GLBT DIGEST - October 01, 2009

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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
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Germany's No. 2 Looks to the Spotlight
By JUDY DEMPSEY
BERLIN — There is a great boon to being Germany’s foreign minister. Within a short time, the minister usually becomes one of the country’s most popular politicians.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/world/europe/01iht-letter.html?scp=7&sq=gay&st=cse

Rare Source of Attack on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
In an unusual show of support for allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces, an article in an official military journal argues forcefully for repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, which requires homosexuals in the services to keep their sexual orientation secret.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/us/01pentagon.html?scp=4&sq=gay&st=cse

Study Finds More Gay Characters on Network TV
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The number of gay and bisexual characters on prime-time network TV is up slightly this season to 18 out of a total of 600 roles, according to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The increase over 2008 fell well short of the more than twofold percentage jump in the '08 season compared to 2007, according to the group.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/01/arts/AP-US-TV-Gay-Characters.html?scp=2&sq=gay&st=cse

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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
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Obama Official Regrets Advice to Student
The Obama administration defended an Education Department official over advice he gave a gay student about sex 21 years ago. The official, Kevin Jennings, says he should have handled the situation differently when he told the boy that he hoped he had used a condom during a sexual encounter with an older man. Jennings, who now heads the department's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, has been under fire from conservatives and right-wing groups for not reporting the incident to authorities or to the boy's parents.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/30/AR2009093005295_pf.html

Justices to Decide if State Gun Laws Violate Rights
Court, Which Reversed D.C. Ban, Will Look to Local Level in 2nd Amendment Case
By Robert Barnes
The Supreme Court set up a historic decision on gun control Wednesday, saying it will rule on whether restrictive state and local laws violate the Second Amendment right to gun ownership that it recognized last year.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/30/AR2009093001723.html

Catania: Gay Marriage Bill Will Debut Tuesday
The waiting game is over. After months of buildup, D.C. Council member David A. Catania (I-At large) announced Wednesday evening he would introduce his proposal to legalize same-sex marriage in the District at Tuesday's council meeting.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2009/10/catania_gay_marriage_bill_will.html

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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
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Empty lots raise crime and drug concerns
By Don Crinklaw
The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida is moving from its rented home on North Andrews Avenue to a new site at 2204 N. Dixie Highway, and some in the South Middle River neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale are wondering what opportunities the void will bring.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fort-lauderdale/sfl-flesbglbuilding1001hrboct01,0,1247695.story

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

University of Miami SPECTRUM newsletter gets new Perspective after gay students object to name
BY STEVE ROTHAUS
A gay student group at the University of Miami has taught UM's School of Education a lesson: Don't mess with our name.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/09/university-of-miami-spectrum-newsletter-gets-new-perspective-after-gay-students-object-to-name.html

Miami Gay Men's Chorus to host engagement party Oct. 11 for Jon & Juan's Wedding
From the Miami Gay Men's Chorus:
The boys are getting engaged...
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/10/miami-gay-mens-chorus-to-host-engagement-party-oct-11-for-jon-juans-wedding.html

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

Bishop Wanted on Child Porn Charges
Raymond Lahey, who resigned as bishop on Saturday, is sought by police.
By Julie Bolcer
Police in Ottawa are seeking a Roman Catholic bishop from Nova Scotia wanted on child pornography charges filed on September 25.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/10/01/Catholic_Bishop_Wanted_on_Child_Porn_Charges/

New Signs Warn Mormon Plaza Visitors
Visitors to the Mormon Church Plaza in Salt Lake City will be greeted with private property warnings.
By Julie Bolcer
New signs installed on the LDS Church Plaza in Salt Lake City attempt to clarify that the area is private property, following a July incident in which a gay couple was detained for kissing on the plaza.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/10/01/New_Signs_Warn_Mormon_Plaza_Visitors/

Roundup: New Mexico, Dennis Hopper, Reggae
Bill Richardson wants domestic partnerships for New Mexico, gay activist Urvashi Vaid talks, and more.
By Julie Bolcer
Last stand: New Mexico governor Bill Richardson vowed to get domestic-partnership legislation passed during his last year in office. In defense of homophobia: A group of Jamaicans in Miami have launched a petition asking that controversial reggae artists Beenie Man and Buju Banton (pictured) be allowed to perform in the city on October 31.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/09/30/Roundup__New_Mexico,_Dennis_Hopper,_Reggae/

