**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-SoCal octuplets mother now has agent, no publicist
By ROBERT JABLON
The public relations group that has represented octuplets mother Nadya Suleman is stepping down because of death threats, its president said Saturday. Joann Killeen also said the mother now has an agent: Wes Yoder, the same man who arranged book and music deals for the McCaughey septuplets a decade ago and publicity for controversial pastor Rick Warren.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/14/AR2009021400318.html
-Straight Couples in France Are Choosing Civil Unions Meant for Gays
By Edward Cody
Arnaud, 27, loves Aurélie. Aurélie, 25, loves Arnaud. After several years of sharing an apartment, they have decided they want to spend the rest of their lives together.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/13/AR2009021303365.html
-Northampton, Mass.: Where the Alternative Goes Main Street
By Andrea Sachs
Growing up in western Massachusetts, I frequently wondered why my parents hadn't stopped their wagon in a more interesting destination such as Boston or New York. To quiet my mutterings, they would throw me into the car and drive up Interstate 91 to Northampton. On the ride back, I would be a very content kid, and not just because of the ice cream cone from Herrell's.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/13/AR2009021301523.html
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Openly gay candidates fail most bids for office in three Broward County cities
Low voter turnout, poor campaigning, inexperience cited in losses
By Anthony Man
Political activists in the gay community had high hopes for 2009, but openly gay candidates in three Broward County cities lost most of the contests they competed in this week. The highest profile contest was the Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here. mayor's race. Mayor-elect Jack Seiler won more than 57 percent of the vote, which means he won the job without having to go through a runoff.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbgayslose0214sbfeb14,0,2809158.story
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Steve Rothaus
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Video | Gay wedding in Omaha: Gay American Heroes founder Scott Hall marries lesbian comic Christine O'Leary
From Scott Hall of Fort Lauderdale, founder of Gay American Heroes: Today at 9 AM, Douglas County Courthouse, Omaha, Nebraska issued a gay marriage license. In an act of demonstrating the lack of equality and protection and to protest Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) Lesbian Comedienne-Christine O'Leary and the founder of Gay American Heroes-Scott Hall, both openly gay, applied for and received a marriage license for the State of Nebraska, Douglas County. In Nebraska all that is needed to be married is 2 opposite gender people over the age of 19 and $20. Residency, love, heterosexuality or truth not required. Last year, 39 people were killed in American because they were gay. We do not have rights, equality or protection. The newly weds have registered for gifts as donations to www.gayamericanheroes.com.
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
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South Florida Blade
http://www.floridablade.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-RockHard reaction: First 'adult' store opens in WilMa
By JASON MICHAELS
For several months, there was speculation about what a storefront with a large sign saying "RockHard" on Wilton Drive was going to be. Some local residents thought it was going to be a clothing store. Some business people along the drive thought it was going to be a music store. As it turned out, it's the first adult toy store licensed in Wilton Manors.
http://www.floridablade.com/2009/2-12/news/localnews/5531.cfm
-Three gay-rights bills clear hurdles, make it out of Utah House panel
Still long shots » Bills would provide legal protections to gay and transgender Utahns and pave the way for adoptions.
By Rosemary Winters
Three gay-rights bills, all sponsored by Salt Lake City Democrats, cleared legislative hurdles Friday. The measures, considered long shots, have made it out of the sometimes-bill-blocking House Rules Committee and scored public hearings.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11699286
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The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Event 'Milk Skimmed' to Explore What the Film Was Missing
On Thursday, February 19, the San Francisco-based Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society will host "Milk Skimmed," a roundtable about what was left out of Gus Van Sant's Oscar-nominated movie. Despite Milk's critical acclaim, box-office success, and growing collection of awards, some historians say the movie sidelined many prominent activists for gay rights in the 1970s, including lesbians and people of color, who stood with gay hero Harvey Milk.
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72996.asp
-Gay Rights Group Calls for Investigation of Haggard's Church
Truth Wins Out, a group that calls out antigay and "ex-gay" propaganda, is pushing for an investigation into Colorado's New Life Church after it was revealed the church paid to keep a male volunteer from publicly admitting an affair with its former minister, Ted Haggard.
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid73002.asp
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Judges Paid to Put Kids in Jail
By Emma Ruby-Sachs, Blogger
I know this isn't an LGBT related story or even a national news piece, but the article in the New York Times this morning about the Pennsylvania justice system was so outraging, I had to write about it. Two judges, one president judge in control of budget and one overseeing the juvenile courts, were paid over 2.6 million dollars to keep two privately run juvenile detention centers filled. For some, this meant spending three months in jail for minor offences like creating a My Space page making fun of an assistant principal.
http://www.365gay.com/blog/ruby-sachs-judges-paid-to-put-kids-in-jail/
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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-God Hates Fags church threatens to picket Basingstoke
A small religious community from Kansas notorious for picketing funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq have said they are to protest in England.
-Civil unions legislation passes first stage in Hawaii
A new law that would allow gay and lesbian couples in Hawaii to form a civil union has been approved by the state House of Representatives.
-Irish gay marriage activists plan Valentines Day carnival
A group advocating full marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples in Ireland will hold a 'love carnival for equality' in Dublin tomorrow.
-American TV station pulls homophobic infomercial after gay complaints
A local television station in the United States has pulled a one hour programme paid for by a notoriously homophobic "family" group.
-Transsexual wins battle to serve in Spain's armed forces
Trans people will be allowed to serve in the Spanish Armed Forces, the country's defence ministry has announced.
-Roman Catholic Church ready to fight gay equality in Portugal
The leaders of the Catholic Church in Portugal have been accused of interfering in the political process after the country's bishops said they would fight proposals to introduce gay marriage.
-Bill Clinton asked to cancel speaking event in row over Prop 8 donor
A coalition of gay groups and trade unions have appealed to former US President Bill Clinton to reconsider a speaking engagement at a San Diego hotel this Sunday.
-Cambodia to ban foreign gays from adopting children
New rules on foreign adoption in Cambodia will ban a range of foreigners from the process. Gay people, single people, those on a "low income" and those who already have two children will not be able to adopt.
-Outrage as Jamaican MP asks why "violent" gays are allowed gun licences
Gay equality activists in Jamaica have reacted with disgust at the latest homophobic outburst from one of the island's politicians
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Daily Queer News
http://www.dailyqueernews.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Letter: Gay Liberation Network and Israel
Gay Liberation Network
I initially missed the Jan. 21 letter from Gay Liberation Network [Chicago] defending their mixing of issues, specifically why they believe it is important for a gay organization to demonstrate in opposition to Israel. Meanwhile, I attended GLN's open meeting Feb. 4 because I had heard (and seen on their Web site) that they were endorsing a picket of Israel's modern dance company, Bathseva, during its appearance in Chicago. Some who were present at that meeting agreed with me that the picket of a cultural organization from the one country in the Middle East where it is actually safe to be gay and out made very little sense from the perspective of gay rights. The initial claim was that the picket was a protest of the war in Gaza. But when I saw GLN's Jan. 21 letter, the real reason became clear. Rejecting the argument that Israel "has a right to defend itself," the letter expressed, in the name of the organization, opposition to "60 years of Israeli occupation." This line is the key to understanding GLN's position on Israel: "60 years" means the entire history of Israel as a state. In GLN's view, Israel has no right to exist at all. Why not forge alliances with progressive forces in other countries that support gay rights? Jerusalem Open House [Israel], for example, runs a Web site that is accessed by gays and lesbians in other countries of the Middle East because it is a source of information and support hard to get in their home countries. Rather than highlight organizations within Israel that work for gay rights, GLN seems to seek opportunities - in the name of Gay rights - to oppose the existence of an entire country. There are issues on which I am an ally, but I cannot work with GLN.
-Rabbi Laurence Edwards: Congregation Or Chadash [Chicago]
-NGLCC Adopts Its Own Economic Stimulus Plan for LGBT Businesses
National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Congress may be slow adopting an economic stimulus plan for the nation, but the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is moving swiftly to enact an initiative that will assist LGBT business owners in this tough economy. The NGLCC "economic stimulus" plan for LGBT businesses is aimed at companies looking to certify their businesses for the first time or for those seeking recertification in 2009. "This is a win-win for everyone," says Victoria Fulkerson, senior manager, Supplier Diversity and Corporate Relations at NGLCC. "During a difficult economy, the NGLCC is especially sensitive to the needs of LGBT businesses that are looking for ways to make important connections with corporations and other LGBT owned businesses." "Our NGLCC stimulus plan gives LGBT businesses seeking certification or looking to renew their certification a valuable discount on registration at the Out for Business conference where they can immediately put their certification to use." Read more
-Wanda Sykes to Entertain at Correspondents' Dinner
ERIN CARLSON | The Associated Press | Washington Post
NEW YORK - Wanda Sykes will soon get the chance to make fun of President Barack Obama to his face. The comic actress said Thursday that she has been selected as the entertainer at the annual White House Correspondents' Association annual dinner in Washington, slated for May 9. Obama is expected to attend the black-tie affair at the Washington Hilton and to follow in his predecessors' tradition by putting on a comedy act of his own. The guest list of some 2,000 people will likely include the usual mix of Washington elite, White House press corps and Hollywood celebrities. "The first thing I did when they asked me to do this gig _ I made sure my taxes were paid," quipped Sykes, taking a dig at the withdrawal of former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle from Obama's cabinet due to unpaid taxes. Read more
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
GLBT DIGEST - February 13, 2009
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Mexico City Journal: Mayor Aims to Add Spark to Flagging Sex Lives
By MARC LACEY
Flashing a boyish grin, the silver-haired septuagenarian fidgeted nervously. His voice dropped to a whisper. A reddish hue enveloped his face. All this because he was asked how the latest social program to be offered by Mexico City's government was affecting his home life.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/world/americas/13mexico.html?scp=4&sq=gay&st=cse
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-NY: Same-sex couples protest laws: Activists denied licenses to marry across the nation
By Verena Dobnik
Hundreds of same-sex couples seeking to wed were turned away from marriage license counters throughout the nation Thursday, part of an annual protest that took on renewed urgency in light of recent setbacks in the gay marriage movement.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-flamarry0213sbfeb13,0,2896580.story
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Steve Rothaus
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:
-David Beckham subjected to homophobic abuse during match
PinkNews.co.uk reports that Spanish fans in Seville abused soccer star David Beckham on Wednesday by chanting "Beckham maricón" or "Beckham faggot."
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
-Gay adoptive dad fights for state benefits for his child
BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER, cmarbin@MiamiHerald.com
Wayne LaRue Smith wanted to ensure that the foster child he was raising wouldn't be taken from him, so he sought permanent guardianship. He really wanted to adopt the boy, but under a 32-year-old Florida law that bans adoption by gay people, that seemed out of the question. Now, two years later, Smith faces a legal Catch 22. In August, a Key West judge declared the state's gay adoption law unconstitutional, allowing Smith to adopt his foster son. But state child welfare administrators have declined to provide the boy a host of financial benefits available to foster kids who are adopted. Their reason: Because the boy was already in a guardianship, he was no longer a foster child when he was adopted. ''We have never granted an adoption subsidy in a guardianship case,'' Department of Children & Families Secretary George Sheldon said. Smith suspects there's another reason: He was the first gay Florida man in almost two decades to legally adopt a child from state care. Though state officials did not oppose the adoption, they strongly contested a similar case that prompted a Miami judge to declare the 1977 adoption law unconstitutional in November. To read more, click here.
