more angry than JeremiahWright, not less. It was an admission of startling, unexpected insight and,dare I say, Christian generosity.
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard_pitts/story/470315.html
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Who Has the Power to End the Clinton-Obama Race?
Democratic Power Brokers from Gore to Carter to Dean May Weigh In
From a brokered convention to a superdelegate primary, contemplating thelatest what-if- scenarios in the Democratic race for the White House hasleft some wondering if the time is now for the party's panchayat to stepinto the fray to make decisions about what comes next.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4491853&page=1
-Slouching Toward Denver
The Democratic death march.
When Democrats contemplate the apocalypse these days, they have visions ofBarack Obama and Hillary Clinton slugging it out à la Ted Kennedy and JimmyCarter at the 1980 convention. The campaign's current trajectory is, infact, alarmingly similar to the one that produced that disastrous affair.
Back then, Carter had built up a delegate lead with early wins in Iowa, NewHampshire, and several Southern states. But, as the primary season draggedon, Kennedy began pocketing big states and gaining momentum. Once all thevoting ended and Kennedy came up short, he eyed the New York convention as akind of Hail Mary.
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=44aed783-8357-4491-8589-ee15290e6e96&k=4859
-Dangers of a Democratic Catfight
Democrats Concerned About Collateral Damage; Bill Clinton Doesn't 'Give a
Rip'
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4530977&page=1
-Obama offers plan for economic woes
NEW YORK (AP) - Democrat Barack Obama proposes relief for homeowners and anadditional $30 billion stimulus package to address the nation's economicwoes.
http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/politics-14/1206569363100330.xml&storylist=topstories
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Supplier Under Scrutiny on Aging Arms for Afghans
To arm Afghan forces to fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, the U.S. hasrelied on a fledgling company that has provided ammunition that is more than40 years old.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/world/asia/27ammo.html?hp
-How Not to Prevent Foreclosures
John McCain's talk therapy will not ease, let alone end, the worstforeclosure crisis since the Depression or the financial crisis that haserupted in its wake.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/opinion/27thu1.html?ref=opinion
-Obama, Clinton - and Echoes of Nader?
Yes, Hillary Rodham Clinton may still have a chance of winning theDemocratic nomination. But it's probably smaller than the chance that acontinued slugfest will hand the White House to John McCain.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/opinion/27kristof.html?ref=opinion
-A Foolish Immigration Purge
Leave it to the Bush administration to throw thousands of law-abidingAmerican workers and companies off a cliff in perilous economic times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/opinion/27thu2.html?ref=opinion
-Imagined Snipers, Real Challenges
Here's some news for Hillary Clinton: the Bosnian war was over in 1996.
Those of us, like myself, who first went to Bosnia at the start of the warin 1992 and then, in 1994 and 1995, endured President Bill Clinton'scircumlocutions as we sat in an encircled Sarajevo watching pregnant womengetting blown away by shelling from Serbian gunners, know that.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/opinion/27Cohen.html?ref=opinion
-McCain, in Foreign Policy Talk, Turns His Back on Unilateralism
LOS ANGELES-In a wide-ranging speech on foreign policy, Senator John McCainsought Wednesday to distance himself from the unilateralism that has been ahallmark of the Bush administration, saying Americans must, in the words ofthe Declaration of Independence, show "decent respect to the opinions ofmankind."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/us/politics/27campaign.html
-Weaning Teenagers Off Gossip, for One Hour at a Time
It would seem an odd, perhaps even absurd, announcement to make over a highschool's public address system.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/nyregion/27gossip.html
=
Ky. Loses Racial Quota for Teachers
School officials in a Kentucky district will no longer consider race whenhiring or transferring teachers.
http://www.teachermagazine.org/tm/articles/2008/03/26/08kyquota_ap.h19.html?tmp=1502808521
=
Delaware: Politics in the Classroom
A student alleges that her 5th grade teacher said Barack Obama is a Muslimwho â?obelieves in different things and is scary.
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/webwatch/2008/03/barack_obama_is_not_a_muslim.html
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Facing foreclosure? Talk to your lender
Facing Foreclosure? Contact your lender
If a lender puts you on Foreclosure notice: Don't ignore mail from yourlender. Stay in touch even after a Foreclosure notice has been filed. Mostlenders would rather work out options than foreclose on a home.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-flhlpforeclosurebox0326sbmar27,0,1621458.story
=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Iraqis who risked all deserve better
OUR OPINION: TRANSLATOR WHO HELPED TROOPS SHOULD BE WELCOMED
Saman Kareem Ahmad risked his life as a translator for U.S. forces in Iraq.How does the U.S. government thank him? By denying him permanent residency.This is unacceptable. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shouldreconsider the decision.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/471755.html
-Huckabee's empathy cools pundits' hot air BY LEONARD PITTS JR.
Thank you, Mike Huckabee. It was getting to be a bit much, the marathondenunciations of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright by the professional chatterers ofFOX News, MSNBC and the like. Their screams of high dudgeon had grownshrill, their show of moral affront was wearing thin. And then Huckabee,invited by MSNBC last week to condemn Wright's bitter words, invoked insteadthe era of racial segregation that shaped Barack Obama's former pastor.
''And you know what?'' he said. 'Sometimes people do have a chip on theirshoulder and resentment, and you have to just say, `I probably would, too.In fact, I may have had more of a chip on my shoulder, had it been me.' ''It bears repeating: a black Mike Huckabee would be more angry than JeremiahWright, not less. It was an admission of startling, unexpected insight and,dare I say, Christian generosity.
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard_pitts/story/470315.html
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Who Has the Power to End the Clinton-Obama Race?
Democratic Power Brokers from Gore to Carter to Dean May Weigh In
From a brokered convention to a superdelegate primary, contemplating thelatest what-if- scenarios in the Democratic race for the White House hasleft some wondering if the time is now for the party's panchayat to stepinto the fray to make decisions about what comes next.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4491853&page=1
-Slouching Toward Denver
The Democratic death march.
When Democrats contemplate the apocalypse these days, they have visions ofBarack Obama and Hillary Clinton slugging it out à la Ted Kennedy and JimmyCarter at the 1980 convention. The campaign's current trajectory is, infact, alarmingly similar to the one that produced that disastrous affair.
Back then, Carter had built up a delegate lead with early wins in Iowa, NewHampshire, and several Southern states. But, as the primary season draggedon, Kennedy began pocketing big states and gaining momentum. Once all thevoting ended and Kennedy came up short, he eyed the New York convention as akind of Hail Mary.
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=44aed783-8357-4491-8589-ee15290e6e96&k=4859
-Dangers of a Democratic Catfight
Democrats Concerned About Collateral Damage; Bill Clinton Doesn't 'Give a
Rip'
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4530977&page=1
-Obama offers plan for economic woes
NEW YORK (AP) - Democrat Barack Obama proposes relief for homeowners and anadditional $30 billion stimulus package to address the nation's economicwoes.
http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/politics-14/1206569363100330.xml&storylist=topstories
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
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