GLBT DIGEST - December 22, 2009

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

Mexico City Allows Gay Marriage With Landmark Law
By REUTERS
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico City became the first capital in Catholic, often macho Latin America to allow same-sex marriage on Monday when city legislators passed a law giving gay couples full marriage rights. The legislation goes further than a 2006 city law allowing civil unions by giving gay couples access to the same family social security benefits and joint loans as straight couples.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/22/world/international-us-mexico-gaymarriage.html?scp=5&sq=gay&st=cse/

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

OPM defies order on same-sex benefits
By Joe Davidson
With logic only a lawyer -- and perhaps only a government lawyer -- could love, the Obama administration is refusing to obey a federal judge's order that agrees with a position the administration supports.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/21/AR2009122103240.html/

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

Rudy's Out
By Advocate.com Editors
Former New York city mayor Rudy Giuliani is expected to announce this afternoon that he will not run for U.S. Senate, New York’s Daily News reports. The announcement should benefit Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to the Senate earlier this year when Hillary Clinton was named secretary of state. Gillibrand has since become one of the most pro-gay senators.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/12/21/Giuliani_Wont_Run_for_Senate/

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

RachelWatch: Nebraskin’ for a Favor
By Ali Davis
Bottom of the Ninth
Rachel started us off with the news that the Senate health care fight is essentially over… And yet still going on. Why give up a pointless exercise when it plays so well on Fox News?
http://www.365gay.com/living/rachelwatch-nebraskin%E2%80%99-for-a-favor/

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

Filmstar Tom Cruise sued by alleged gay lover
Hollywood film star Tom Cruise is being sued over allegations of wiretapping. Magazine editor, Michael Davis Sapir, claims that the actor hired private detective, Anthony Pellicano, to wiretap his phone. In 2001 Sapir claimed to have a video in his possession that proved he was having a "homosexual relationship" with the star.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/22/filmstar-tom-cruise-sued-by-alleged-gay-lover/

Former drag queen awarded £30,000 in unfair dismissal case
Former drag queen ,Dean Awford, has been awarded £30,000 for unfair dismissal from a high end furniture store. Employment Judge David Kearsley found that Mr Awford had been unfairly dismissed by store manager David Gray.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/22/former-drag-queen-awarded-30000-in-unfair-dismissal-case/

US law firm faces £31m sexual harassment lawsuit
A former associate at a major US law firm is filing a £50m (£31m) sexual harassment lawsuit against her former employers. Julie Kamps, who was dismissed from law firm Fried Frank in January, is claiming that a female partner at the firm harassed her and that she was overlooked for promotion because of her sexuality.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/22/us-law-firm-faces-31m-sexual-harassment-lawsuit/

Brighton clinic starts to offer faster HIV tests
Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) in Brighton & Hove has begun to offer a new type of rapid result HIV test at its clinic which can detect the virus just four weeks after the date of infection. Previous tests were only reliable three months after exposure to the virus.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/21/brighton-clinic-starts-to-offer-faster-hiv-tests/

Christian leader supports death penalty for gays
A far right Christian group has urged fellow Christians to support Uganda's proposed law that would make homosexuality punishable by death. The law would impose the death penalty on those convicted of having gay sex with a minor or disabled person or someone infected with HIV.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/21/christian-leader-supports-death-penalty-for-gays/

Ugandan President threatens to reject homophobic bill
The President of Uganda has threatened to veto the a controversial new bill that could see homosexuals sentenced to the death penalty or lifetime imprisonment.
US newspaper DC Agenda claims that President Yoweri Museveni pledged to US secretary of state for African affairs Jonnie Carson on two separate occasions that he would reject the bill currently making its way through parliament.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/22/ugandan-president-threatens-to-reject-homophobic-bill/

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

Minn. Gov. Regrets Pro-Gay Vote
By Advocate.com
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty tells Newsweek’s Howard Fineman that he regrets his vote in favor of a 1993 antidiscrimination law because it protects “things like cross-dressing.” Pawlenty, who was a state representative when he cast the pro-gay vote, became Minnesota’s governor in 2003. He now is considered a possible Republican contender for challenging President Obama in 2012. Perhaps that’s why he’s backtracking on anything in his voting history that could be considered pro-gay.
http://www.advocate.com//News/Daily_News/2009/12/22/Minn_Gov_Regrets_Pro_Gay_Vote/