-Q-uba Art Exhibit Friday night at Stonewall Library
An ArtExplosion 2009 event: Q-uba Art Exhibit
New Works by Artist Hildana Ciser, and Photographer Alex Heria
Friday, February 13, 2009, 6:30-8:30 PM
Stonewall Library & Archives
1300 East Sunrise Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Free Admission
www.stonewall-library.org
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Lesbian comic to headline White House correspondents' dinner
By The Associated Press
Wanda Sykes will soon get the chance to make fun of President Barack Obama to his face. The comic actress said Thursday that she has been selected as the entertainer at the annual White House correspondents' dinner in Washington, slated for May 9.
http://www.365gay.com/news/lesbian-comic-to-headline-white-house-correspondents-dinner/
-Stepson of 'family values' televangelist busted
By The Associated Press
The stepson of megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes has been arrested on an indecent exposure charge. Dallas police say Jermaine Jakes is accused of exposing himself to two undercover vice detectives last month. He turned himself in Thursday and was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond.
http://www.365gay.com/news/stepson-of-family-values-televangelist-busted/
-Bill would allow gays to sponsor foreign partners
By 365gay Newscenter Staff
Legislation was re-introduced in Congress Thursday that would allow Americans in a same-sex relationship to sponsor their "permanent partners" for legal residency in the United States, a right currently afforded only to opposite-sex couples under immigration law.
http://www.365gay.com/news/bill-would-allow-gays-to-sponsor-foreign-partners/
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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-God Hates Fags church threatens to picket Basingstoke
A small religious community from Kansas notorious for picketing funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq have said they are to protest in England. Click here for full article
-Outrage as Jamaican MP asks why "violent" gays are allowed gun licences
Gay equality activists in Jamaica have reacted with disgust at the latest homophobic outburst from one of the island's politicians. Click here for full article
-"Cross-dressing" man is latest victim of Bahrain's morality purge
A driving instructor has been jailed for one month in Bahrain for wearing women's clothing in public. A court was told the 39-year-old was wearing a abaya. Click here for full article
-Legal battle in US federal court after HIV+ woman denied surgery
A 35-year-old American woman living with HIV who was denied surgery to remove her gallbladder because of her status has filed a federal lawsuit. Click here for full article
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Daily Queer News
www.dailyqueernews.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Illinois Takes Up Gay Marriage Bill
Openly gay state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) has filed legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry in Illinois. The bill is slated for discussion Tuesday in the Youth and Family Committee and a large number of gay and lesbian couples are expected to pack the committee room. But even Harris admits it will be tough to get the measure to a vote in the House. Two years ago, a civil union bill introduced by Harris died when the session ended and conservative groups already have made it known they will fight the marriage bill. They've work to push for a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage they hope will make it to the ballot in 2010. The marriage bill, officially called the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act would "provide eligible same-sex and opposite-sex couples with the same treatment as those in a civil marriage." Read more
-Ireland to Refuse Adoption Rights for Gay Couples
Pink News
A leading gay rights group in Ireland is angry that new adoption legislation is discriminatory. The Irish government published the Adoption Bill 2009 last month. It limits access to adoption to married couples and individuals, excluding non-married same-sex and opposite-sex couples. The chair of the country's National Lesbian and Gay Federation, Ailbhe Smyth, said: "It is extraordinarily disappointing that a government which professes to support full equality for all citizens would seek to yet again reinforce the inequalities within our society. Read more
-If Not Ex-Gay, Then What?
DAVID BENKOF | Jerusalem Post
For years, I have been a critic of the 'ex-gay' movement, particularly its Jewish manifestation. Many advocates of 'reorientation therapy' appear to exaggerate ex-gay transformation rates, and so far the non-gay leaders of the Jewish ex-gay movement have been utterly unable to produce success stories who are willing to be interviewed. Alarmingly, Jewish ex-gay organizers sometimes lead Jewish strugglers perilously close to Christian ideas at odds with Judaism. The mainstream press treats the ex-gay movement with anything from curiosity to disdain, and the gay and lesbian community openly mocks and reviles it. Yet most of the people who turn to ex-gay ministries and reorientation therapies are genuine and sincere. Shouldn't they have an alternative to either living a gay lifestyle or striving to remake themselves as ex-gays? Well, I have a suggestion. Instead of gay or ex-gay, those of us who have stopped thinking of ourselves primarily as same-sexers can emphasize the fact that, whether we're celibate or in opposite-sex relationships, we're 'Deliberately Living Traditionally.' The handy acronym Delta corresponds to a Greek letter representing change; it can be a rival to the use of the letter Lambda to represent all things gay. Delta can serve as a new identity and community for people who are making or have made that tough transition. (Perhaps the Hebrew version will be known as 'Dalets.') Read more
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Forwarded from Euro-Queer
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article:
-Spain to accept transsexuals into armed forces
The Spanish ministry of defence has said it will reform legislation to allow transsexuals to serve in the armed forces. The move follows a publicised battle by a 28-year-old male transsexual who has been rejected by the army on two occasions because he does not have a penis. The man, who has only been named as Aitor G R, was born female but underwent a mastectomy and hormone treatment several years ago in the first step of "gender reassignment". He is on a waiting list for an operation to reshape his genitals into a penis. Although the Spanish army recruits women, Aitor G R is recognised as a man legally and was declared medically unfit by army recruiters because of his lack of male genitalia.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/4605837/Spain-to-accept-transsexuals-into-armed-forces.html
-On April 28, 2008, Eudy Simelane, 31 years old, was gang-raped and brutally murdered in her home township, Kwa-Thema, near Johannesburg in South AFrica. The apparent motive for her killing was that she was a lesbian who fought back "like a man." Despite its strong constitution and human rights protections, South Africa has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. In the crisis of sexual assault, women who are identified as lesbians or who don't conform to cultural or social norms for what women "should look like" or how women "should act" have also been targeted, with brutal consequences.
www.hrw.org/lgbt-stop-the-violence
-Whatever happened to free speech?
Britain was once renowned around the world for defending people's right to speak out. Not any more, says Philip Johnston. The refusal to admit the oddball Dutch MP Geert Wilders to Britain yesterday marks a further retreat from this country's traditions of free speech. It stands in stark contrast to what happened exactly 20 years ago tomorrow, when Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa calling for the death of Salman Rushdie for insulting the Prophet Mohammed in his book The Satanic Verses. In retrospect, that was a turning point in the country's history of free speech, an event that appeared to demonstrate indomitability, yet turned out to be a defeat. An unambiguous stand was taken on Rushdie's behalf by the government of the day, which denounced the threat to his life and broke off diplomatic relations with Iran. Sir Geoffrey Howe, then foreign secretary, told the Commons: "This action is taken in plain defence of the right within the law of freedom of speech and the right within the law of freedom of protest."
www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/philipjohnston/4604985/Whatever-happened-to-free-speech.html
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Go to the links for the following articles:
Contact rays.list@comcast.net if you can't access the article
-Two Federal Appellate Judges Question DOMA
Same-Sex Spouses of 9th Circuit Court Employees Win Benefits
In rulings on two internal employee grievances within the federal judiciary's 9th Circuit, a pair of appellate judges each raised constitutional concerns about the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, with one of them flat out ruling that it is unconstitutional in its application to the matter at issue. In both rulings, which are not official 9th Circuit opinions but rather internal administrative findings - yet were still posted to its website on February 4 - court administrators were ordered to include the same-sex spouses of judicial employees in their federal benefits plan.
http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20259482&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=6
-South Carolina vs. the Lion('s Den)
The courts are full of litigation over the validity of numerous state and local laws regulating the existence, locations, hours, and advertising of sexually-oriented businesses of all kinds. This litigation has produced its own body of law and legal cottage industry, and is ably chronicled by blogs such as The Legal Satyricon and Meeting the Sin Laws. I post about this particular case not because it breaks new legal ground but because it explans a phenomenon I have often wondered about on my cross-country road trips: the Lion's Den highway signs. The Lion's Den is one of the biggest chain stores selling pornography and sex toys in the US. Toys in Babeland they're not, and their unpretentious stores - perhaps catering to the truck-driving profession - are often located in rural and small-town areas alongside major highways. If you live in the eastern US, you've probably seen these signs.
http://polyperversity.blogspot.com/2009/02/south-carolina-vs-lions-den.html
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Soulforce
http://www.soulforce.org/
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-Equality Riders facing a Texas trial need your wings to fly!
In late October of 2009, The Equality Ride visited the Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachi, TX. Prior to our arrival, the school printed out prayer cards for their students. Each one depicted a different Equality Rider, and each one asked we be the focus of the prayers. And every Friday night, SAGU sends out a team of student missionaries to the well-known LGBTQ area of Dallas, encouraging folks there to leave and come into their church community, were a self-affirming LGBTQ person is not safe. So while the school's administration refused to talk with us, their communication was loud! Three Equality Riders took a bold step onto the Waxahachie, TX campus, knowing that this was a place that actively seeks out its LGBTQ students in a misuse of ministry, and were arrested. We need our voices of support to sing louder than the prayer cards, louder than their street team, and louder than the handcuffs stopped the Riders in their tracks. Nicholas Rocco DeFinis, Manny Lampon, and Zak Rittenhouse have to be back in Texas for an April court date and need your help getting there. Flights from NYC, Philly, and Lynchburg are not cheap and Waxahachie is a town that requires all defendants to be present. Your frequent flyer miles are fantastic way to make sure that no one goes broke when fighting for justice! If you have miles available, please contact Kara Speltz at kara@soulforce.org.
-Don't forget that our founder, the Rev. Dr. Mel White, will be competing in the 14th edition of the CBS program, The Amazing Race beginning this Sunday, February 15th! For more information, go to
www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race
-You can help end religion-based discrimination by becoming a part of the 365 Club, Soulforce's new monthly donor program. For less than the cost of a cup of coffee per day, your membership in the 365 Club will keep you informed of Soulforce's progress while you help maintain our ongoing programs.
https://www.soulforce.org/365Club
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From Transgender Equality
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-Michigan Television Station Pulls Misleading AFA Program Following Announcement of National Action Alert By Human Rights Campaign Station manager releases statement: "The Offer is now off the table." WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today issued a national action alert against the American Family Association's (AFA) one-hour television special called "Speechless: Silencing Christians," which is promoted to "reveal the truth about the radical homosexual agenda and its impact on the family, the nation and religious freedom." Within an hour of that action alert announcement, the Grand Rapids, MI station which had planned to air the deceptive programming rescinded that offer.
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Mexico City Journal: Mayor Aims to Add Spark to Flagging Sex Lives
By MARC LACEY
Flashing a boyish grin, the silver-haired septuagenarian fidgeted nervously. His voice dropped to a whisper. A reddish hue enveloped his face. All this because he was asked how the latest social program to be offered by Mexico City's government was affecting his home life.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/world/americas/13mexico.html?scp=4&sq=gay&st=cse
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-NY: Same-sex couples protest laws: Activists denied licenses to marry across the nation
By Verena Dobnik
Hundreds of same-sex couples seeking to wed were turned away from marriage license counters throughout the nation Thursday, part of an annual protest that took on renewed urgency in light of recent setbacks in the gay marriage movement.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-flamarry0213sbfeb13,0,2896580.story
=
Steve Rothaus
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:
-David Beckham subjected to homophobic abuse during match
PinkNews.co.uk reports that Spanish fans in Seville abused soccer star David Beckham on Wednesday by chanting "Beckham maricón" or "Beckham faggot."
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
-Gay adoptive dad fights for state benefits for his child
BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER, cmarbin@MiamiHerald.com
Wayne LaRue Smith wanted to ensure that the foster child he was raising wouldn't be taken from him, so he sought permanent guardianship. He really wanted to adopt the boy, but under a 32-year-old Florida law that bans adoption by gay people, that seemed out of the question. Now, two years later, Smith faces a legal Catch 22. In August, a Key West judge declared the state's gay adoption law unconstitutional, allowing Smith to adopt his foster son. But state child welfare administrators have declined to provide the boy a host of financial benefits available to foster kids who are adopted. Their reason: Because the boy was already in a guardianship, he was no longer a foster child when he was adopted. ''We have never granted an adoption subsidy in a guardianship case,'' Department of Children & Families Secretary George Sheldon said. Smith suspects there's another reason: He was the first gay Florida man in almost two decades to legally adopt a child from state care. Though state officials did not oppose the adoption, they strongly contested a similar case that prompted a Miami judge to declare the 1977 adoption law unconstitutional in November. To read more, click here.
