GLBT DIGEST - July 16, 2009

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

When Do They Need a Fig Leaf?
By JULIE SCELFO
ALEX NICOLA, who will be 5 in August, enjoys being naked as frequently as possible at home. “In the morning he gets up and takes his pajamas off, and rather than get dressed right away, he walks around naked,” said Dawn Nicola, Alex’s mother, a stay-at-home parent in Castle Rock, Colo.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/garden/16nudity.html?sq=gay&st=cse&scp=4&pagewanted=print

Episcopal Bishops Give Ground on Gay Marriage
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
The bishops of the Episcopal Church agreed Wednesday to a compromise measure that stops short of developing an official rite for same-sex unions, but gives latitude to bishops who wish to go ahead and bless such unions, particularly in states that have legalized such marriages.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/us/16episcopal.html?scp=2&sq=gay&st=cse


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

Sotomayor treads careful line
By Andrew Quinn
Republican lawmakers stepped up pressure on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Wednesday, hoping to paint her as judicial activist who will stamp the court with President Barack Obama's liberal agenda.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/16/AR2009071600701.html

Sotomayor looks headed for confirmation
By Andrew Quinn
President Barack Obama's Supreme Court pick Sonia Sotomayor on Thursday looked headed for confirmation as Senate hearings wound up, but critics planned one last showdown over a controversial race ruling.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/16/AR2009071600701.html

Lithuania president slams anti-gay censorship bill
By LOUISE NORDSTROM
The Associated Press
STOCKHOLM -- Lithuania's new president on Thursday criticized a censorship bill passed by lawmakers in the Baltic country that aims to keep information about homosexuality away from children.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/16/AR2009071600995.html

Move to Allow Ordination Of Gay Bishops Stirs Debate
By William Wan
Anglicans in Northern Virginia were divided yesterday over a decision by the U.S. wing of the church to allow for the ordination of gay bishops.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/15/AR2009071503697.html


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Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
Go to the links for the following articles:

In Praise of Shopkeepers
It takes courage these days to start a useful business.
By JOSEPH EPSTEIN
Within three blocks of my apartment in Evanston, Ill., are 21 restaurants, six coffee shops, five manicurist-pedicurists, four cellphone purveyors, three dry cleaners, two quite good libraries, one multiplex theater, and (not a partridge in a pear tree) a paucity of interesting and useful shops. Shops we do have, but they are preponderantly corporate-owned: Design Within Reach, Joseph A. Bank, North Face, Athletica, LA Fitness. Lacking are the odd shops, the curiosity shops (to use the Charles Dickens' title), whose character and contents might pleasantly surprise a passing pedestrian.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124770241303048557.html

Rufus Wainwright’s New Aria
The singer-songwriter unveils his first opera in England
By JULIET CHUNG
Since his debut roughly a decade ago, singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright has attracted a following for his lush, romantic pop songs. He ventures into new territory this month with the premiere of his first opera, “Prima Donna.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204261704574274202251725342.html


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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

Hate crime series brings bias to the floor
DON CRINKLAW
Broward County leads the state in hate crimes, Sheriff Al Lamberti told a crowd gathered at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center last week for a town hall meeting focusing on hate crime awareness. More than 200 residents gathered for the meeting in the center's main room. The police presence was conspicuous, appropriate to an evening devoted to the official response to hate-driven violence. Blown-up photographs of victims were propped against a wall.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fort-lauderdale/sfl-flesbhatehall0716esbjul16,0,7749587.story

NY jury gets case of man charged with hate crime murder of transgendered woman
By Associated Press
A jury is deliberating at the trial of a 20-year-old upstate New York man charged with the hate crime slaying of a transgendered woman. Prosecutors say Dwight DeLee fatally shot 22-year-old Lateisha (lah-TEE'-shuh) Green outside a Syracuse house party last November because of anti-gay bias.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-hate-crime,0,5864193.story


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

Matthew Shepard hate crimes measure undercuts opposition to F-22 jet fighter funding
By Halimah Abdullah, McClatchy Newspapers
One day after Arizona Sen. John McCain forged an unusual bipartisan alliance with the White House on cutting $1.75 billion in increased spending for the controversial F-22 jet fighter, congressional Democratic leaders pressured lawmakers to drop the matter to clear the way for a controversial hate crimes provision in the defense spending measure.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/07/matthew-shepard-hate-crimes-measure-undercuts-opposition-to-f-22-jet-fighter-funding.html

