GLBT DIGEST - February 24, 2009

**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:

-Gay Marriage Needs a Vote
Same-sex couples deserve full equality under the law, and that includes the right to marry. For the last decade or so, members of the Rhode Island State Legislature have regularly proposed bills to allow same-sex couples to marry only to see the issue die in committee without coming to a vote.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/opinion/24tue3.html?ref=opinion

-Boosting Global AIDS Funds
The international AIDS community is buzzing with anxiety over unconfirmed reports that the Obama administration may hold down American financing for international AIDS programs that need greatly increased support. We hope that the new budget blueprint to be released this week will leave enough room to grant these and other vital health programs the money they need to care for millions of sick people and to prevent the spread of additional disease around the world.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/opinion/24tue4.html?ref=opinion


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

-Gay Bloggers' Voices Rise in Chorus of Growing Political Influence
By Jose Antonio Vargas
Only the blogosphere, perhaps, has room for Pam Spaulding -- a black lesbian who lives in North Carolina, the only state in the South that has not banned same-sex marriage.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/23/AR2009022303105.html

-Time Has Come to Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
The law might be called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," but Todd Belok got kicked out of the Naval ROTC at George Washington University because somebody told. Belok is an 18-year-old freshman who has wanted to be in the Navy at least since he took a trip to the USS Intrepid when he was in elementary school. The Navy is in his blood. His grandfather served during World War II. He refers to the military values of honor, courage and commitment so frequently that they could be his address.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/23/AR2009022302793.html

-A feel-good Oscar ceremony for the recession era
By JOCELYN NOVECK
-- Maybe it was the adorable smile on that "Slumdog Millionaire" kid in his pint-sized tuxedo. Or best director winner Danny Boyle bouncing in silly tribute to Tigger of "Winnie the Pooh." The grinning, top-hatted dad of best actress winner Kate Winslet, whistling like a champion to get his daughter's attention.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/24/AR2009022400680.html


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

-NAACP Calls for Overturning of Proposition 8
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People announced support on Monday for California's supreme court to invalidate Proposition 8, the November ballot initiative that constitutionally banned same-sex marriage in California.
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid73682.asp


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

-Buttars blames everyone except himself
By James Withers
Hopefully this is the last ink I spill on the old fool, but Utah's state Senator Chris Buttars is the gift that keeps giving. On the Utah Senate blog, Buttars voiced his disapproval with his removal from two powerful committees.
http://www.365gay.com/blog/022409-utah-republican-buttars-promises-to-keep-fighting-the-homosexual-agenda/

-Hawaii civil union bill moves to Senate
By The Associated Press
Hawaii, the state that adopted the nation's first "defense of marriage" constitutional amendment a decade ago, has now become the latest battleground in the fight for same-sex civil unions.
http://www.365gay.com/news/hawaii-civil-union-bill-moves-to-senate/

-US companies blamed for UK tainted blood scandal
By The Associated Press
(London) The first extensive report into Britain's tainted blood scandal stopped short Monday of blaming individual doctors or companies for what is widely viewed as the National Health Service's worst treatment disaster.
http://www.365gay.com/news/us-companies-blamed-for-uk-tainted-blood-scandal/


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

-Colorado politician compares homosexuality to murder
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
A Republican state Senator in Colorado has compared gay and lesbian people to murderers and adulterers. Scott Renfroe was speaking during a debate on new legislation that would grant benefits for the partners of gay and lesbian state employees.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11316.html

-Australian MP's gay lover pleads guilty to blackmail
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
A leading Australian politician was targeted by a man he had sex with who threatened to out him unless he paid him $15,000 (£6,670). 25-year-old Jake Della-Vedova said he would expose the married MP's secret gay life with a clandestine video recording of them having sex.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11312.html


=

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