-Q-uba Art Exhibit Friday night at Stonewall Library
An ArtExplosion 2009 event: Q-uba Art Exhibit
New Works by Artist Hildana Ciser, and Photographer Alex Heria
Friday, February 13, 2009, 6:30-8:30 PM
Stonewall Library & Archives
1300 East Sunrise Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Free Admission
www.stonewall-library.org
=
365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Lesbian comic to headline White House correspondents' dinner
By The Associated Press
Wanda Sykes will soon get the chance to make fun of President Barack Obama to his face. The comic actress said Thursday that she has been selected as the entertainer at the annual White House correspondents' dinner in Washington, slated for May 9.
http://www.365gay.com/news/lesbian-comic-to-headline-white-house-correspondents-dinner/
-Stepson of 'family values' televangelist busted
By The Associated Press
The stepson of megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes has been arrested on an indecent exposure charge. Dallas police say Jermaine Jakes is accused of exposing himself to two undercover vice detectives last month. He turned himself in Thursday and was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond.
http://www.365gay.com/news/stepson-of-family-values-televangelist-busted/
-Bill would allow gays to sponsor foreign partners
By 365gay Newscenter Staff
Legislation was re-introduced in Congress Thursday that would allow Americans in a same-sex relationship to sponsor their "permanent partners" for legal residency in the United States, a right currently afforded only to opposite-sex couples under immigration law.
http://www.365gay.com/news/bill-would-allow-gays-to-sponsor-foreign-partners/
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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-God Hates Fags church threatens to picket Basingstoke
A small religious community from Kansas notorious for picketing funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq have said they are to protest in England. Click here for full article
-Outrage as Jamaican MP asks why "violent" gays are allowed gun licences
Gay equality activists in Jamaica have reacted with disgust at the latest homophobic outburst from one of the island's politicians. Click here for full article
-"Cross-dressing" man is latest victim of Bahrain's morality purge
A driving instructor has been jailed for one month in Bahrain for wearing women's clothing in public. A court was told the 39-year-old was wearing a abaya. Click here for full article
-Legal battle in US federal court after HIV+ woman denied surgery
A 35-year-old American woman living with HIV who was denied surgery to remove her gallbladder because of her status has filed a federal lawsuit. Click here for full article
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Daily Queer News
www.dailyqueernews.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Illinois Takes Up Gay Marriage Bill
Openly gay state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) has filed legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry in Illinois. The bill is slated for discussion Tuesday in the Youth and Family Committee and a large number of gay and lesbian couples are expected to pack the committee room. But even Harris admits it will be tough to get the measure to a vote in the House. Two years ago, a civil union bill introduced by Harris died when the session ended and conservative groups already have made it known they will fight the marriage bill. They've work to push for a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage they hope will make it to the ballot in 2010. The marriage bill, officially called the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act would "provide eligible same-sex and opposite-sex couples with the same treatment as those in a civil marriage." Read more
-Ireland to Refuse Adoption Rights for Gay Couples
Pink News
A leading gay rights group in Ireland is angry that new adoption legislation is discriminatory. The Irish government published the Adoption Bill 2009 last month. It limits access to adoption to married couples and individuals, excluding non-married same-sex and opposite-sex couples. The chair of the country's National Lesbian and Gay Federation, Ailbhe Smyth, said: "It is extraordinarily disappointing that a government which professes to support full equality for all citizens would seek to yet again reinforce the inequalities within our society. Read more
-If Not Ex-Gay, Then What?
DAVID BENKOF | Jerusalem Post
For years, I have been a critic of the 'ex-gay' movement, particularly its Jewish manifestation. Many advocates of 'reorientation therapy' appear to exaggerate ex-gay transformation rates, and so far the non-gay leaders of the Jewish ex-gay movement have been utterly unable to produce success stories who are willing to be interviewed. Alarmingly, Jewish ex-gay organizers sometimes lead Jewish strugglers perilously close to Christian ideas at odds with Judaism. The mainstream press treats the ex-gay movement with anything from curiosity to disdain, and the gay and lesbian community openly mocks and reviles it. Yet most of the people who turn to ex-gay ministries and reorientation therapies are genuine and sincere. Shouldn't they have an alternative to either living a gay lifestyle or striving to remake themselves as ex-gays? Well, I have a suggestion. Instead of gay or ex-gay, those of us who have stopped thinking of ourselves primarily as same-sexers can emphasize the fact that, whether we're celibate or in opposite-sex relationships, we're 'Deliberately Living Traditionally.' The handy acronym Delta corresponds to a Greek letter representing change; it can be a rival to the use of the letter Lambda to represent all things gay. Delta can serve as a new identity and community for people who are making or have made that tough transition. (Perhaps the Hebrew version will be known as 'Dalets.') Read more
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Forwarded from Euro-Queer
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article:
-Spain to accept transsexuals into armed forces
The Spanish ministry of defence has said it will reform legislation to allow transsexuals to serve in the armed forces. The move follows a publicised battle by a 28-year-old male transsexual who has been rejected by the army on two occasions because he does not have a penis. The man, who has only been named as Aitor G R, was born female but underwent a mastectomy and hormone treatment several years ago in the first step of "gender reassignment". He is on a waiting list for an operation to reshape his genitals into a penis. Although the Spanish army recruits women, Aitor G R is recognised as a man legally and was declared medically unfit by army recruiters because of his lack of male genitalia.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/4605837/Spain-to-accept-transsexuals-into-armed-forces.html
-On April 28, 2008, Eudy Simelane, 31 years old, was gang-raped and brutally murdered in her home township, Kwa-Thema, near Johannesburg in South AFrica. The apparent motive for her killing was that she was a lesbian who fought back "like a man." Despite its strong constitution and human rights protections, South Africa has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. In the crisis of sexual assault, women who are identified as lesbians or who don't conform to cultural or social norms for what women "should look like" or how women "should act" have also been targeted, with brutal consequences.
www.hrw.org/lgbt-stop-the-violence
-Whatever happened to free speech?
Britain was once renowned around the world for defending people's right to speak out. Not any more, says Philip Johnston. The refusal to admit the oddball Dutch MP Geert Wilders to Britain yesterday marks a further retreat from this country's traditions of free speech. It stands in stark contrast to what happened exactly 20 years ago tomorrow, when Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa calling for the death of Salman Rushdie for insulting the Prophet Mohammed in his book The Satanic Verses. In retrospect, that was a turning point in the country's history of free speech, an event that appeared to demonstrate indomitability, yet turned out to be a defeat. An unambiguous stand was taken on Rushdie's behalf by the government of the day, which denounced the threat to his life and broke off diplomatic relations with Iran. Sir Geoffrey Howe, then foreign secretary, told the Commons: "This action is taken in plain defence of the right within the law of freedom of speech and the right within the law of freedom of protest."
www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/philipjohnston/4604985/Whatever-happened-to-free-speech.html
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Go to the links for the following articles:
Contact rays.list@comcast.net if you can't access the article
-Two Federal Appellate Judges Question DOMA
Same-Sex Spouses of 9th Circuit Court Employees Win Benefits
In rulings on two internal employee grievances within the federal judiciary's 9th Circuit, a pair of appellate judges each raised constitutional concerns about the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, with one of them flat out ruling that it is unconstitutional in its application to the matter at issue. In both rulings, which are not official 9th Circuit opinions but rather internal administrative findings - yet were still posted to its website on February 4 - court administrators were ordered to include the same-sex spouses of judicial employees in their federal benefits plan.
http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20259482&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=6
-South Carolina vs. the Lion('s Den)
The courts are full of litigation over the validity of numerous state and local laws regulating the existence, locations, hours, and advertising of sexually-oriented businesses of all kinds. This litigation has produced its own body of law and legal cottage industry, and is ably chronicled by blogs such as The Legal Satyricon and Meeting the Sin Laws. I post about this particular case not because it breaks new legal ground but because it explans a phenomenon I have often wondered about on my cross-country road trips: the Lion's Den highway signs. The Lion's Den is one of the biggest chain stores selling pornography and sex toys in the US. Toys in Babeland they're not, and their unpretentious stores - perhaps catering to the truck-driving profession - are often located in rural and small-town areas alongside major highways. If you live in the eastern US, you've probably seen these signs.
http://polyperversity.blogspot.com/2009/02/south-carolina-vs-lions-den.html
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Soulforce
http://www.soulforce.org/
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-Equality Riders facing a Texas trial need your wings to fly!
In late October of 2009, The Equality Ride visited the Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachi, TX. Prior to our arrival, the school printed out prayer cards for their students. Each one depicted a different Equality Rider, and each one asked we be the focus of the prayers. And every Friday night, SAGU sends out a team of student missionaries to the well-known LGBTQ area of Dallas, encouraging folks there to leave and come into their church community, were a self-affirming LGBTQ person is not safe. So while the school's administration refused to talk with us, their communication was loud! Three Equality Riders took a bold step onto the Waxahachie, TX campus, knowing that this was a place that actively seeks out its LGBTQ students in a misuse of ministry, and were arrested. We need our voices of support to sing louder than the prayer cards, louder than their street team, and louder than the handcuffs stopped the Riders in their tracks. Nicholas Rocco DeFinis, Manny Lampon, and Zak Rittenhouse have to be back in Texas for an April court date and need your help getting there. Flights from NYC, Philly, and Lynchburg are not cheap and Waxahachie is a town that requires all defendants to be present. Your frequent flyer miles are fantastic way to make sure that no one goes broke when fighting for justice! If you have miles available, please contact Kara Speltz at kara@soulforce.org.
-Don't forget that our founder, the Rev. Dr. Mel White, will be competing in the 14th edition of the CBS program, The Amazing Race beginning this Sunday, February 15th! For more information, go to
www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race
-You can help end religion-based discrimination by becoming a part of the 365 Club, Soulforce's new monthly donor program. For less than the cost of a cup of coffee per day, your membership in the 365 Club will keep you informed of Soulforce's progress while you help maintain our ongoing programs.
https://www.soulforce.org/365Club
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From Transgender Equality
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-Michigan Television Station Pulls Misleading AFA Program Following Announcement of National Action Alert By Human Rights Campaign Station manager releases statement: "The Offer is now off the table." WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today issued a national action alert against the American Family Association's (AFA) one-hour television special called "Speechless: Silencing Christians," which is promoted to "reveal the truth about the radical homosexual agenda and its impact on the family, the nation and religious freedom." Within an hour of that action alert announcement, the Grand Rapids, MI station which had planned to air the deceptive programming rescinded that offer.
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS - February 13, 2009
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Op-Ed Columnist: Failure to Rise
By PAUL KRUGMAN
By any normal political standards, this week's Congressional agreement on an economic stimulus package was a great victory for President Obama. He got more or less what he asked for: almost $800 billion to rescue the economy, with most of the money allocated to spending rather than tax cuts. Break out the Champagne!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/opinion/13krugman.html?_r=1&ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Columnist: The Worst-Case Scenario
By DAVID BROOKS
Between 1990 and 2007, the total mortgage debt held by Americans rose from $2.5 trillion to $10.5 trillion. This rise was part of a societal credit bubble that burst in 2008. To cushion the pain of that collapse, federal authorities decided to replace private debt with public debt.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/opinion/13brooks.html?ref=opinion
-Editorial: Mr. Tsvangirai's Leap of Faith
One can only wonder what Robert Mugabe was thinking as his political rival and now partner, Morgan Tsvangirai, was sworn in Wednesday as Zimbabwe's prime minister. In his inaugural speech, Mr. Tsvangirai promised a virtual revolution: rule of law, political freedoms, independent news media, economic reform, food for needy Zimbabweans regardless of party affiliation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/opinion/13fri3.html?ref=opinion
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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Gregg Withdraws As Commerce Pick
Republican Senator Cites Policy Disagreements As Congress Prepares to Vote on Stimulus Plan
By Anne E. Kornblut and Michael D. Shear
Saying he "made a mistake," Republican Sen. Judd Gregg withdrew yesterday as the nominee for commerce secretary, dealing a fresh blow to President Obama's quest to fill out his Cabinet and dramatically undercutting his efforts to forge a new bipartisanship in the capital.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021204029.html?hpid=topnews
-Snap, Crackle, Pot
By Kathleen Parker
Drink and drive and it's grrrrrrrr-eat! Smoke pot and your flakes are frosted, dude. So seems the message from Kellogg's, which has decided not to renew its sponsorship contract with Michael Phelps after the Olympian was photographed smoking marijuana at a party in South Carolina.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021203199.html
-OUTLOOK PREVIEW: Nationalize the Banks! We're all Swedes Now
By Matthew Richardson and Nouriel Roubini
The U.S. banking system is close to being insolvent, and unless we want to become like Japan in the 1990s -- or the United States in the 1930s -- the only way to save it is nationalization.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021201602.html
-'My Mistake'
Commerce secretary? Never mind.
