GLBT DIGEST - November 09, 2009

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

Can a Boy Wear a Skirt to School?
By Katherine Schulten
This question is the headline of an article by Jan Hoffman about how “a growing number of teenagers have been dressing to articulate — or confound — gender identity and sexual orientation.” Should schools prohibit kids from dressing like the opposite sex? Do you think kids today are less bound by rules about what boys should wear and what girls should wear?
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/can-a-boy-wear-a-skirt-to-school/?scp=6&sq=gay&st=cse/

Government & Politics
After a major setback in Maine last week, gay rights advocates and their opponents are shifting their focus to New York, where Gov. David A. Paterson has called legislators to Albany on Tuesday and asked them to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. [NYT]
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/bronx-neighborhood-struggles-after-halloween-fire/?scp=3&sq=gay&st=cse/

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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
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GUEST BLOGGER: Steven Brint
Evangelical Protestant denominations accounted for 85 percent of all U.S. churches in 1860, according to the historian Mark Noll. Today, evangelicals represent about 25 percent of the U.S. adult population, a distinct minority in a landscape populated not only by Catholics (who rival them in numbers), mainline Protestants, and Jews -- but also increasing numbers of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/shortstack/2009/11/every_election_cycle_the_polit.html/

On Election Day, a win for government
By E.J. Dionne, Jr.
Here's a story you may have missed because it flies in the face of the dreary conventional wisdom: When advocates of public programs take on the right-wing anti-government crowd directly, the government-haters lose.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/08/AR2009110817810.html/

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

Newly formed SAVE Dade Women’s Committee holds meet-and-greet in Coral Gables
From Elaine de Valle: The newly formed SAVE Dade Women's Committee had their first event, a meet and greet at Da Vittorio in Coral Gables before the Seraphic Fire concert, a treat for the nonprofit organization's biggest supporters.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/11/newly-formed-save-dade-womens-committee-holds-meet-and-greet-in-coral-gables.html/

Photo gallery | Hundreds turn out for GLAAD’s Red Carpet Gala in South Florida
Hundreds of Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) supporters gathered Saturday night in the Fort Lauderdale waterfront estate of John Evans and Steve Wozencraft for the Red Carpet Gala in South Florida. GLAAD’s new president, Fort Lauderdale-born Jarrett Tomás Barrios, above right, mingled with guests throughout the evening.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/11/photo-gallery-hundreds-turn-out-for-glaads-red-carpet-gala-in-south-florida.html/

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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
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Vatican on Anglicans: celibacy rule unchanged
By FRANCES D'EMILIO
Associated Press Writer
VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican on Monday confirmed that opening the door to married Anglican priests doesn't mean the Roman Catholic church is easing the requirement for celibacy for its clergy.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/1324037.html/

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The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
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Prejean a No-Show at Family Values Event
By Julie Bolcer
Disgraced former Miss California, Carrie Prejean, failed to make a scheduled appearance on Friday at an awards event and fund-raiser for the conservative New Jersey Family Policy Council, an absence likely attributable to revelations last week about her sex tape.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/11/09/Prejean_a_No-show_at_Family_Values_Event/

Straight Exes: Legalize Gay Marriage
By Julie Bolcer
The chorus of voices calling for marriage equality in Washington, D.C. includes ex-spouses of gay people. They argue that the legalization of same-sex marriage would help avert the pain and disappointment of marrying a partner who later comes out as gay.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/11/09/Straight_Ex-spouses__Legalize_Gay_Marriage/

Fraternal Kiss Restored on Berlin Wall
By Julie Bolcer
The famous painting of the fraternal kiss between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and his East German counterpart, Erich Honecker, has been restored on the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/11/09/Fraternal_Kiss_Restored_on_Berlin_Wall/

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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
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NY gov says he has done everything he can for gay marriage
By Jennifer Vanasco, editor in chief, 365gay.com
New York Gov. David Paterson says he has done everything he could do to get equal marriage in New York, he told Towleroad this weekend.
http://www.365gay.com/news/ny-gov-says-he-has-done-everything-he-can-for-gay-marriage/

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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
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Men jailed for blackmailing gay civil servant
A gay civil servant was blackmailed for over £5,300 after accidentally sending suggestive text messages to two men in April.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/09/gay-civil-servant-blackmailed-for-suggestive-texts/

Three Iranian men on death row for homosexuality offences
Three Iranian men are thought to be facing the death penalty for having homosexual relations. The men, named as Nemat Safavi, Mehdi P and Moshen G, have been on death row for three years and allegedly committed the crimes while under the age of 18.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/09/three-iranian-men-on-death-row-for-homosexuality-offences-2/

OutRage! calls for tolerance over gay cruising in Manchester
Gay men meeting for sex in public places in Manchester should be tolerated, not arrested, gay rights group OutRage! has said. Cruisers in the canal area have been warned they may face arrest if caught.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/09/outrage-calls-for-tolerance-for-gay-cruising-in-manchester/

Sweden ordains first openly lesbian bishop
Eva Brunne, Sweden's first openly lesbian bishop, has been sworn into her new role. Brunne, 55, who is in a registered partnership and has a three-year-old son, is also believed to be the world's first lesbian bishop.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/09/sweden-ordains-first-openly-lesbian-bishop/