The L Word's Kirshner Joins Vampire Diaries
By Advocate.com Editors
Mia Kirshner, who regularly pissed off fans of The L Word for six seasons as the ultimately ill-fated Jenny, has a new gig. Starting in January, she’ll appear on The CW’s Vampire Diaries in a recurring role.
http://www.advocate.com//News/Daily_News/2009/12/21/The_L_Words_Mia_Kirshner_Joins_Vampire_Diaries/

Dustin Lance Black vs. Gay-Bashing College
By Advocate.com Editors
Dustin Lance Black spent the last six months calling Holland, Michigan home while making his directorial debut, his follow up to winning an Oscar for writing Milk.
http://www.advocate.com//News/Daily_News/2009/12/21/Dustin_Lance_Black_vs_Gay_Bashing_College/

Judge Who Ruled Against Scouts Dies
By Advocate.com Editors
Napoleon A. Jones, Jr., the federal judge who ruled in 2003 that the Boy Scouts of America couldn’t lease land owned by the city of San Diego, died December 12 of prostate cancer, the Los Angeles Times reports. He was 69. Jones said that San Diego couldn’t lease the land to the Scouts because the group, which bars gay leaders and requires members to swear an oath to God, is a religious group. The lease, he said, was a violation of the separation of church and state. The ruling is under appeal.
http://www.advocate.com//News/Daily_News/2009/12/21/Judge_Who_Ruled_Against_Scouts_Dies/

Gay Critics Association Announces First Awards Nominations
By Advocate.com Editors
Films helmed by gay directors, including Grey Gardens, Precious, and A Single Man, dominate the nominations for the Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association's awards. The group announced its nominations for the its first Dorian Awards for the most exceptional achievements in film and television of the year on Friday.
http://www.advocate.com//News/Daily_News/2009/12/21/Gay_Critics_Association_Announces_First_Awards_Nominations/

Louisiana Mayor Wants to Protect Gays
By Neal Broverman
Shreveport, La., mayor Cedric Glover wants the city's nondiscrimination policy to cover sexual orientation and gender identity.
http://www.advocate.com//News/Daily_News/2009/12/21/Louisiana_Mayor_Wants_to_Protect_Gays/

New immigration reform bill excludes LGBT families
By Chris Johnson
An alternative immigration reform bill introduced last week in Congress lacks sought-after language for LGBT families, but advocates of the provision remain optimistic the bill’s sponsor will support inclusion in future legislation.
http://dcagenda.com/2009/12/21/new-immigration-reform-bill-excludes-lgbt-families/

The Opposite of Fabulous
thelostboy posted to Notes
Before I return to regularly scheduled blogging (mainly end-of-decade/end-of-year lists, of which I’m seriously lagging behind), I figured I should get some final Dubai-related thoughts out of the way.
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thelostboy/archives/the_opposite_of_fabulous/

WSJ Poll: 12% of Americans judge the Bush decade 'good' or 'great'
by: Pam Spaulding
Are we supposed to feel better that the figure isn't any higher? (Think Progress): According to the poll, a combined 58% said the decade was either "awful" or "not so good," 29% said it was fair, and just 12% said it was either "good" or "great." [...]
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PamsHouseBlend/~3/9dU9MVxHWXE/wsj-poll-12-of-americans-judge-the-bush-decade-good-or-great/

Gov. Tim Pawlenty - saving us all from 'cross-dressing' third grade teachers
by: Alvin McEwen
crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
Now that Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is running for president (unofficially that is), he is backtracking from pro-gay legislation he signed: To borrow a phrase, have your views evolved over time? In 1993 I voted for a bill prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodation, housing, and employment. That was 16 years ago.
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14588/gov-tim-pawlenty-saving-us-all-from-crossdressing-third-grade-teachers/