ON A DAY when President Obama hoped to bask in the glow of an agreement in Congress on the massive economic stimulus bill, he had to contend with yet another high-profile withdrawal from his Cabinet. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) withdrew his nomination yesterday to become commerce secretary. He cited the stimulus package, direction of the census and an inability to be "100 percent with the team" as driving his decision to drop out a week after his selection.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021203462.html
-At Wal-Mart, a Health-Care Turnaround
Once Criticized, Company Is Now an Innovator in Employee Coverage
By Ceci Connolly
Washington policymakers contemplating a fundamental overhaul of the nation's troubled health-care system may want to study the saga of Wal-Mart.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021204096.html?hpid=topnews
-Austria: Priests criticize pope's bishop pick
By VERONIKA OLEKSYN
VIENNA -- A group of Austrian priests has vehemently criticized Pope Benedict XVI's decision to promote an ultraconservative pastor who suggested Hurricane Katrina was provoked by sin in New Orleans, the group's head said Wednesday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/11/AR2009021103096.html?hpid=sec-religion
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Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
-Obama's Antiterror Progress
He embraces Bush policies on secrecy, rendition. President Obama has done a masterful job disguising his Administration's growing antiterror maturity, but this week produced further evidence that he is erring on the side of keeping the country safe rather than appeasing the political left. The Justice Department filed to dismiss a federal appeals case involving rendition, embracing an argument developed by . . . the Bush Administration.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123448807524880329.html
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
-Detention should not be a growth business
Prison management is expanding as the U.S. government seeks help from private companies in detaining immigrants being ordered out of the country.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-12sanchezsbfeb12,0,1881247.story
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Pew Research center
http://pewresearch.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Money Matters
Jobs Worries Climb the Economic Ladder
For the public, the continuing financial crisis has been overtaken by a jobs crisis; the proportion citing jobs or unemployment as the nation's most important economic problem has more than quadrupled to 42% since early October and concern about job loss has climbed steeply among affluent Americans. Read more
-Immigrant Latino Unemployment Rises Sharply
Job loss data reveal a rapidly worsening situation for foreign-born Hispanics, native-born Hispanics and blacks in the labor market. Read more
-Stimulus News Seen as More Negative Than Positive
Many Americans say they want more information about specifics of the economic rescue proposals -- and less about Michael Phelps and the octuplets. Read more
-Meet the Press
The New Face of Washington's Press Corps
As mainstream media decline, niche and foreign outlets grow, and the transformation will markedly alter what Americans will know and not know about government. Read more
-Twitterpated
More and More Mobile Americans Take to Tweeting
About one-in-ten online adults now use Twitter or a similar 'micro-blogging' service that allows them to share updates about themselves or to see the updates of others. Read more
-Foreign Affairs
The Globe's Emerging Middle Classes
As economically developing countries grow prosperous, their middle classes understandably become more satisfied with their lives and their values become more like those of the publics of advanced nations. Read more
-All You Need is Love
Cupid's Arrow Often Hits People of Different Faiths
More than one-in-four (27%) American adults who are married or living with a partner are in religiously mixed relationships. Read more
-Daily Number
63% - Reject Darwin's Theory of Evolution
In the 150 years since he published his groundbreaking On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, and the 200 years since the date of his birth celebrated this week, Charles Darwin has failed to convince the majority of Americans of the validity of his theories. Check back every weekday for another number in the news. Read more
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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Obama's winning ugly, but he's winning
The White House is making policy in public, and it's messy.
By Mike Madden
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/02/12/stimulus_battle/
-GOP Targets Stimulus Supporters In New Ad
Posted by Brian Montopoli
The National Republican Congressional Committee today began running radio ads targeting 30 House Democrats who supported the stimulus package - or, as the NRCC puts it, "a trillion-dollar spending bill chock full of wasteful Washington spending."
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/02/12/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4797968.shtml
-Congress readies final vote on $790B stimulus bill after overcoming
last-minute snags
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid predicted Friday that Congress will finish its work on a massive, $790 billion economic stimulus plan, possibly by day's end, giving President Barack Obama a big victory.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-congress-stimulus,1,4954815.story
-Poll: 25 People to Blame for the Financial Crisis
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1877351_1878509,00.html
-Gregg's Withdrawal Becomes a Partisan Issue
By Paul Kane
To hear him tell it, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) withdrew as President Obama's nominee for commerce secretary to remain "my own man" -- the principled loner who chafes at taking orders.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021203841.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Op-Ed Columnist: Failure to Rise
By PAUL KRUGMAN
By any normal political standards, this week's Congressional agreement on an economic stimulus package was a great victory for President Obama. He got more or less what he asked for: almost $800 billion to rescue the economy, with most of the money allocated to spending rather than tax cuts. Break out the Champagne!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/opinion/13krugman.html?_r=1&ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Columnist: The Worst-Case Scenario
By DAVID BROOKS
Between 1990 and 2007, the total mortgage debt held by Americans rose from $2.5 trillion to $10.5 trillion. This rise was part of a societal credit bubble that burst in 2008. To cushion the pain of that collapse, federal authorities decided to replace private debt with public debt.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/opinion/13brooks.html?ref=opinion
-Editorial: Mr. Tsvangirai's Leap of Faith
One can only wonder what Robert Mugabe was thinking as his political rival and now partner, Morgan Tsvangirai, was sworn in Wednesday as Zimbabwe's prime minister. In his inaugural speech, Mr. Tsvangirai promised a virtual revolution: rule of law, political freedoms, independent news media, economic reform, food for needy Zimbabweans regardless of party affiliation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/opinion/13fri3.html?ref=opinion
=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Gregg Withdraws As Commerce Pick
Republican Senator Cites Policy Disagreements As Congress Prepares to Vote on Stimulus Plan
By Anne E. Kornblut and Michael D. Shear
Saying he "made a mistake," Republican Sen. Judd Gregg withdrew yesterday as the nominee for commerce secretary, dealing a fresh blow to President Obama's quest to fill out his Cabinet and dramatically undercutting his efforts to forge a new bipartisanship in the capital.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021204029.html?hpid=topnews
-Snap, Crackle, Pot
By Kathleen Parker
Drink and drive and it's grrrrrrrr-eat! Smoke pot and your flakes are frosted, dude. So seems the message from Kellogg's, which has decided not to renew its sponsorship contract with Michael Phelps after the Olympian was photographed smoking marijuana at a party in South Carolina.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021203199.html
-OUTLOOK PREVIEW: Nationalize the Banks! We're all Swedes Now
By Matthew Richardson and Nouriel Roubini
The U.S. banking system is close to being insolvent, and unless we want to become like Japan in the 1990s -- or the United States in the 1930s -- the only way to save it is nationalization.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021201602.html
-'My Mistake'
Commerce secretary? Never mind.
ON A DAY when President Obama hoped to bask in the glow of an agreement in Congress on the massive economic stimulus bill, he had to contend with yet another high-profile withdrawal from his Cabinet. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) withdrew his nomination yesterday to become commerce secretary. He cited the stimulus package, direction of the census and an inability to be "100 percent with the team" as driving his decision to drop out a week after his selection.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021203462.html
-At Wal-Mart, a Health-Care Turnaround
Once Criticized, Company Is Now an Innovator in Employee Coverage
By Ceci Connolly
Washington policymakers contemplating a fundamental overhaul of the nation's troubled health-care system may want to study the saga of Wal-Mart.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021204096.html?hpid=topnews
-Austria: Priests criticize pope's bishop pick
By VERONIKA OLEKSYN
VIENNA -- A group of Austrian priests has vehemently criticized Pope Benedict XVI's decision to promote an ultraconservative pastor who suggested Hurricane Katrina was provoked by sin in New Orleans, the group's head said Wednesday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/11/AR2009021103096.html?hpid=sec-religion
=
Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
-Obama's Antiterror Progress
He embraces Bush policies on secrecy, rendition. President Obama has done a masterful job disguising his Administration's growing antiterror maturity, but this week produced further evidence that he is erring on the side of keeping the country safe rather than appeasing the political left. The Justice Department filed to dismiss a federal appeals case involving rendition, embracing an argument developed by . . . the Bush Administration.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123448807524880329.html
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
-Detention should not be a growth business
Prison management is expanding as the U.S. government seeks help from private companies in detaining immigrants being ordered out of the country.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-12sanchezsbfeb12,0,1881247.story
=
Pew Research center
http://pewresearch.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Money Matters
Jobs Worries Climb the Economic Ladder
For the public, the continuing financial crisis has been overtaken by a jobs crisis; the proportion citing jobs or unemployment as the nation's most important economic problem has more than quadrupled to 42% since early October and concern about job loss has climbed steeply among affluent Americans. Read more
-Immigrant Latino Unemployment Rises Sharply
Job loss data reveal a rapidly worsening situation for foreign-born Hispanics, native-born Hispanics and blacks in the labor market. Read more
-Stimulus News Seen as More Negative Than Positive
Many Americans say they want more information about specifics of the economic rescue proposals -- and less about Michael Phelps and the octuplets. Read more
-Meet the Press
The New Face of Washington's Press Corps
As mainstream media decline, niche and foreign outlets grow, and the transformation will markedly alter what Americans will know and not know about government. Read more
-Twitterpated
More and More Mobile Americans Take to Tweeting
About one-in-ten online adults now use Twitter or a similar 'micro-blogging' service that allows them to share updates about themselves or to see the updates of others. Read more
-Foreign Affairs
The Globe's Emerging Middle Classes
As economically developing countries grow prosperous, their middle classes understandably become more satisfied with their lives and their values become more like those of the publics of advanced nations. Read more
-All You Need is Love
Cupid's Arrow Often Hits People of Different Faiths
More than one-in-four (27%) American adults who are married or living with a partner are in religiously mixed relationships. Read more
-Daily Number
63% - Reject Darwin's Theory of Evolution
In the 150 years since he published his groundbreaking On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, and the 200 years since the date of his birth celebrated this week, Charles Darwin has failed to convince the majority of Americans of the validity of his theories. Check back every weekday for another number in the news. Read more
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Obama's winning ugly, but he's winning
The White House is making policy in public, and it's messy.
By Mike Madden
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/02/12/stimulus_battle/
-GOP Targets Stimulus Supporters In New Ad
Posted by Brian Montopoli
The National Republican Congressional Committee today began running radio ads targeting 30 House Democrats who supported the stimulus package - or, as the NRCC puts it, "a trillion-dollar spending bill chock full of wasteful Washington spending."
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/02/12/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4797968.shtml
-Congress readies final vote on $790B stimulus bill after overcoming
last-minute snags
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid predicted Friday that Congress will finish its work on a massive, $790 billion economic stimulus plan, possibly by day's end, giving President Barack Obama a big victory.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-congress-stimulus,1,4954815.story
-Poll: 25 People to Blame for the Financial Crisis
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1877351_1878509,00.html
-Gregg's Withdrawal Becomes a Partisan Issue
By Paul Kane
To hear him tell it, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) withdrew as President Obama's nominee for commerce secretary to remain "my own man" -- the principled loner who chafes at taking orders.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021203841.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
FLORIDA DIGEST - February 13, 2009
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
=
~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~
Wilton Manors: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum to speak at
Congregation Etz Chaim on March 13
Congregation Etz Chaim (CEC), Wilton Manor's only synagogue and Florida's only synagogue with a special outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Jews, welcomes Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum to speak at its regular, 8:30 p.m. Shabbat service on Friday, March 13. Since 1992, Rabbi Kleinbaum has been the Senior Rabbi of New York City's Congregation Beth Simchat Torah (CBST), the world's largest LGBT synagogue. Under her leadership, CBST has become an important voice in Judaism and in the movement for LGBT rights. Perhaps the best-known LGBT Rabbi in the world, Rabbi Kleinbaum was named one of the USA's 50 most influential rabbis by Newsweek magazine. Rabbi Kleinbaum will deliver the weekly drash (Torah commentary) at CEC's March 13 service. Congregation Etz Chaim, which is currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary, is located at 1881 N.E. 26 Street, Suite 101, in Wilton Manors. In addition to its 8:30 p.m., Friday night services, CEC offers a variety of religious, educational and social programs along with its Sisterhood and Men's Club. For more information contact CEC at (954) 564-9232 or congregation@etz-chaim.com.
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~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Budget is top priority for incoming Fort Lauderdale mayor
By Brittany Wallman
Jack Seiler hadn't been mayor-elect for even a few hours when he was asked to make his first decision: What color did he want the walls in his new office painted? Mayor Jim Naugle said he asked the incoming mayor that question Tuesday night, just after Seiler declared victory in a four-man race for the seat. Seiler wasn't all that concerned about his wall color at the time. Seiler's next decision was what kind of beer to order (Foster's).
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/fort_lauderdale/sfl-flbseiler0213sbfeb13,0,234801.story
-American Orchid Society west of Delray Beach closing to public
By Maria Herrera
Orchids are rare, flowering plants of extraordinary beauty that randomly bloom - which only adds to their mystique. Soon South Florida orchid lovers, collectors and the plain curious will have one less place to admire them.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/delraybeach/sfl-flporchids0213pnfeb13,0,5282325.story
-Stimulus package: So what's in it for us?
Plan aims to help Floridians who are hurting the most
By William E. Gibson
For the people of Florida, hit by rising unemployment and foreclosure rates, the economic stimulus bill promises to save or create 206,000 jobs, give tax breaks to workers and send checks to retirees.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-stimulus0213,0,5185470.story
=
SAVE THE DATE: Community Rally for Public Education
Thursday, Februay 26 - 4:30pm
Broward County Councy for PTAs and Floridians for Quality Education
K.C. Wright Building - Broward School Board Building
600 SE 3rd Ave Ft. Lauderdale
All community members and business groups are invited to join this effort.
