GLBT DIGEST - October 11, 2009

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

Activists want timeline on Obama's promise to allow gays to serve openly in the military
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Barack Obama restated his campaign pledge to allow homosexual men and women to serve openly in the military, but left many in his audience of gay activists wondering when he would make good on the promise.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/11/us/AP-World-Briefly.html?_r=1&scp=10&sq=gay&st=cse

Nasty, or Nice? New Mood Among UK's Conservatives
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON (AP) -- Who's nasty now? Sipping cocktails and swapping gossip on a roof terrace decorated with pink balloons and rainbow flags at a gay-oriented disco, leading figures of Britain's once-hidebound Conservative Party mingle happily with those many in its ranks once derided.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/11/world/AP-EU-Britain-Changing-Conservatives.html?scp=7&sq=gay&st=cse

Top Judge Calls Calif. Government ‘Dysfunctional’
By JENNIFER STEINHAUER
In a rare public rebuke of state government and policies delivered by a sitting judge, the chief justice of the California Supreme Court scathingly criticized the state’s reliance on the referendum process, arguing that it has “rendered our state government dysfunctional.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/us/11calif.html?scp=6&sq=gay&st=cse

Gays Question Obama 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Pledge
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Barack Obama restated his campaign pledge to allow homosexual men and women to serve openly in the military, but left many in his audience of gay activists wondering when he would make good on the promise.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/11/us/politics/AP-US-Obama-Gays.html?scp=5&sq=gay&st=cse

Gay Rights Advocates March on DC, Divided on Obama
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thousands of gay and lesbian activists were expected to converge Sunday in a march from the White House to the Capitol, demanding that President Barack Obama keep his promises to push for civil rights protections from the federal government.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/11/us/AP-US-Gay-Rights-March.html?scp=4&sq=gay&st=cse

In a Changing Era, a Reminder of AIDS
By MICHAEL WINERIP
BY the fall of 1995, Sean Strub was near death from AIDS. He’d already lived longer than he was supposed to. He was sure he’d experienced the first symptoms while a student at Columbia in 1979, though by the time he was tested and his disease formally diagnosed it was 1985. “The doctor held my hand, looked into my eyes and said, ‘Sean, these days you can have a good two years.’ He was trying to cheer me up.” That doctor, Nathaniel Pier, died of AIDS, as did another who treated Mr. Strub, Dr. James Nall.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/fashion/11genb.html?scp=3&sq=gay&st=cse

Obama Pledges Again to End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
President Obama on Saturday renewed his vow to allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military, but failed to offer a timetable for doing so — an omission likely to inflame critics who say he is not fighting aggressively enough for gay rights.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/us/politics/11speech.html?scp=2&sq=gay&st=cse

The Peace (Keepers) Prize
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
The Nobel committee did President Obama no favors by prematurely awarding him its peace prize. As he himself acknowledged, he has not done anything yet on the scale that would normally merit such an award — and it dismays me that the most important prize in the world has been devalued in this way. It is not the president’s fault, though, that the Europeans are so relieved at his style of leadership, in contrast to that of his predecessor, that they want to do all they can to validate and encourage it. I thought the president showed great grace in accepting the prize not for himself but “as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.” All that said, I hope Mr. Obama will take this instinct a step further when he travels to Oslo on Dec. 10 for the peace prize ceremony. Here is the speech I hope he will give: “Let me begin by thanking the Nobel committee for awarding me this prize, the highest award to which any statesman can aspire. As I said on the day it was announced, ‘I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honored by this prize.’ Therefore, upon reflection, I cannot accept this award on my behalf at all.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/opinion/11friedman.html?ref=global

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

Obama vows to end restrictions on gays in military
By Reuters
President Barack Obama, speaking on the eve of a major gay-rights march, told gay supporters on Saturday he would fight for their causes and renewed a pledge to end restrictions on their service in the U.S. military. To a standing ovation at a dinner held by the Human Rights Campaign, a gay advocacy group, Obama said he would "end 'don't ask, don't tell,' That's my commitment to you."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/11/AR2009101100129.html