Knights Out's Fulton: integrating out gays and lesbians into military will be easier than expected
by: Pam Spaulding
Not long ago we had a liveblog with Rep. Joe Sestak and KnightsOut's Dan Choi to discuss the repeal of DADT. On Sunday, fellow member of knightsout.org, Sue Fulton appeared on Rainbow Radio, and compared her experiences with women being integrated into the military, and feels there should be less culture clash involved than people think. (QNotes):
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14575/knights-outs-fulton-integrating-out-gays-and-lesbians-into-military-will-be-easier-than-expected/

Solidarity: "Transmisogyny" & "Faggots"
Filed by: Guest Blogger
Editors' Note: Guest blogger Rachel Dunn is an out and proud trans-lesbian filmmaker living in Los Angeles. Although very supportive of community events, her primary activism comes in the form of fostering and contributing to queer and minority film projects as a cinematographer, producer, writer and consultant. Some of her work can be seen at www.racheldunn.com . After reading "What Transmisogyny Looks Like" and "I Have a Problem with Faggots", something occurred to me that some may not like to hear, but here it is it is: The entire queer community has gender issues - not just the transfolk. Gay and lesbian people have a big gender issue - otherwise the gender of the people they love would not be an issue.
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/12/solidarity_transmisogyny_faggots.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BilericoProject+%28The+Bilerico+Project%29/

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Truth Wins Out - TWO
by Wayne Besen
http://www.truthwinsout.org/

Princeton’s Robert George: Sophistry Disguised as Scholarship
A feature article in this week’s New York Times Magazine refers to Princeton professor Robert P. George as the “intellectual architect” of the extreme right. This is hardly an honor, considering the main competition for “Values Valedictorian” is Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter and Mike Huckabee. One also has to consider admiration comes from the likes of George W. Bush and FOX instigator Glenn Beck, who calls George “one of the biggest brains in America.” George’s primary accomplishment has been denying gay couples the right to marry, by forming an unholy political union between conservative Catholics, like himself, and Evangelical Christians. He is the chairman of The National Organization for Marriage, the group that most recently worked to strip marriage rights from LGBT couples in Maine.
http://www.truthwinsout.org/pressreleases/2009/12/5520/

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Sunshine Cathedral MCC - Ft. Lauderdale
http://www.sunshinecathedral.org/
Go to the links for the following articles:

Christmas Eve Services: 7:30PM; 9:00PM; & 10:30PM
All services will be in the Walt Lawrence & Stephen Lewis Center for the Worship and the Arts on the campus of the Sunshine Cathedral. The Sunshine Cathedral is honored to be sharing our Christmas Eve celebration with the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble, the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus, the Fort Lauderdale Women's Chorus and of course our very own Sunshine Cathedral Choir. We invite you to remember to bring a canned food item to benefit the Broward Food Cooperative and the Pantry of Broward.

Sunshine Cathedral Performing Arts Season Tickets
Season Tickets are on sale now and they will make a great holiday gift! You can purchase your season tickets by visiting the Sunshine Cathedral Performing Arts website www.SunshinePerformingArts.com. A Season ticket (6 performances) is $150.00.

The Duelling Divas on stage at the Sunshine Cathedral
The Duelling Divas will be performing at the Sunshine Cathedral on Saturday, January 9th at 8:00 PM. For more information about this performance and to purchase tickets please visit www.SunshinePerformingArts.com. Tickets are $25.00 general admission and $10.00 for the Meet & Greet.

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Stonewall Library - Ft. Lauderdale
http://www.stonewall-library.org/
Go to the links for the following articles:

Activist/writer Elana Dykewomon to speak to Stonewall Library & Archives
On Thursday, January 7, at 7:00 PM, Stonewall will host a lecture by social activist Elana Dykewomon, a Lambda award-winning author of seven books, including the early classic "Riverfinger Women" and the Jewish lesbian historical novel, "Beyond the Pale,." Winner of the 1998 Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian novel. Her latest novel, "Risk," was released in June 2008.
http://www.stonewall-library.org/index.html

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