Contact Shelly Heller - 954-557-7760
=
Progress Florida
So far 2,380 Floridians have signed our letter to Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater urging him to balance the budget by generating revenues, NOT cutting education and critical health and social services. That letter will be hand delivered before the upcoming legislative session, but first we need to add as many signatures as possible.Click here to sign on to the letter and help protect our public schools and our state's most vulnerable.
http://progressflorida.org/page/s/stopthecuts
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Florida Senate poll shows Crist annihilating field
By Aaron Blake
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) looms hugely over his state's open Senate race, holding 2-to-1 leads over all Democrats interested in the race, according to a new Strategic Vision poll. The poll finds the popular governor, who will wait until after Florida's legislative session to make his plans known, leading Democratic Reps. Ron Klein and Kendrick Meek by 34 points each.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/florida-senate-poll-shows-crist-annihilating-field-2009-02-11.html
-Sales tax changes may prove tough
By MICHAEL C. BENDER
Floridians could pay more for bottled water, eyeglasses, Super Bowl tickets and other items if lawmakers decide to remove some of the 239 sales tax exemptions to help shore up a third consecutive year of budget shortfalls.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2009/02/11/a4a_salestax_0212.html
-Gov. Charlie Crist takes heat from Republicans for supporting stimulus package
By Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor
Charlie Crist: statesman or sellout? Democrats may be lavishing praise on Florida's Republican governor for enthusiastically supporting the Democrats' economic stimulus package, but Republicans are questioning whether Crist damaged his future in national politics.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article975544.ece
-Bill would enforce Internet sales tax collection
A first-term Democrat in the House teamed up with a senior Senate Republican Thursday in front of a diverse coalition hoping to add more than $2 billion to Florida's depleted treasury by collecting sales tax on Internet transactions.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/CD/20090213/CAPITOLNEWS/902130345/-1/capitolnews
-Rise in mail-in ballots is changing campaign strategies in Pinellas County
By Will Van Sant, Times Staff Writer
More voters than ever are using mail ballots, forcing candidates in the upcoming March municipal elections to confront a new political dynamic.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/article975507.ece
-Florida's second banana slips up
By Daniel Ruth,
If there is a bigger do-nothing job that comes with a government check, aside from being Prince Charles, it has to be wiling away the hours as Florida's lieutenant governor, a position blissfully held by Jeff Kottkamp, who has logged more frequent flier miles than the Steve Fossett.
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/article975483.ece
-Broward smoker's death due to addiction
BY PATRICK DANNER
A Broward jury on Thursday found that a Cooper City chainsmoker's death was directly attributable to his addiction to cigarettes.
http://www.miamiherald.com/466/story/901214.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~
Wilton Manors: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum to speak at
Congregation Etz Chaim on March 13
Congregation Etz Chaim (CEC), Wilton Manor's only synagogue and Florida's only synagogue with a special outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Jews, welcomes Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum to speak at its regular, 8:30 p.m. Shabbat service on Friday, March 13. Since 1992, Rabbi Kleinbaum has been the Senior Rabbi of New York City's Congregation Beth Simchat Torah (CBST), the world's largest LGBT synagogue. Under her leadership, CBST has become an important voice in Judaism and in the movement for LGBT rights. Perhaps the best-known LGBT Rabbi in the world, Rabbi Kleinbaum was named one of the USA's 50 most influential rabbis by Newsweek magazine. Rabbi Kleinbaum will deliver the weekly drash (Torah commentary) at CEC's March 13 service. Congregation Etz Chaim, which is currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary, is located at 1881 N.E. 26 Street, Suite 101, in Wilton Manors. In addition to its 8:30 p.m., Friday night services, CEC offers a variety of religious, educational and social programs along with its Sisterhood and Men's Club. For more information contact CEC at (954) 564-9232 or congregation@etz-chaim.com.
=
~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Budget is top priority for incoming Fort Lauderdale mayor
By Brittany Wallman
Jack Seiler hadn't been mayor-elect for even a few hours when he was asked to make his first decision: What color did he want the walls in his new office painted? Mayor Jim Naugle said he asked the incoming mayor that question Tuesday night, just after Seiler declared victory in a four-man race for the seat. Seiler wasn't all that concerned about his wall color at the time. Seiler's next decision was what kind of beer to order (Foster's).
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/fort_lauderdale/sfl-flbseiler0213sbfeb13,0,234801.story
-American Orchid Society west of Delray Beach closing to public
By Maria Herrera
Orchids are rare, flowering plants of extraordinary beauty that randomly bloom - which only adds to their mystique. Soon South Florida orchid lovers, collectors and the plain curious will have one less place to admire them.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/delraybeach/sfl-flporchids0213pnfeb13,0,5282325.story
-Stimulus package: So what's in it for us?
Plan aims to help Floridians who are hurting the most
By William E. Gibson
For the people of Florida, hit by rising unemployment and foreclosure rates, the economic stimulus bill promises to save or create 206,000 jobs, give tax breaks to workers and send checks to retirees.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-stimulus0213,0,5185470.story
=
SAVE THE DATE: Community Rally for Public Education
Thursday, Februay 26 - 4:30pm
Broward County Councy for PTAs and Floridians for Quality Education
K.C. Wright Building - Broward School Board Building
600 SE 3rd Ave Ft. Lauderdale
All community members and business groups are invited to join this effort.
Contact Shelly Heller - 954-557-7760
=
Progress Florida
So far 2,380 Floridians have signed our letter to Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater urging him to balance the budget by generating revenues, NOT cutting education and critical health and social services. That letter will be hand delivered before the upcoming legislative session, but first we need to add as many signatures as possible.Click here to sign on to the letter and help protect our public schools and our state's most vulnerable.
http://progressflorida.org/page/s/stopthecuts
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Florida Senate poll shows Crist annihilating field
By Aaron Blake
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) looms hugely over his state's open Senate race, holding 2-to-1 leads over all Democrats interested in the race, according to a new Strategic Vision poll. The poll finds the popular governor, who will wait until after Florida's legislative session to make his plans known, leading Democratic Reps. Ron Klein and Kendrick Meek by 34 points each.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/florida-senate-poll-shows-crist-annihilating-field-2009-02-11.html
-Sales tax changes may prove tough
By MICHAEL C. BENDER
Floridians could pay more for bottled water, eyeglasses, Super Bowl tickets and other items if lawmakers decide to remove some of the 239 sales tax exemptions to help shore up a third consecutive year of budget shortfalls.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2009/02/11/a4a_salestax_0212.html
-Gov. Charlie Crist takes heat from Republicans for supporting stimulus package
By Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor
Charlie Crist: statesman or sellout? Democrats may be lavishing praise on Florida's Republican governor for enthusiastically supporting the Democrats' economic stimulus package, but Republicans are questioning whether Crist damaged his future in national politics.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article975544.ece
-Bill would enforce Internet sales tax collection
A first-term Democrat in the House teamed up with a senior Senate Republican Thursday in front of a diverse coalition hoping to add more than $2 billion to Florida's depleted treasury by collecting sales tax on Internet transactions.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/CD/20090213/CAPITOLNEWS/902130345/-1/capitolnews
-Rise in mail-in ballots is changing campaign strategies in Pinellas County
By Will Van Sant, Times Staff Writer
More voters than ever are using mail ballots, forcing candidates in the upcoming March municipal elections to confront a new political dynamic.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/article975507.ece
-Florida's second banana slips up
By Daniel Ruth,
If there is a bigger do-nothing job that comes with a government check, aside from being Prince Charles, it has to be wiling away the hours as Florida's lieutenant governor, a position blissfully held by Jeff Kottkamp, who has logged more frequent flier miles than the Steve Fossett.
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/article975483.ece
-Broward smoker's death due to addiction
BY PATRICK DANNER
A Broward jury on Thursday found that a Cooper City chainsmoker's death was directly attributable to his addiction to cigarettes.
http://www.miamiherald.com/466/story/901214.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
FLORIDA DIGEST - February 12, 2009
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~
-ArtsUnited - ArtExplosion-Tonight!
Matthew Glass in The Slap & Tickle ShowSometimes funny, sometimes profound, but always irreverent, The Slap & Tickle Show by Matthew Glass, is a new one-man play that chronicles the trials and tribulations of an ex-twink managing his crazy life in the gay ghetto. This semi- autobiographical work introduces us to " Digby", showing us his over the top, smutty and always irreverent world. Subjects such as crystal meth, bug chasing, Manhunt and his personal quest to destroy the Abercrombie & Fitch Empire are all fair game. He questions what the world would be like if George W. Bush and Osama Bin Laden were lovers, the never ending fight against gay body hair, Taco Bell, Anne Coulter and why Catholics should love bareback sex. No stereotype is spared and in the most colorful and always-funny way we are forced to examine the gay lifestyle through Digby's very personal and shockingly honest point of view. Seating is limited for this world premiere presentation. MATTHEW GLASS Matthew is an actor/writer who will be seen in Camposition's upcoming revival production of Michael Yawney's sold out 1000 Homosexuals at the Colony Theatre during the 2009 Winter Party. He was previously seen in in the world premier of The BugChasers, as a writer and performer with Camposition Locally Matthew appeared as Bernard in Gablestage's Romance. (Best Supporting Actor, Best Of Miami 2007; Miami New Times & Best Comic Performance 2007; Miami's Sun Post) and Carl in The Alliance Theatre Lab's production of Lonely Planet He has worked at The American Living Room Theatre Festival, Coffee Clutch Playwrighting Workshop, NYC, The New World Repertory, Miami Children's Theatre, The Rude Mechanicals, City Theatre, Area Stage Company, Acme Acting Company, and the Florida Shakespeare Festival. He is a member of The American Dramatists Guild, Inc. and The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. He is currently teaching Acting and Voice at The New World School of the Arts and teaches speech presentation skills for Florida International University's International MBA program.Thursday, February 12, 2009, 7:00 PMStonewall Library & Archives - 1300 East Sunrise Blvd.Fort Lauderdale - Free Admission
www.stonewall-library.org
-ArtExplosion Continues ...
Q-uba Art Exhibit Opens with Reception Q-uba Art Exhibit,New Works by Artist Hildana Ciserand Photographer Alex Heria
Friday, February 13, 6:30-8:30 PM
Stonewall Library & Archives - 1300 East Sunrise Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale
**Hildana Ciser was born in Havana Cuba, and raised in the beautiful garden state of New Jersey. A self-taught artist since the young age of 5, Ciser was educated at William Patterson University, New Jersey. Ciser moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida 5 years ago and found inspiration in the tropical breezes and greenery that she was surrounded by. Soon after, she found the love of her life. That love has filled her life with new meaning to challenge her everyday and to continue her art. Hildana includes her love in most of her art if you just look for it. She feels blessed by her 3 children and two Bichon Frises. Her art work is very unique; every piece has a hidden meaning, which makes you stop and take a second look. Hildana has been inspired by the world renown artist Thomas Mcknight. She loved his art and his whimsical views of subject matter and bright colors.
**Alexander Heria was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1961. He moved to Miami, Florida at the age of ten. Heria received a BFA in photography from Florida International University, Miami in 1992, and a MFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston in 19994. He has taught photography and graphic design for seven years at FIU, Miami Dade College, and the Art Institute Miami. His photography has been exhibited locally and is in numerous private collections. Heria received a 2007 South Florida Consortium Fellowship. Heria is currently an artist-in-residence at the ArtCenter/ South Florida.
Free Admission
www.stonewall-library.org
=
SunServe - Ft. Lauderdale
SunServe Valentines Dance
February 14, 7:00 PM
L'Hermitage Ballroom - A1A & Oakland Park Blvd.
Seating is limited - get your tickets now.
Purchase your tickets online atwww.sunserve.org.
=
GLCCSF - Ft. Lauderdale
Community Meetings/Events
**MICHAEL BERNARD BECKWITH - AS SEEN OF "THE SECRET" - February 12, 7:00 PM, Center for Spiritual Living, 1550 NE 26th Street. For info and to reserve seats call 954-566-2868 or:Click Here.
**PRIDELINES YOUTH SERVICES - THE LAVENDER SALON - February 14, 7:00 PM. Coffee, dessert and entertainment for LGBT youth. Unitarian Univerasist Congregation of Miami, 7701 SW 76th Ave, Miami, FL 33143. For more information, www.uumia.org.
**PRIDELINES YOUTH SERVICES - MARDI GRAS SKATE NIGHT - Febauary 24, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Gold Coast Roller Rink, 2604 S. Federal Hwy. For mor information call 305-571-9601, or pridelines.org
**HEATHER CRAIG & MARY-JANE CUNNINHAM - ROCK N' COUNTRY - Februayr 28, 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM, Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews, Ft. Lauderdale. For more information call, 954-772-4947.