I Didn't Tell. It Didn't Matter. [A must read]
Trying to serve his country, a young man faced bigotry and abuse
By Joseph Rocha
I was 18 years old when I landed in the kingdom of Bahrain, off the coast of Saudi Arabia, in the winter of 2005. It was the first time I'd ever left the continental United States. My joints ached after more than 24 hours of travel, but I knew that a new life of service and adventure awaited me on the other side of that aircraft door.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100902570.html

Waiting to Wed Where It Matters
D.C. Couples On the Threshold Of Legal Unions On Home Turf
By Carol Morello
When David and Eric Akridge's 6-year-old son, Max, set up a lemonade stand last summer, his fathers encouraged him to donate a portion of the proceeds to charity. "Do something good with it," they said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100903539.html

As Pressure Grows, Obama Addresses Gay Rights Group
He Promises to End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
By Michael D. Shear, Anne E. Kornblut and Ed O'Keefe
President Obama, struggling to keep promises he made during last year's campaign, renewed his pledge to end the military's ban on openly gay service members as he appeared at a fundraising dinner for the nation's largest gay advocacy group on Saturday night.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/10/AR2009101000627.html

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

Antonio Fins column
By Antonio Fins
The 2010 Census is around the corner, and next year's population count could shift the way we view the demographic landscape. That's because new census rules will allow for a much more accurate count of gay and lesbian households.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/columnists/sfl-afcol-intro-fins-outlook-101sboct11,0,5578670.column

Taking on GOP: Florida congressman's refreshing rant
By Stephen Goldstein
Recently, a friend of mine and I were commiserating about liberals' rhetorical anemia. Right-wing nuts, we both agreed, are always armed and ready to strike with a fusillade of bon mots (like "death panels") to sour the public on progressive change. Democrats take it, never respond in kind, stay mute.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/columnists/sfl-sgcol-democrats-m1011sboct11,0,7124104.column

Gay rights: Obama addresses Human rights Campaign dinner, pledges to end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Vows to end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
By Katherine Skiba and Peter Nicholas
President Barack Obama, speaking to the nation's largest gay rights organization, pledged again Saturday to end the ban on openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the military.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/chi-tc-nw-gay-rights-1010-1011oct11,0,5071596.story

Activists want timeline on Obama's promise to allow gays to serve openly in the military
By Associated Press
President Barack Obama restated his campaign pledge to allow homosexual men and women to serve openly in the military, but left many in his audience of gay activists wondering when he would make good on the promise.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-world-briefly,0,6234482.story

Stephen Gately of Irish boy band Boyzone dies in Mallorca, leaves behind partner
By Manuel Mielniezuk
PORT D'ANDRATX, Balearic Islands (AP) — Stephen Gately, a singer with the Irish boy band Boyzone who made headlines when he came out as gay a decade ago, has died while on vacation in Spain, the group said on its Web site Sunday. He was 33.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sns-ap-eu-obit-stephen-gately,0,1321551.story

Thousands expected to call on Obama, Congress to fulfill gay rights promises during DC march
By Brett Zongker
Thousands of gay and lesbian activists were expected to converge Sunday in a march from the White House to the Capitol, demanding that President Barack Obama keep his promises to push for civil rights protections from the federal government.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-gay-rights-march,0,7526763.story

Obama repeats promise to change policy on gays in military, but activists ask 'when?'
By Christine Simmons
President Barack Obama restated his campaign pledge to allow homosexual men and women to serve openly in the military, but many in his audience of gay activists were left wondering when he would make good on the promise.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-obama-gays,0,5536515.story

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

War on terrorism tears Muslim American communities apart
Muslims in the U.S. are increasingly finding themselves the object of distrust as the government continues its hunt for hidden enemies.
BY LEILA FADEL
As the FBI pursues one alleged terrorist plot after another, Muslim Americans are grappling with a widespread sense that the government thinks they all could be terrorists. In dozens of interviews across the country, McClatchy has found that the government's search for the enemy within is threatening to divide and destroy America's Muslim communities.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/issues_ideas/story/1275652.html

Czech president last obstacle for EU reform treaty
By KAREL JANICEK and GEORGE JAHN
PRAGUE -- The Irish finally said yes, and the Poles did Saturday, but the EU reform treaty still has a huge hurdle to clear. A "no" from the lone holdout - Czech President Vaclav Klaus - could cripple plans to transform Europe into a global player.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/1277294.html