Sex tape causes more embarrassment for anti-gay Miss California
Carrie Prejean, the Miss California who told the world she did not believe in gay marriage, has been rocked by a sex tape scandal. The beauty queen and her mother were apparently shown the tape by pageant organisers.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/09/sex-tape-causes-more-embarrassment-for-anti-gay-miss-california/

Washington voters approve expanded gay rights
Gay rights advocates have claimed a victory in Washington where the latest tally shows the state's voters opted to allow increased rights for gay couples.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/06/washington-voters-approve-expanded-gay-rights/

Man jailed for six years for gay chatline robberies
A 27-year-old man who admitted using gay chatlines to find men to rob has been sentenced to six years in prison.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/06/man-jailed-for-six-years-for-gay-chatline-robberies/

Calling PinkNews readers to compete on the BBC's 'A Question of Genius'
The BBC is keen to recruit LGBT contestants to take part in the second series of 'A Question of Genius' presented by Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/06/calling-pinknews-readers-to-compete-on-the-bbcs-a-question-of-genius/

Sir Ian McKellen and Boy George to attend benefit evening for gay homeless charity
Sir Ian McKellen will appear at a benefit evening for the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) on Sunday evening. The actor and TV presenter and star of Shameless Anthony Crank will be hosting an auction, with lots of prizes including an oil portrait of Sir Ian by the artist Anthony Lawrence.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/06/sir-ian-mckellen-and-boy-george-to-attend-benefit-evening-for-gay-homeless-charity/

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

GLBT History Month 2010 Nominations
Equality Forum
Equality Forum is accepting nominations for GLBT History Month 2010 Icons. Nominations should be submitted to nominations@equalityforum.com. The deadline is Friday, December 18, 2009. The criteria are a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person, living or deceased, who has distinguished him or herself in their field of endeavor, is a national hero, or has made a significant contribution to GLBT civil rights. To view the list of 124 Icons from 2006-2009, visit archives at glbtHistoryMonth.com.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/11292/

An Open Letter to German Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Honorable Guido Westerwelle
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice Chancellor
Federal Republic of Germany
Dear Minister Westerwelle:
On behalf of the Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees, Inc. (IRQR), I wish to first of all congratulate you on your appointment as Germany’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice Chancellor. We take particular pride in your appointment since you achieved success without hiding your own sexual orientation and relationship with another man.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/11291/

Are You Normal?
Michele O’Mara \ Bilerico Project
Imagine that all humans were produced on a production line of various human production factories around the world. Would all of the non-heterosexuals just be plucked right off the conveyor belt and tossed in to a pile labeled defects? Most of us, gay or not, are raised to believe that non-heterosexuals are some sort of alternate human design (the design without the standard human feature known as heterosexuality). And this design is considered a deviation from the “normal” human design, which suggests that non-heterosexuals are defective. Or worse yet, not normal.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/11290/

House Health Care Bill Includes “Sexual Orientation” and “Gender Identity”
Bil Browning \ Bilerico Project
When the House of Representatives passed their version of health care reform last night, sexual orientation and gender identity were defined [pdf] as groups likely to “experience significant gaps in disease, health outcomes, or access to health care.” Hat tip to Jill for pointing it out.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/11289/

NJ: Battle Over Same-Sex Marriage Escalates
Jeff Diamant \ STAR-LEDGER STAFF \ NJ.com
The radio ad, warning that same-sex marriage would send the wrong message to children, played over a loudspeaker in a church gym Thursday in Asbury Park, as 200 gay-rights supporters listened in silence at a post-Election Day “emergency action” meeting.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/11288/

The Number: 59%–Gays in Military
Deseret News
During the campaign, President Obama promised to reverse the current policy on gays in the military, “don’t ask, don’t tell.” To date, the president has not taken action and his secretary of defense has said publicly that the policy change has been pushed down the road. Most Americans (59%) favor allowing gays to serve openly in the military, and have said so at similar levels since 2005. A third of Americans (32%) oppose allowing gays to serve openly. While Democrats (65% to 25%) and independents (62% to 30%) support allowing gays to serve openly by more than two-to-one margins, Republicans are split on the issue (45% to 48%). Moderate and liberal Republicans support allowing gays to serve openly (62% to 30%) while conservative Republicans are strongly opposed (57%).
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/11287/

HUD Combats Discrimination Against Gays
Bob Tedeschi \ Deseret News
In recent years, state and local governments have enacted laws to combat discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people seeking mortgages and housing. Now the federal government is poised to do the same with regulations that would cover loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration.
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/11286/

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Broward County, Florida
[Gay] Vice Mayor Ken Keechl Earns Endorsement of Unite Here Local 355
Fort Lauderdale – Vice Mayor Ken Keechl has been endorsed by Unite Here Local 355 in his campaign for re-election as Broward County Commissioner in District 4. On behalf of the 5,000 hotel, food service and casino workers, the officers of Local 355 stated, "Your commitment to working with the men and women of Broward County has made a difference in their lives." The union has pledged to help Vice Mayor Keechl with his re-election efforts. "This endorsement is significant because it highlights how important it is to me to serve all the citizens of Broward County," said Vice Mayor Keechl. "I appreciate the many hours the volunteers of Unite Here Local 355
dedicated to my election, and welcome them warmly to my campaign for re-election." The election will be held on November 12, 2010.

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