**LEADING GAY AUTHOR/GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST, JEFF DUNGEON, TO SPEAK- March 12, Nova Southeast University, Knight Auditorium, De Santis Building from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. "Decriminalising Homosexuality in Northern Ireland - the First Successful Gay Case at the European Court of Human Rights or Saving Ulster for Sodomy?"
-SUPPORT TEAM GLCC
Florida AIDS Walk 2009
On Sunday, March 15, we will participate in a 10-kilometer fundraising walkathon through Fort Lauderdale to address the AIDS crisis in our community. We'll be joined by thousands of others who understand that we need to take action now to halt the escalating spread of HIV/AIDS in south Florida. We hope we can count on your support. We need caring people like you to sponsor our team's participation in the walk. You can make a donation to our campaign right here. If you wish to make a donation by check, please send an email to our Team Captain, Rober Boo at rboo@glccsf.org so we can add you to our list of offline contributors. Your gift to this worthy cause is fully tax-deductible. We encourage you to browse the rest of this website so you can learn more about Florida AIDS Walk.
http://ahf.convio.net/site/TR/Events/General?team_id=2880&pg=team&fr_id=1060
=
From Leon VanDyke
-WON'T YOU JOIN ME IN SENDING A LETTER ABOUT THE RECENT ELECTION'S RESULTS TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA BLADE. FEEL FREE TO EDIT...BUT REMEMBER ANYTHING TOO LONG WILL NOT RUN IN PRINT. HOPE THAT YOU FEEL THE SAME AS I DO HERE. IF YOU DO, FORWARD THE LETTER BACK TO ME WITH YOUR SIGNATURES AND I WILL COLLECT ALL AND SEND IT ON TO THE BLADE. - THANX, LEON - leonmax@aol.com
-The apathy of the LGBT community in Broward County on Primary Election Day February 10, 2009 was a genuine disgrace and now proven fiasco. It strikes us as evidence of the gross arrogance and lack of intelligent foresight on the parts of the majority of lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals and the transgendered residents of the area. Out of over 133,000 registered voters in Fort Lauderdale a bit more than half of those voting chose to vote for a gay candidate for mayor. Surely there are more than 8,000 LGBTs of voting age in Fort Lauderdale. What a huge loss of opportunity occurred on that day. There were three gay men running for the office of mayor. While that number may have diluted the possibility of any one of those gay men eventually outdistancing the Irish Catholic heterosexual man who won the election, those voting for the straight guy outnumbered the total votes cast for all three gay men. The total of all casting a vote on February 10th here in Fort Lauderdale proved to be between three and four thousand more than had voted in the last mayoral election. This most likely represented some heightened interest in the LGBT community upping the percentage of local votes cast higher than usual. Still, the numbers hardly were evidence of any overall sensibility in our community that taking a half hour out of our lives to cast a vote might make a major difference in the respect that electing a gay man mayor might engender. Instead, the whole process turned out to be a complete waste of monies, time and energies. Until the day that the voting age LGBT community here becomes genuinely involved in the politics governing its destiny, there is virtually no hope for attaining marriage rights for gays and lesbians on a national basis. Frankly my dears, unless and until we care enough to represent our own interests, why should anybody else give a damn..
Leon Van Dyke - leonmax@aol.com
=
Equality Florida
-Sign Up for the Rally in Tally Today
!March 16, 2009
We had a breakthrough year in Tallahassee during 2008 and we want you to help keep that momentum going.We passed the Florida Safe Schools law and as a result students across Florida are protected right now by anti-bullying polices that specifically include LGBT students. Now we turn to 2009, a year of enormous possibility. With your help, we'll work to secure equality for LGBT Floridians and our families. Gather some friends or come alone. In either case, get to Tallahassee on March 16th. The Rally in Tally will be the largest gathering for LGBT Equality in Florida's history drawing equality supporters to the capital from all across our state. Be a part of it by registering today. The Rally in Tally is a coalition effort of local, state and national LGBT and allied groups including: Equality Florida, the GLBT Democratic Caucus, Impact Florida, the Dolphin Democrats, SAVE Dade, Unity Coalition/Coalicion Unida, PFLAG, Community Centers, Pride Groups, Local Democratic Clubs, Metropolitan Community Churches and more. The Rally also marks the start of Equality Florida's Lobby Week, when we sit down and talk to our lawmakers about issues of importance to LGBT Floridians. Lobby training will be provided, as well as all the materials and information necessary for you to have a successful experience. Even if you've never lobbied before, this year is the time to start. Register today! Join us in making 2009 a tremendous year of change and progress. If you are a member of an organization that would like get involved in the Rally in Tally, contact rally@eqfl.org and we'll send you an endorsement form and other information to get your group involved. Register at: http://ga4.org/Equalityflorida/events/rallytally/register.tcl?&_cm_=1
=
Equality Florida
Florida Supreme Court Action Alert
Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Wells is retiring next month, and Governor Charlie Crist is in the process of selecting Wells' replacement. This is an extremely important moment for us as the balance of the court is at stake! Gov. Crist has already appointed several extremely conservative judges after being aggressively lobbied by the far right. And they're at it again. The ultra right-wing American Family Association has begun to rally around Judge Alan Lawson, telling their members to contact Governor Crist on Lawson's behalf. They are flooding the Governor's office with calls, faxes, and emails in support, urging him to appoint Judge Lawson immediately. WE CANNOT LET THE AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION DECIDE THE MAKE-UP OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT! If Wells is replaced with an ultra-conservative Justice, then lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Floridians will have a difficult time being heard in court. Plus, many of the issues that we care about, such as overturning the anti-gay adoption ban, currently heading to the court, will be jeopardized. Two Things you Can Do1 - Click here to email the Governor. Demand that he appoint a Justice that reflects the great diversity of our state.
http://ga4.org/campaign/Crist2 - Call Gov. Crist Today! (850) 488-7146
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~
-ArtsUnited - ArtExplosion-Tonight!
Matthew Glass in The Slap & Tickle ShowSometimes funny, sometimes profound, but always irreverent, The Slap & Tickle Show by Matthew Glass, is a new one-man play that chronicles the trials and tribulations of an ex-twink managing his crazy life in the gay ghetto. This semi- autobiographical work introduces us to " Digby", showing us his over the top, smutty and always irreverent world. Subjects such as crystal meth, bug chasing, Manhunt and his personal quest to destroy the Abercrombie & Fitch Empire are all fair game. He questions what the world would be like if George W. Bush and Osama Bin Laden were lovers, the never ending fight against gay body hair, Taco Bell, Anne Coulter and why Catholics should love bareback sex. No stereotype is spared and in the most colorful and always-funny way we are forced to examine the gay lifestyle through Digby's very personal and shockingly honest point of view. Seating is limited for this world premiere presentation. MATTHEW GLASS Matthew is an actor/writer who will be seen in Camposition's upcoming revival production of Michael Yawney's sold out 1000 Homosexuals at the Colony Theatre during the 2009 Winter Party. He was previously seen in in the world premier of The BugChasers, as a writer and performer with Camposition Locally Matthew appeared as Bernard in Gablestage's Romance. (Best Supporting Actor, Best Of Miami 2007; Miami New Times & Best Comic Performance 2007; Miami's Sun Post) and Carl in The Alliance Theatre Lab's production of Lonely Planet He has worked at The American Living Room Theatre Festival, Coffee Clutch Playwrighting Workshop, NYC, The New World Repertory, Miami Children's Theatre, The Rude Mechanicals, City Theatre, Area Stage Company, Acme Acting Company, and the Florida Shakespeare Festival. He is a member of The American Dramatists Guild, Inc. and The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. He is currently teaching Acting and Voice at The New World School of the Arts and teaches speech presentation skills for Florida International University's International MBA program.Thursday, February 12, 2009, 7:00 PMStonewall Library & Archives - 1300 East Sunrise Blvd.Fort Lauderdale - Free Admission
www.stonewall-library.org
-ArtExplosion Continues ...
Q-uba Art Exhibit Opens with Reception Q-uba Art Exhibit,New Works by Artist Hildana Ciserand Photographer Alex Heria
Friday, February 13, 6:30-8:30 PM
Stonewall Library & Archives - 1300 East Sunrise Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale
**Hildana Ciser was born in Havana Cuba, and raised in the beautiful garden state of New Jersey. A self-taught artist since the young age of 5, Ciser was educated at William Patterson University, New Jersey. Ciser moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida 5 years ago and found inspiration in the tropical breezes and greenery that she was surrounded by. Soon after, she found the love of her life. That love has filled her life with new meaning to challenge her everyday and to continue her art. Hildana includes her love in most of her art if you just look for it. She feels blessed by her 3 children and two Bichon Frises. Her art work is very unique; every piece has a hidden meaning, which makes you stop and take a second look. Hildana has been inspired by the world renown artist Thomas Mcknight. She loved his art and his whimsical views of subject matter and bright colors.
**Alexander Heria was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1961. He moved to Miami, Florida at the age of ten. Heria received a BFA in photography from Florida International University, Miami in 1992, and a MFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston in 19994. He has taught photography and graphic design for seven years at FIU, Miami Dade College, and the Art Institute Miami. His photography has been exhibited locally and is in numerous private collections. Heria received a 2007 South Florida Consortium Fellowship. Heria is currently an artist-in-residence at the ArtCenter/ South Florida.
Free Admission
www.stonewall-library.org
=
SunServe - Ft. Lauderdale
SunServe Valentines Dance
February 14, 7:00 PM
L'Hermitage Ballroom - A1A & Oakland Park Blvd.
Seating is limited - get your tickets now.
Purchase your tickets online atwww.sunserve.org.
=
GLCCSF - Ft. Lauderdale
Community Meetings/Events
**MICHAEL BERNARD BECKWITH - AS SEEN OF "THE SECRET" - February 12, 7:00 PM, Center for Spiritual Living, 1550 NE 26th Street. For info and to reserve seats call 954-566-2868 or:Click Here.
**PRIDELINES YOUTH SERVICES - THE LAVENDER SALON - February 14, 7:00 PM. Coffee, dessert and entertainment for LGBT youth. Unitarian Univerasist Congregation of Miami, 7701 SW 76th Ave, Miami, FL 33143. For more information, www.uumia.org.
**PRIDELINES YOUTH SERVICES - MARDI GRAS SKATE NIGHT - Febauary 24, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Gold Coast Roller Rink, 2604 S. Federal Hwy. For mor information call 305-571-9601, or pridelines.org
**HEATHER CRAIG & MARY-JANE CUNNINHAM - ROCK N' COUNTRY - Februayr 28, 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM, Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews, Ft. Lauderdale. For more information call, 954-772-4947.
**LEADING GAY AUTHOR/GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST, JEFF DUNGEON, TO SPEAK- March 12, Nova Southeast University, Knight Auditorium, De Santis Building from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. "Decriminalising Homosexuality in Northern Ireland - the First Successful Gay Case at the European Court of Human Rights or Saving Ulster for Sodomy?"
-SUPPORT TEAM GLCC
Florida AIDS Walk 2009
On Sunday, March 15, we will participate in a 10-kilometer fundraising walkathon through Fort Lauderdale to address the AIDS crisis in our community. We'll be joined by thousands of others who understand that we need to take action now to halt the escalating spread of HIV/AIDS in south Florida. We hope we can count on your support. We need caring people like you to sponsor our team's participation in the walk. You can make a donation to our campaign right here. If you wish to make a donation by check, please send an email to our Team Captain, Rober Boo at rboo@glccsf.org so we can add you to our list of offline contributors. Your gift to this worthy cause is fully tax-deductible. We encourage you to browse the rest of this website so you can learn more about Florida AIDS Walk.
http://ahf.convio.net/site/TR/Events/General?team_id=2880&pg=team&fr_id=1060
=
From Leon VanDyke
-WON'T YOU JOIN ME IN SENDING A LETTER ABOUT THE RECENT ELECTION'S RESULTS TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA BLADE. FEEL FREE TO EDIT...BUT REMEMBER ANYTHING TOO LONG WILL NOT RUN IN PRINT. HOPE THAT YOU FEEL THE SAME AS I DO HERE. IF YOU DO, FORWARD THE LETTER BACK TO ME WITH YOUR SIGNATURES AND I WILL COLLECT ALL AND SEND IT ON TO THE BLADE. - THANX, LEON - leonmax@aol.com
-The apathy of the LGBT community in Broward County on Primary Election Day February 10, 2009 was a genuine disgrace and now proven fiasco. It strikes us as evidence of the gross arrogance and lack of intelligent foresight on the parts of the majority of lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals and the transgendered residents of the area. Out of over 133,000 registered voters in Fort Lauderdale a bit more than half of those voting chose to vote for a gay candidate for mayor. Surely there are more than 8,000 LGBTs of voting age in Fort Lauderdale. What a huge loss of opportunity occurred on that day. There were three gay men running for the office of mayor. While that number may have diluted the possibility of any one of those gay men eventually outdistancing the Irish Catholic heterosexual man who won the election, those voting for the straight guy outnumbered the total votes cast for all three gay men. The total of all casting a vote on February 10th here in Fort Lauderdale proved to be between three and four thousand more than had voted in the last mayoral election. This most likely represented some heightened interest in the LGBT community upping the percentage of local votes cast higher than usual. Still, the numbers hardly were evidence of any overall sensibility in our community that taking a half hour out of our lives to cast a vote might make a major difference in the respect that electing a gay man mayor might engender. Instead, the whole process turned out to be a complete waste of monies, time and energies. Until the day that the voting age LGBT community here becomes genuinely involved in the politics governing its destiny, there is virtually no hope for attaining marriage rights for gays and lesbians on a national basis. Frankly my dears, unless and until we care enough to represent our own interests, why should anybody else give a damn..