Nasty, or nice? New mood among UK's Conservatives
By DAVID STRINGER
LONDON -- Who's nasty now? Sipping cocktails and swapping gossip on a roof terrace decorated with pink balloons and rainbow flags at a gay-oriented disco, leading figures of Britain's once-hidebound Conservative Party mingle happily with those many in its ranks once derided.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/1277401.html

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

Anti-GLBT hospital policy remains
Courts dismiss lesbian’s lawsuit vs. Jackson Memorial
By DMITRY RASHNITSOV
The United States District Court in Miami dismissed a lawsuit against Jackson Memorial Hospital brought on by a lesbian who was denied access to see her long-time partner in the last hours of her life.
http://www.floridablade.com/2009/10-8/news/localnews/6347.cfm

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

Professor Banned for Gay Talk
By Angela Brevidoro
Lt. Col. Edith A. Disler, an Air Force officer with 25 years of service, revealed Thursday that she was disciplined and barred from teaching at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., after she invited three gay academy graduates to speak to her class about the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/10/09/Professor_Banned_For_Gay_Talk/

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

Who’s tweeting for 365gay
By 365gay Newswire
Equality March live coverage continues, with 365gay on the ground in DC. We are at the March, Tweeting live. The team today:
http://www.365gay.com/news/whos-tweeting-for-365gay/

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

Student creates new gay gaming survey
Two years after the first 'Gaymer' survey, a student has released a new version to find out more about what lesbian, gay and bisexual players want from their video games.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/09/student-creates-new-gay-gaming-survey/

US House approves Matthew Shepard hate crimes bill
The US House has agreed to approve a bill that would include LGBT people in federal hate crime laws. It is named the Matthew Shepard Bill after the murdered gay teenager.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/09/us-house-approves-matthew-shepard-hate-crimes-bill/

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

Congressman Barney Frank Never Disappoints
David Mixner
Never one to disappoint, Congressman Barney Frank once again chose to provide cover for his colleagues over the grassroots LGBT community.
Bless his heart.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10573/

Reaction to Obama’s Speech
John Aravosis (DC) at 2:18 AM \ American Blog Gay
Andrew is not impressed.
8.56 pm. More campaign boilerplate. This speech could have been made - and was made - a year ago.
8.53 pm. His major achievement - the one thing he has actually done - is invite gay families to the Easter egg-roll.
8.51 pm. Again, more of a campaign speech. I’ve called on Congress to repeal DOMA. Does he think we’re fools? He has done nothing to advance this.
8.50 pm. Now we get the campaign speech on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Does he not realize he is now in office? “I’m working to end this policy. I will end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Solmonese has given us the timeline: 2017. This is bullshit.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10572/

Obama Speech Gets an ‘F’
Southern Voice
President Obama gets an “F” for his speech tonight on gay rights. This wasn’t so much a policy speech as a recitation of old campaign promises reheated for a breathless audience on its feet. I’m glad I skipped it and stayed home.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10571/

Don’t Read This, President Obama. My Words Aren’t What Matter
Good As You
Here’s what I, Jeremy Hooper, believe: -I do think some of the criticism of the president has been an exercise in unfairly piling on. While much of the outrage has been spot-on and appropriate (DADT, DOJ brief, etc), I have found some of it to be kind of “oh, come on” inducing. it has only been nine months. And there have been positives that I find real and genuine, yet am told to not celebrate because of lack of action/bumbling in other areas.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10570/

Gays Question Obama ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Pledge
CHRISTINE SIMMONS \ Associated Press Writer \ Yahoo News
President Barack Obama restated his campaign pledge to allow homosexual men and women to serve openly in the military, but left many in his audience of gay activists wondering when he would make good on the promise.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10568/

Obama Pushes Gay Rights, but Not Without Criticism from Activists
Brad Knickerbocker \ Staff writer \ Christian Science Monitor
In last year’s presidential election, Barack Obama won 70 percent of the gay vote, John McCain just 27 percent. Does that kind of clearly dominant constituency — one that’s more politically-attuned than the rest of the electorate — come with any political obligation regarding gay rights? You bet it does, and this weekend Obama is acknowledging the debt.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10567/