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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
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Duffy: Suicide – the soldiers left behind
By Michael Duffy, 365gay blogger
The rate of suicide by gays and lesbians is higher than that of the general population. Military gay personnel are still subject to those same problems as the rest of the homosexual population, but gays and lesbians have fewer opportunities to deal with these problems. While overseas or home, “don’t ask don’t tell” greatly harms the ability of a soldier to get the care he needs.
http://www.365gay.com/opinion/duffy-suicide-the-soldiers-left-behind/

Ky. church ordains sex offender as minister
By The Associated Press
A tiny Louisville church’s newest minister is a gifted music leader and popular among its three dozen members. Mark Hourigan is also a sex offender. Almost a decade ago, long before he joined the flock at the City of Refuge Worship Center, he was convicted of sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy in central Kentucky. Hourigan served a five-year sentence and the 41-year-old was placed on Kentucky’s sex offender registry for the rest of his life.
http://www.365gay.com/news/ky-church-ordains-sex-offender-as-minister/

Doctors settle case for denying lesbian treatment
By The Associated Press
A California woman has settled a lawsuit against her former doctors who denied her artificial insemination based on her sexual orientation, attorneys for both sides said Tuesday.
http://www.365gay.com/news/doctors-settle-case-for-denying-lesbian-treatment/

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

Catholic church sex abuse 'caused by homosexuals, not paedophiles'
A Vatican official has said that the child sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church was caused by gay men preying on teenage boys, rather than paedophilia.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/01/catholic-church-sex-abuse-caused-by-homosexuals-not-paedophiles/

Iain Dale condemns Daily Mail for 'homophobic attack'
Political blogger Iain Dale has made an official complaint over a Daily Mail article which called him "overtly gay".
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/01/iain-dale-condemns-daily-mail-for-homophobic-attack/

Melissa Etheridge considers lesbian coalition
Lesbian rock icon Melissa Etheridge has discussed the possibility of forming a sisterly coalition with other female gay celebrity activists.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/01/melissa-etheridge-considers-lesbian-coalition/

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

One Bill On the Hill?
Wayne Besen
Last week, the House Education and Labor Committee held a full hearing on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, (ENDA) which would ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. ENDA is the crown jewel of an incremental strategy that has dominated the GLBT movement in Washington. The idea is to cut up gay rights into a series of small legislative bites that are digestible to moderate Democrats and Republicans (at least the few left) in swing districts.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10264/

Reflection on Yom Kippur and Homosexuality Within Judaism
Benjamin Cohen \ Pink News
PinkNews.co.uk founder Benjamin Cohen reflects back on yesterday’s Jewish festival of Yom Kippur and what it means for an openly gay Jew. Two years ago, I wrote about my experiences in Synagogue over Yom Kippur, the day of atonement when according to Judaism, all men and women are judged and God decides whether to write them into the book of life for the following year, who will die at his allotted time and who before. It’s also the day that God decides who will have a good year and who will have a year of struggle. As I left yesterday’s service, I felt that it would be apt to update the original article. As I sat in Synagogue yesterday during Yom Kippur I once again regretted that I’m still an attendee of the United Synagogue.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10263/

Gay MEP Michael Cashman Criticizes UN General Assembly President’s ‘Unacceptable’ Anti-Gay Views
Jessica Geen \ Pink News
Gay MEP Michael Cashman has condemned homophobic comments made by the new United Nations General Assembly president. As PinkNews.co.uk reported last week, Ali Abdussalam Treki said that homosexuality is “not really acceptable”.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10262/

New Archbishop of Birmingham Helped Organize Gay Masses
Jessica Geen \ Pink News
The man tipped to be named as the new Archbishop of Birmingham today has played a strong part in reaching out to gay Catholics. In 2007, Rt Rev Bernard Longley, currently the Auxillary Bishop of Westminster, helped integrate the Soho Masses Pastoral Council into the diocese. The group puts on special Masses for gays and lesbians. He also helped the group write a statement on ministering to gay Catholics which, while following Catholic teaching on homosexuality, recognised that gay and lesbian believers wanted to be involved with the church. Read more
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10261/

Equality Illinois Update
Equality Illinois
1) SIGN ON – Equality Illinois Needs YOUR help
We need your support right now to advance and expand our assertive agenda for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Illinois. To build on our momentum, we need at least 10,000 new members this month!
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10257/

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