Leon Van Dyke - leonmax@aol.com
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Equality Florida
-Sign Up for the Rally in Tally Today
!March 16, 2009
We had a breakthrough year in Tallahassee during 2008 and we want you to help keep that momentum going.We passed the Florida Safe Schools law and as a result students across Florida are protected right now by anti-bullying polices that specifically include LGBT students. Now we turn to 2009, a year of enormous possibility. With your help, we'll work to secure equality for LGBT Floridians and our families. Gather some friends or come alone. In either case, get to Tallahassee on March 16th. The Rally in Tally will be the largest gathering for LGBT Equality in Florida's history drawing equality supporters to the capital from all across our state. Be a part of it by registering today. The Rally in Tally is a coalition effort of local, state and national LGBT and allied groups including: Equality Florida, the GLBT Democratic Caucus, Impact Florida, the Dolphin Democrats, SAVE Dade, Unity Coalition/Coalicion Unida, PFLAG, Community Centers, Pride Groups, Local Democratic Clubs, Metropolitan Community Churches and more. The Rally also marks the start of Equality Florida's Lobby Week, when we sit down and talk to our lawmakers about issues of importance to LGBT Floridians. Lobby training will be provided, as well as all the materials and information necessary for you to have a successful experience. Even if you've never lobbied before, this year is the time to start. Register today! Join us in making 2009 a tremendous year of change and progress. If you are a member of an organization that would like get involved in the Rally in Tally, contact rally@eqfl.org and we'll send you an endorsement form and other information to get your group involved. Register at: http://ga4.org/Equalityflorida/events/rallytally/register.tcl?&_cm_=1
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Equality Florida
Florida Supreme Court Action Alert
Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Wells is retiring next month, and Governor Charlie Crist is in the process of selecting Wells' replacement. This is an extremely important moment for us as the balance of the court is at stake! Gov. Crist has already appointed several extremely conservative judges after being aggressively lobbied by the far right. And they're at it again. The ultra right-wing American Family Association has begun to rally around Judge Alan Lawson, telling their members to contact Governor Crist on Lawson's behalf. They are flooding the Governor's office with calls, faxes, and emails in support, urging him to appoint Judge Lawson immediately. WE CANNOT LET THE AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION DECIDE THE MAKE-UP OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT! If Wells is replaced with an ultra-conservative Justice, then lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Floridians will have a difficult time being heard in court. Plus, many of the issues that we care about, such as overturning the anti-gay adoption ban, currently heading to the court, will be jeopardized. Two Things you Can Do1 - Click here to email the Governor. Demand that he appoint a Justice that reflects the great diversity of our state.
http://ga4.org/campaign/Crist2 - Call Gov. Crist Today! (850) 488-7146
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
Thursday, February 12, 2009
GLBT DIGEST - February 12, 2009
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Same-sex couples rally for marriage rights
By VERENA DOBNIK
Hundreds of same-sex couples, part of a nationwide protest, are lining up to be turned away by the New York City marriage bureau. As they walked away without marriage licenses Thursday, they wore signs saying, "Just Not Married."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021200364.html
=
Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
-A Virtual Matchmaker for Volunteers
By JANE HODGES
Many Americans fortunate enough to have a solid job in a soft economy -- or newfound free time due to a layoff -- may consider participating in volunteer work to make use of their time and talents. Indeed, President Barack Obama has stumped for volunteerism in recent television commercials, urging Americans to pitch in around their communities during a difficult time.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123439604394574921.html
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Gay Travel
An influential tourism group, The International Gay & Lesbian Travel
Association, picked Fort Lauderdale to host its 2011 convention over such popular destinations as Chicago and Philadelphia. About 1,200 people are expected to attend, each staying an average four days and spending about $1,700, Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, said on Wednesday.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzdigestdig02122sbfeb12,0,6211298,print.story
=
Steve Rothaus
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Women's events planned for Winter Party Festival
From Yesi Leon: 2 great events for the Women's Winter Party
Women's Art Exhibit- Thursday February 26 - 7-10 PM
Fache Arts & Amy Alonso Gallery ,
750 NE 124th Street, Suite 2 , Miami
Guests enjoy a showcase of works by local artists at a reception featuring wine and hors d'oeuvres.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
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South Florida Blade
http://www.floridablade.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Utah: Protesters decry governor's civil union support
Dozens of protesters gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday to express their anger with Gov. Jon Huntsman for saying he supports civil unions.
http://www.floridablade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=23965
=
The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Michigan TV Station Ditches Plans to Air Antigay "Infomercial"
A Michigan television station has rescinded its offer to air an hour-long antigay "infomercial" produced by the American Family Association this weekend on the heels of a campaign by the Human Rights Campaign to have the program yanked from airwaves.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72927.asp
-Naugle Out, Gay Candidates Defeated in Fort Lauderdale Race
Jack Seiler defeated three other candidates, including two gay hopefuls, to take over as mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a city that has been rocked by its outgoing mayor's numerous tirades against gay residents. http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72956.asp
-Utah Gov: I'll Back Gay Rights Bills
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. says he would support a legislative effort to provide some rights to gay and transgender individuals. Huntsman was responding to a pair of Common Ground bills, backed by Equality Utah, the first of which would make it illegal to fire or evict someone for being gay or transgender. The other would establish a domestic partnership registry for inheritance and medical-decision making benefits.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72876.asp
=
365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Rachel and the hooker guy
By Ali Davis, Contributing writer
Wednesday's Rachel Maddow Show started us off with a bang - or at least with some yelling-at-bankers porn, which is almost as satisfying. In addition to the red-hot CEO-shaming footage, Rachel gave us a visit with Congressman Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
http://www.365gay.com/living/rachelwatch-rachel-and-the-hooker-guy/
-Do a good deed for Valentine's Day
By James Withers
Valentine's Day is evil. Oh sure, short fat Cupid is all smiles with his arrows and talk of love, but he is the spawn of Satan. And if you doubt, then you've not listened to Nina Simone's "The Other Woman."
http://www.365gay.com/blog/021209-courage-campaign-looking-for-signatures/
=
Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Iranian lesbian granted asylum in the UK
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
A gay woman has been granted refugee status after three years battling the UK's asylum system.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11134.html
-Gay humanists back Dutch MP's right to criticise Islam
A gay humanist group has said the Home Secretary was wrong to ban a Dutch MP who is critical of Islam.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11136.html
-Hungarian government proposes registered same-sex partnerships
The Hungarian Government has approved a new bill on registered partnerships. It replaces a previous law on registered partnership that was struck down by the Constitutional Court in December, just weeks before its was due to come into force.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11133.html
=
Daily Queer News
http://www.dailyqueernews.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Gay-Marriage Opponents in Maine Launch Website
Carlos Santoscoy | On Top Magazine
The image of a straight couple holding their young son - all three bright and blond - graces the home page of the Maine Marriage Initiative website, which is devoted to opposing a newly introduced gay marriage bill in the Maine Legislature. "Families should be strengthened . not redefined," the text reads. The newly-launched website urges visitors to contact their legislators, join their Facebook social group, and offers information about the gay marriage bill. At a press conference last month, Democratic Senator Dennis S. Damon announced that he would introduce the gay marriage bill surrounded by members of several prominent gay groups - including Equality Maine, the Maine Civil Liberties Union, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, and the Maine Women's Lobby - and gay and lesbian couples wishing to marry. Read more
-FL: Fort Lauderdale Free from Anti-Gay Mayor
Carlos Santoscoy | On Top Magazine
Voters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida have decided on who'll replace anti-gay Mayor Jim Naugle. In a nonpartisan primary yesterday, the citizens of Fort Lauderdale voted in Jack Seiler, who, because he won a majority (57%) of the vote, will go on to become mayor, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. Seiler is not necessarily a gay-affirming candidate, but even that must seem palatable to the gay and lesbian community that has so often been ridiculed by its mayor over the years. Two of the four candidates running - former city commissioner and gay activist Dean Trantalis and businessman Earl Rynerson - said they pursued the job because of the mayor's anti-gay stance. Read more
-Macedonia President Race Tackles Gay Rights
Balkan Insight
Macedonia's presidential candidates sparred over the issue of gay rights on Tuesday with the conservative frontrunner saying there is no discrimination but homosexuals are paranoid, while the socialist runner-up called for more protection of sexual freedom of choice. The debate in Macedonia started with a statement of Georgi Ivanov, the presidential candidate of the ruling conservative VMRO DPMNE party. "Our system discriminates against noone. Homosexuals stigmatize themselves and think they are in an underprivileged position", Ivanov told the local daily Spic. Asked to comment on the same issue, Ljubomir Frckoski, the candidate backed by the main opposition party ,the Social Democrats, said he supported all groups that faced discrimination. Read more
-Transgender Activist Threatened with Death
Big Gay News
Police officers are alleged to have beaten up a transgender woman, who is an HIV/AIDS campaigner and sex worker, after she refused to give them her money. They subsequently threatened her with death if she reported the incident. Her life is at risk. Three other transgender women have been killed in a nearby area in the last three months. Four police officers in a police car approached the transgender woman, who has asked Amnesty International to withhold her name, at about 12.40am on 20 December 2008 in the Palmira district of the capital, Tegucigalpa. She was working as a sex worker at the time. The police officers tried to rob her but, when she resisted, they grabbed her by the hair and repeatedly smashed her head against a nearby window, breaking the glass. She received numerous cuts to her face and knees. The officers then said that they were arresting the woman for breaking a window in order to gain forcible entry to private property. The officers took her to the local police station, and then to a local health centre to be treated for her wounds. Since she was bleeding, she informed the officers that she was HIV positive and the officers replied by saying "AIDS bitch, people like you should be in a separate place" (perra sidosa, gente como Ustedes tiene que estar en un lugar aparte) While on their way, the officers also told her "if you speak out, we will leave you dead in the countryside" (si hablas, te dejaremos muerta en el monte). She was taken back to the police station and was released without charge at around 11.30am. She has recently filed a formal complaint with the Human Rights section of the Public Prosecutor's Office about this incident. Link
=
Forwarded from Gays Without Borders
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-Hungarian Government Approves New Registered Partnership Bill
Budapest, February 11, 2009 - The Hungarian Government has approved today a new bill on registered partnership. The bill replaces a previous law on registered partnership that was struck down by the Constitutional Court in December 2008 just weeks before its supposed entry into force. As opposed to the previous version, the new bill introduces the institution of registered partnership only for same sex couples, however, it also introduces a different scheme of domestic partnership registration for both same sex and different sex couples. Support for the bill in the Parliament is still an open question.
http://www.hatter.hu
=
Chronicle of Higher Education
-Georgia Legislators Less Inflamed by Sex Researchers
The dustup over Georgia State University faculty members who study racy-sounding topics such as male prostitution and oral sex has died down after two of the researchers explained their work to state legislators.
http://chronicle.com/news/index.php?id=5960&utm_source=pm&utm_medium=en
=
Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Go to the links for the following articles:
Contact rays.list@comcast.net if you can't access the article
-Artist, exhibit sponsor face off over abstract nude paintings
A battle over what constitutes "overtly sexual" art unfolded on Long Beach's trendy main thoroughfare on Monday, with an artist demanding that two of her abstract nudes be put back up on the walls of a public exhibition organized by a program that deemed them offensive.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-long-beach-art10-2009feb10,0,2515704.story
-Porn Star Stormy Daniels to Take on Sexual Hypocrite Sen. David Vitter?