SD: Coming Out Day Planned
Argus Leader
A Coming Out Day at the Center for Equality will be held today as part of National Coming Out Day. This is the 30th anniversary of the first march for lesbian and gay rights on Washington, D.C. Another march is planned in the nation’s capital this year. The local Coming Out Day activities will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the Center for Equality, 3600 S. Minnesota Ave., with a worship service led by Pastor Don Reusch of St. Matthew the Martyr Church.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10566/

Hawaii Evangelical Churches Plan Election Push
HERBERT A. SAMPLE (AP) \ Google News
HONOLULU — In the last 50 years, religious conservatives have scored few victories in Hawaii. They did manage to oust a half-dozen pro-gay marriage lawmakers and lead a successful drive for a constitutional amendment to reject same-sex marriages a decade ago.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10565/

Poll: Majority Continues to Support Civil Unions, But Oppose Same-Sex Marriage
PNN.com
A new report based on a recent national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds that a clear majority of Americans favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into legal agreements with each other that would give them many of the same rights as married couples, a status commonly known as civil unions.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10564/

Survey Shows Rising Support for Civil Unions
Associated Press \ MSNBC
An increasing majority of Americans favors allowing same-sex couples to obtain most of the same rights as married straight couples, but only 39 percent support legalization of same-sex marriage, according to a poll released Friday. The Pew Research Center said support for civil unions has risen to 57 percent, up from 54 percent a year ago and 45 percent when the question was first asked by Pew in 2003.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10563/

Can Obama Win Over the Gay Community?
Josh Gerstein | Politico \ Yahoo News
Strident conservative attacks on two of President Barack Obama’s gay nominees could temper the impatience gay and lesbian activists show as he speaks to a major gay civil rights group Saturday night — but the widespread restlessness still will be palpable.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10562/

“Veterans for American Power” bus tour, featuring events in 21 states and 71 cities
On Monday, October 12, Operation FREE hits the road with the “Veterans for American Power” bus tour, featuring events in 21 states and 71 cities. Operation FREE is coming to a town near you, and we hope you’ll take the time to join us in this important work! To check out the bus tour page and to find an event near you click the following Link: http://www.operationfree.net/on-the-bus/
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10561/

Mr. Jennings & “Gay” Bachelor Tribes
Dr. Judith Reisman \ NewsWithViews.com
The recent effort by President Obama to force Mr. Kevin Jennings upon all our children as Safe Schools Czar brings to mind Eric Rofes cult status book, Reviving the Tribe: Regenerating Gay Men’s Sexuality and Culture (1996). Here, veteran gay activist, PhD, sexologist and “tribal” celebrity Rofes writes of homosexuality as a tribal union, a bachelorhood of men and men and men and boys.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10559/

TWOs Wayne Besen Kicks-Off National ‘Pray Away the Gay’ Speaking Tour at University of Vermont on Friday
Truth Wins Out
To Book Wayne: Contact: Lisa Darden,
Hope Unlimited Productions (HUP)Talent and Booking
Phone: 240-446-1554
E-Mail: ask4Darden@gmail.com
National ‘Pray Away The Gay?’ Speaking Tour Kicks Off at The University of Vermont Activist and Author Wayne Besen Available for Dynamic, Multi-Media Presentation on the ‘Ex-Gay’ Industry
Author and activist Wayne Besen will kick-off a national 2009-10 speaking tour in Burlington, Sept. 25, at the University of Vermont. The multi-media presentation, “Pray Away the Gay?”, offers a unique, innovative and entertaining look behind the mask of so-called ex-gay programs. Besen is the founder of the non-profit organization Truth Wins Out and author of two books including the critically acclaimed, “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth”. He is also known for photographing ex-gay poster boy John Paulk in a gay bar in Washington, DC.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10557/

Obama Gave An Incredible Speech–Now We Want Action
Wayne Besen \ Truth Wins Out
Tonight, Obama delivered a powerful and eloquent speech. Obama is a sitting president and pretty words are substance, by the virtue of his office. He is a Nobel prize winning, worldwide figure who gave his imprimatur to gay relationships. This should not be underestimated or easily dismissed.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/10556/

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