GLBT DIGEST - March 03, 2009

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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Suit Seeks to Force Government to Extend Benefits to Same-Sex Couples
By ABBY GOODNOUGH and KATIE ZEZIMA
The legal advocacy group that successfully argued for sex-same marriage in Massachusetts intends to file suit here on Tuesday seeking some federal benefits for spouses in such marriages. The target is the Defense of Marriage Act, passed by Congress in 1996, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage. That law denies federal benefits, like Social Security survivors' payments, to spouses in such marriages.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/us/03marriage.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=gay&st=cse


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

-Penn to lobby for Harvey Milk Day in California
The Associated Press
Fresh from his best actor Oscar for his performance as Harvey Milk, Sean Penn is pushing California to officially recognize the late gay politician's birthday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/03/AR2009030300645.html

-I am one of the 12,500 military personnel discharged under this archaic law.
The Air Force felt the need to search my private e-mails in Iraq; apparently ferreting out alleged homosexuals is far more important than fighting insurgents. I know firsthand the ugly face of discrimination by our federal government. I've paid a heavy price emotionally and financially for being who I am, including losing all retirement benefits. I greatly look forward to the day when it is no longer "open season" on gays in the military and I can resume my service to our nation as an officer and a gentleman.
-- Mike Almy, former Army major, the District
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/02/AR2009030202751.html


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Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us

-Philanthropy and Its Enemies
By NAOMI SCHAEFER RILEY
Activists want to redistribute foundation wealth based on racial quotas. Nonprofit leaders are reeling from the recent news that President Barack Obama's proposed budget would limit tax deductions on charitable contributions from wealthy Americans. But now the philanthropic world has something else to worry about. Today the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), a research and advocacy group, will release a report offering "benchmarks to assess foundation performance." Its real aim is to push philanthropic organizations into ignoring donor intent and instead giving grants based on political considerations.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123604548985015461.html


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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
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-Prop. 8 resolution contends California constitution improperly revised
By Susan Ferriss
Just days before a historic state Supreme Court hearing on Proposition 8, the Legislature approved a resolution Monday declaring that voters alone did not have the right to adopt the gay-marriage ban.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/929871.html


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

-Gay marriage ban supporters to rally in Raleigh
N.C. is only southern state with no such ban
Supporters of a ban on gay marriage in North Carolina will lobby the Legislature for the second time in a week. A Christian conservative group called Return America has scheduled a "Stand Up for Traditional Marriage" rally on Tuesday in downtown Raleigh. A similar outdoor event attracted thousands in 2007.
http://www.floridablade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24293

-Lawsuit over gay-marriage speech at L.A. City College spurs reactions
By Gale Holland
Ruben Rivera was dropping off papers to charter a new gay unity club at Los Angeles City College one recent day when he spotted half a dozen middle-aged people milling around the campus quad.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-speech3-2009mar03,0,13714.story?track=rss


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

-U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against Fred Phelps
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Fred Phelps this week. The anti-gay pastor had attempted to erect a statue in a government plaza in Kansas condemning homosexuality and slain student Matthew Shepard. Phelps' monument read: "Matthew Shepard Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning 'thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22." The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that government parks receiving monument donations are not required to accept every offer. Last month, Phelps and his daughter Shirley Roper-Phelps were prevented from entering to UK to protest a production of The Laramie Project because of their extremist behavior.
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid74138.asp


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

-3 charged in violent attack at gay bar
By 365gay Newscenter Staff
Galveston gays are crediting police with swift action in arresting three people in connection with a violent weekend attack on two gay men in a gay bar.
http://www.365gay.com/news/3-charged-in-violent-attack-at-gay-bar/

-A response to a Morehouse College concern
By James Withers
Recently there was an article, disjointed nightmare really, that wondered what would happen to Morehouse College, an all men's school, if it kept being tolerant of gay men. Would it become competition for its sister institution Spelman College, an all women's school, because all those gay men would follow the dream of every male sodomite: being a fabulous woman. Writer Leethaniel Brumfield II, with care and precision, takes the previous essay to task for its hysteria and double standards when the conversation turns to gay male students.
http://www.365gay.com/blog/030309-a-response-to-a-morehouse-man/


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

-Director receives death threats over Channel 4 documentary about gay Muslims
By Jessica Geen
Executives at Channel 4 are bracing themselves for a backlash against a programme showing gay and lesbian Muslims. A Jihad for Love will be aired tonight on More 4 and shows gay Muslims kissing, holding hands and discussing getting married.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11416.html

-Employees claim they were victimised by gay charity
By Jessica Geen
Two former employees of Manchester's Lesbian and Gay Foundation claim they were victimised and discriminated against by the charity.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11420.html

-Microsoft: 'It's hard to police Xbox homophobia'
By Jessica Geen
Xbox Live policy manager Stephen Toulouse has given further explanation of why gamers cannot use the word 'gay' in their profiles or gamertags. According to Eurogamer, Mr Toulouse said the problem was in determining was a slur or not when used in game.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11413.html

-Man raped in Plymouth
By Jessica Geen
A 23-year-old man was raped in the city of Plymouth on Friday night. The victim, from Newton Abbot, was visiting his girlfriend at the time of the attack.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11422.html

-Employees claim they were victimised by gay charity
By Jessica Geen
Two former employees of Manchester's Lesbian and Gay Foundation claim they were victimised and discriminated against by the charity. At a tribunal, to begin next Monday, Alistair Gault and Molly Dunn will be appearing to claim that the organisation discriminated against them due to their ages.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11420.html


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