Broward hair transplant surgeon accused of HIV bias
A Hialeah man who is HIV-positive has filed suit against a Broward hair transplant surgeon, claiming he was illegally denied a treatment because of his illness.
BY DAVID SMILEY, dsmiley@MiamiHerald.com
Diego Del Rio thought he had finally found his Fountain of Youth. Tucked between advertisements for Gay Days and pictures of scantily clad men, the 28-year-old from Hialeah says he saw an ad that brought him back nine years to the last time he could run his hand through a full head of hair.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/07/broward-hair-transplant-surgeon-accused-of-hiv-bias.html

Senate takes up hate crimes bill covering gays
By JIM ABRAMS,Associated Press
Legislation to extend federal hate crimes protections to gays and the disabled reached the Senate floor Wednesday with the best prospects in years to become law.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/07/senate-takes-up-hate-crimes-bill-covering-gays.html

Episcopal bishops OK prayer for gay couples
By MICHELLE RINDELS, Associated Press
Episcopal bishops authorized the church Wednesday to start drafting an official prayer for same-sex couples, another step toward acceptance of gay relationships that will deepen the rift between the denomination and its fellow Anglicans overseas.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/07/episcopal-bishops-ok-prayer-for-gay-couples.html


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

Lithuania president slams anti-gay censorship bill
BY LOUISE NORDSTROM
STOCKHOLM -- Lithuania's new president on Thursday criticized a censorship bill passed by lawmakers in the Baltic country that aims to keep information about homosexuality away from children.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/1144041.html


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

Fort Worth mayor says apology for injury, not raid
By The Associated Press
Fort Worth’s mayor says an apology he issued at a City Council meeting wasn’t for law enforcement’s raid on a Texas gay bar, but for the fact that a man was seriously injured.
http://www.365gay.com/news/fort-worth-mayor-says-apology-for-injury-not-raid/

Judge: Witnesses in hate crime trial threatened
By The Associated Press
Three people who were at a New York house party when a transgendered woman was murdered testified Wednesday that the Syracuse man accused of the crime directed an anti-gay slur at the victim.
http://www.365gay.com/news/judge-witnesses-in-hate-crime-trial-threatened/

LA Times: Gay marriage question put to Sotomayor
By 365gay Newswire
The Los Angeles Times nots that Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) asked Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor about a court ruling that said Minnesota could deny a marriage license to two men.
http://www.365gay.com/news/la-times-gay-marriage-question-put-to-sotomayor/

Withers: Homophobia is caused by homophobes not homosexuals
By James Withers, contributing editor, 365Gay Blog
Anyone read Their Eyes Were Watching God ? My favorite character is Mrs. Turner! She’s a crazy one and if I had enough queer studies under my belt, I would say she is sort of sweet on Janie, the protagonist. Mrs. Turner hates blacks who are dark skinned and has convinced herself the race problem in America would be solved if there were only paper bag or lighter blacks like her and Janie.
http://www.365gay.com/blog/071609-homophobia-is-caused-by-homophobes-not-homosexuals/

RachelWatch: Sharks, Slime, and the Senate
By Ali Davis, Contributing writer
C Street Band
Rachel started us off with continuing coverage of the secretive far-right Christian group The Family. If you recall, Representative Zach Wamp (R – Tennessee) got whomped after his staffers called TRMS earlier in the week to complain about Rachel’s reporting.
http://www.365gay.com/living/rachelwatch-sharks-slime-and-congress/

Corvino: What’s real for gay men
By John Corvino, columnist, 365gay.com
Recently I’ve been reflecting on mentoring, and the various ways we introduce newcomers to aspects of gay life-the good, the bad, and the ugly-in an effort to help them navigate their own path. This brought to mind two stories, both involving gay bars.
http://www.365gay.com/opinion/corvino-whats-real-for-gay-men/


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

Politicians and gay groups raise concerns over the Equality Bill
Last week, gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell launched an attack on the Equality Bill, saying it was "discriminatory" and that LGBT people were "explicitly excluded" from some protections.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-13259.html

US student 'forced' into ex-gay therapy
A gay pre-med student from Arkansas has been "forced" into therapy to cure him of homosexuality. According to his friends, Bryce Faulkner, 23, was preparing to come out to deeply religious family when his mother discovered emails to his boyfriend.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-13270.html

Tory MEP expelled for standing against candidate from 'homophobic' Polish Law and Justice Party
A Tory MEP expelled from David Cameron's new grouping in the European Parliament for standing against a Polish Law and Justice candidate has told PinkNews.co.uk that the party's 'homophobia' contributed to his decision.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-13268.html

Schools Out campaigner Sue Sanders honoured for a lifetime of work
Sue Sanders, one of the co-founders of LGBT education group Schools Out, has been honoured with an award recognising her lifetime of campaigning.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-13275.html

US Episcopal church begins drafting prayer for gay couples
Episcopal bishops have given permission for an official prayer for gay couples to be drafted. The news follows a vote of the church this week to reject a moratorium on the consecrations of gay bishops in committed partnerships.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-13267.html

Trevor Phillips reappointed as chair of Equality and Human Rights Commission
Trevor Phillips has been reappointed for a second three-year term as the chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. His appointment was revealed by equality minister Harriet Harman yesterday.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-13274.html

Ukraine confirms Bruno ban, says the film 'damages morality'
The Ukraine culture ministry has confirmed it is banning the film Bruno because is likely to offend conservative and religious opinion.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-13262.html

Gay American Idol star Adam Lambert's concert targeted by anti-gay protestors
An American Idol concert featuring openly gay runner-up Adam Lambert has been picketed by homophobic protesters.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-13261.html

Rise in homophobic hate crime in London
Figures released today by the Metropolitan Police show a 13.5 per cent rise in homophobic hate crimes reported across London.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-13282.html


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

Hundreds Protest Airing of Anti-Gay Video
Carlos Santoscoy
Published: July 16, 2009
About 250 demonstrators showed up Wednesday outside the Florida offices of Tampa’s WFLA Channel 8 demanding an apology from executives for airing an anti-gay video. The station aired the American Family Association’s (AFA) controversial documentary special on the “radical homosexual agenda” titled Speechless: Silencing the Christians over the objections of the LGBT community and on the night of the St. Petersburgh Gay Pride parade. Read more
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/8778/

Lawmakers Raise Concerns About Locker Rooms at Trans Rights Hearing
Ethan Jacobs
During a Judiciary Committee hearing on the transgender rights bill July 14 some members of the committee indicated that they had concerns about the bill, particularly about its impact on bathroom and locker room facilities. In the weeks leading up to the hearing opponents of the bill, led by the conservative Christian advocacy group Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI), had waged a media and lobbying campaign to brand the legislation, House Bill 1728, as “the bathroom bill,” claiming that it would enable sexual predators to dress as women and enter women’s bathroom and locker room facilities. Only one committee member, Rep. Colleen Garry (D-Dracut), raised that scenario as a serious concern during the hearing, but other committee members, including House committee chair Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty (D-Chelsea), said they believed the bill might threaten the rights to privacy and modesty of non-transgender people using locker room and bathroom facilities. H.B. 1728 would amend the state’s non-discrimination and hate crimes laws to make them transgender-inclusive. Read more
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/8776/

Horserace to equality: 
Federal marriage lawsuits
Lisa Keen | contributing writer | Bay Windows
A year ago, theare were no lawsuits in federal court seeking to establish equal rights for gay couples in marriage licensing. Now there are five.
These five are not equally matched horses heading for the same finish line. Two of the cases challenge one aspect of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), while the other three seek to strike down statewide bans on gay marriage, arguing they violate the U.S. Constitution.
An enormously successful gay litigation group is waging one lawsuit on behalf of multiple plaintiffs. A recent law school graduate has mounted another lawsuit on behalf of himself and his 18-year-old fiancé. Read more
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/8775/

Pastor Rick Warren–Prop 8, Building Bridges to Islam
Bill Berkowitz
Since delivering the invocation at President Barack Obama’s Inauguration in late January, Pastor Rick Warren has been on the down low… well, sort of. He hasn’t totally disappeared from the public spotlight — he’s often speaking to some group somewhere — but he’s been staying out of the media spotlight by not appearing on the cable news networks. Read more
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/8774/

Psychological Treatments May Not Prevent PTSD
Medical News Today
Psychological interventions intended to prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the early stages after a traumatic experience have not been shown to be effective, Cochrane Researchers have concluded. This systematic review focused on multiple-session treatments for everyone involved, irrespective of the presence of symptoms. Two previous reviews found single session interventions to be ineffective. Read more
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/8773/

Pakistan Orders Trans Equality
Nasir Iqbal | Dawn.com
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has ordered that transvestites, being equal citizens of Pakistan, should also benefit from the federal and provincial governments’ financial support schemes such as the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). ‘They are citizens of Pakistan and enjoy the same protection guaranteed under Article four (rights of individuals to be dealt with in accordance of law) and Article nine (security of person) of the Constitution,’ ruled a three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja on Tuesday. Read more
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/8770/


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