Sen. David Vitter's phone number was found in the records of the notorious D.C. madam. Now he faces re-election (and massive karmic payback) against a sultry adult entertainer named Stormy. Max Blumenthal has an exclusive interview. With 2010 midterm elections approaching, Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter is positioning himself as a leading conservative stalwart. In July 2008, Vitter joined accused bathroom-stall sex solicitor Sen. Larry Craig in co-sponsoring the anti-gay-marriage Marriage Protection Amendment, then addressed a massive antiabortion rally on the National Mall three days after Barack Obama's inauguration. Vitter was also the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's lone vote against sending Hillary Clinton's secretary of State nomination to the Senate floor.
http://www.alternet.org/story/126103/
-We would like to announce Ali and Mohammad left India to Canada today. In July 17, 08 we call to action for Ali and Mohammad, an Iranian gay couple asylum seeker in India who needs urgent support by Canadian Embassy there. "UNHCR submitted our case as "urgent" and "high priority" for resettlement to the Canadian embassy in New Delhi. The Canadian embassy started processing on our application on May 17, 2007, and we completed interviews with the Canadian embassy on July 19, 2007. We even received our health checkups in the same week. However, we are still waiting for our process to be complete so that we can resettle in a safer country." They said in their telephone conversation in July 2008. You can find more information on IRQR website in Queer Refugee page.
-Downsized Nine-to-Fivers Turn to Kinky Sex Work
"I've seen it before," says Linda, "during the tech bust in 2002. Women who thought they would always make a decent living in the tech sector lost their jobs." They came looking to Linda's industry for freelance work, and now it's happening again: professional women whose cubicle-bound careers have been downsized are entering Linda's corner of the "gig economy" -- a corner that involves whips, ropes, and occasionally, nipple clamps. With staff jobs evaporating and former nine-to-fivers cobbling together incomes through scattered side projects, freelancing as a dominatrix -- or "pro-domme," as industry types prefer to call it -- has become a plausible gig option.
http://www.alternet.org/story/125614/
-Selective Prosecution of Males in Underage Sex Cases?
A 14-year-old Massachusetts boy has been charged with various sex crimes for his involvement in sexual game-playing with three girls aged 12 and 11. Although he too is a minor, the state declined to charge the girls with any wrongdoing. Strange as it may seem to say, that type of sexual behavior among children that young is not all that unusual these days. Where the plot thickens, though is that his attorney moved the court for an order requiring the state to produce documents showing that its prosecution of the boy was not sexually motivated. That is, he's claiming that the state discriminates against boys in its decisions about prosecution in sex cases involving minors. The state vociferously objected to the defense motion, but the trial court ruled for the boy and the Supreme Judicial Court agreed.
-Young Black Men Unaware of H.I.V. Risks, Survey Finds
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/health/10hiv.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail0=y
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HeartStrong - February Update
-We are busy in the SE doing outreach work over the next month or so. We've already done one HeartStrong Educational Forum in Lakeland FL. This coming Sunday the Atlanta chapter of PFLAG is hosting us and we will be having an HS Forum at their regular meeting. For location and time go to http://www.pflagatl.org
-On Sunday the 22, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga, TN will be hosting us for a Forum during their regular morning service. This is our only visit to TN this year.
-We still have 9 additional forums to do and tons of outreach work. We recently spent an afternoon here in FL in the parking lot of an office building for the Seventh Day Adventist church. We left our GLBT friendly "tracts" under windshield wipers and even got to hand them personally to people coming and going from the building. We believe there is no bad way to get our life saving information to people. Maybe most of the people who get our info throw it away. But we are reaching for that one person who needs to know they are not alone, that one parent who needs to know how to respond to their child coming out as GLBT or that one teacher from that one school who is ready to begin living an honest life. Our work can be tedious but we believe that it is effective and our success is realized through the lives we have saved, the families put back together and knowing that everything we do counts. You can help us in our work. Maybe you can't drive around the country and personally visit schools and pass out materials. But you can empower us to do it. We've been doing our outreach and educational work since 1996 and we are only able to do it because of the sacrifical giving of our HeartStrong friends. Thanks for you time!
Marc Adams
Founder/Executive Director, HeartStrong
http://heartstrong.org/HeartStrong/125012100.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Same-sex couples rally for marriage rights
By VERENA DOBNIK
Hundreds of same-sex couples, part of a nationwide protest, are lining up to be turned away by the New York City marriage bureau. As they walked away without marriage licenses Thursday, they wore signs saying, "Just Not Married."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR2009021200364.html
=
Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
-A Virtual Matchmaker for Volunteers
By JANE HODGES
Many Americans fortunate enough to have a solid job in a soft economy -- or newfound free time due to a layoff -- may consider participating in volunteer work to make use of their time and talents. Indeed, President Barack Obama has stumped for volunteerism in recent television commercials, urging Americans to pitch in around their communities during a difficult time.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123439604394574921.html
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Gay Travel
An influential tourism group, The International Gay & Lesbian Travel
Association, picked Fort Lauderdale to host its 2011 convention over such popular destinations as Chicago and Philadelphia. About 1,200 people are expected to attend, each staying an average four days and spending about $1,700, Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, said on Wednesday.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzdigestdig02122sbfeb12,0,6211298,print.story
=
Steve Rothaus
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Women's events planned for Winter Party Festival
From Yesi Leon: 2 great events for the Women's Winter Party
Women's Art Exhibit- Thursday February 26 - 7-10 PM
Fache Arts & Amy Alonso Gallery ,
750 NE 124th Street, Suite 2 , Miami
Guests enjoy a showcase of works by local artists at a reception featuring wine and hors d'oeuvres.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
=
South Florida Blade
http://www.floridablade.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Utah: Protesters decry governor's civil union support
Dozens of protesters gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday to express their anger with Gov. Jon Huntsman for saying he supports civil unions.
http://www.floridablade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=23965
=
The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Michigan TV Station Ditches Plans to Air Antigay "Infomercial"
A Michigan television station has rescinded its offer to air an hour-long antigay "infomercial" produced by the American Family Association this weekend on the heels of a campaign by the Human Rights Campaign to have the program yanked from airwaves.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72927.asp
-Naugle Out, Gay Candidates Defeated in Fort Lauderdale Race
Jack Seiler defeated three other candidates, including two gay hopefuls, to take over as mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a city that has been rocked by its outgoing mayor's numerous tirades against gay residents. http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72956.asp
-Utah Gov: I'll Back Gay Rights Bills
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. says he would support a legislative effort to provide some rights to gay and transgender individuals. Huntsman was responding to a pair of Common Ground bills, backed by Equality Utah, the first of which would make it illegal to fire or evict someone for being gay or transgender. The other would establish a domestic partnership registry for inheritance and medical-decision making benefits.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72876.asp
=
365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Rachel and the hooker guy
By Ali Davis, Contributing writer
Wednesday's Rachel Maddow Show started us off with a bang - or at least with some yelling-at-bankers porn, which is almost as satisfying. In addition to the red-hot CEO-shaming footage, Rachel gave us a visit with Congressman Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
http://www.365gay.com/living/rachelwatch-rachel-and-the-hooker-guy/
-Do a good deed for Valentine's Day
By James Withers
Valentine's Day is evil. Oh sure, short fat Cupid is all smiles with his arrows and talk of love, but he is the spawn of Satan. And if you doubt, then you've not listened to Nina Simone's "The Other Woman."
http://www.365gay.com/blog/021209-courage-campaign-looking-for-signatures/
=
Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Iranian lesbian granted asylum in the UK
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
A gay woman has been granted refugee status after three years battling the UK's asylum system.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11134.html
-Gay humanists back Dutch MP's right to criticise Islam
A gay humanist group has said the Home Secretary was wrong to ban a Dutch MP who is critical of Islam.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11136.html
-Hungarian government proposes registered same-sex partnerships
The Hungarian Government has approved a new bill on registered partnerships. It replaces a previous law on registered partnership that was struck down by the Constitutional Court in December, just weeks before its was due to come into force.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11133.html
=
Daily Queer News
http://www.dailyqueernews.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Gay-Marriage Opponents in Maine Launch Website
Carlos Santoscoy | On Top Magazine
The image of a straight couple holding their young son - all three bright and blond - graces the home page of the Maine Marriage Initiative website, which is devoted to opposing a newly introduced gay marriage bill in the Maine Legislature. "Families should be strengthened . not redefined," the text reads. The newly-launched website urges visitors to contact their legislators, join their Facebook social group, and offers information about the gay marriage bill. At a press conference last month, Democratic Senator Dennis S. Damon announced that he would introduce the gay marriage bill surrounded by members of several prominent gay groups - including Equality Maine, the Maine Civil Liberties Union, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, and the Maine Women's Lobby - and gay and lesbian couples wishing to marry. Read more
-FL: Fort Lauderdale Free from Anti-Gay Mayor
Carlos Santoscoy | On Top Magazine
Voters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida have decided on who'll replace anti-gay Mayor Jim Naugle. In a nonpartisan primary yesterday, the citizens of Fort Lauderdale voted in Jack Seiler, who, because he won a majority (57%) of the vote, will go on to become mayor, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. Seiler is not necessarily a gay-affirming candidate, but even that must seem palatable to the gay and lesbian community that has so often been ridiculed by its mayor over the years. Two of the four candidates running - former city commissioner and gay activist Dean Trantalis and businessman Earl Rynerson - said they pursued the job because of the mayor's anti-gay stance. Read more
-Macedonia President Race Tackles Gay Rights
Balkan Insight
Macedonia's presidential candidates sparred over the issue of gay rights on Tuesday with the conservative frontrunner saying there is no discrimination but homosexuals are paranoid, while the socialist runner-up called for more protection of sexual freedom of choice. The debate in Macedonia started with a statement of Georgi Ivanov, the presidential candidate of the ruling conservative VMRO DPMNE party. "Our system discriminates against noone. Homosexuals stigmatize themselves and think they are in an underprivileged position", Ivanov told the local daily Spic. Asked to comment on the same issue, Ljubomir Frckoski, the candidate backed by the main opposition party ,the Social Democrats, said he supported all groups that faced discrimination. Read more
-Transgender Activist Threatened with Death
Big Gay News
Police officers are alleged to have beaten up a transgender woman, who is an HIV/AIDS campaigner and sex worker, after she refused to give them her money. They subsequently threatened her with death if she reported the incident. Her life is at risk. Three other transgender women have been killed in a nearby area in the last three months. Four police officers in a police car approached the transgender woman, who has asked Amnesty International to withhold her name, at about 12.40am on 20 December 2008 in the Palmira district of the capital, Tegucigalpa. She was working as a sex worker at the time. The police officers tried to rob her but, when she resisted, they grabbed her by the hair and repeatedly smashed her head against a nearby window, breaking the glass. She received numerous cuts to her face and knees. The officers then said that they were arresting the woman for breaking a window in order to gain forcible entry to private property. The officers took her to the local police station, and then to a local health centre to be treated for her wounds. Since she was bleeding, she informed the officers that she was HIV positive and the officers replied by saying "AIDS bitch, people like you should be in a separate place" (perra sidosa, gente como Ustedes tiene que estar en un lugar aparte) While on their way, the officers also told her "if you speak out, we will leave you dead in the countryside" (si hablas, te dejaremos muerta en el monte). She was taken back to the police station and was released without charge at around 11.30am. She has recently filed a formal complaint with the Human Rights section of the Public Prosecutor's Office about this incident. Link
=
Forwarded from Gays Without Borders
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-Hungarian Government Approves New Registered Partnership Bill
Budapest, February 11, 2009 - The Hungarian Government has approved today a new bill on registered partnership. The bill replaces a previous law on registered partnership that was struck down by the Constitutional Court in December 2008 just weeks before its supposed entry into force. As opposed to the previous version, the new bill introduces the institution of registered partnership only for same sex couples, however, it also introduces a different scheme of domestic partnership registration for both same sex and different sex couples. Support for the bill in the Parliament is still an open question.
http://www.hatter.hu
=
Chronicle of Higher Education
-Georgia Legislators Less Inflamed by Sex Researchers
The dustup over Georgia State University faculty members who study racy-sounding topics such as male prostitution and oral sex has died down after two of the researchers explained their work to state legislators.
http://chronicle.com/news/index.php?id=5960&utm_source=pm&utm_medium=en
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Go to the links for the following articles:
Contact rays.list@comcast.net if you can't access the article
-Artist, exhibit sponsor face off over abstract nude paintings
A battle over what constitutes "overtly sexual" art unfolded on Long Beach's trendy main thoroughfare on Monday, with an artist demanding that two of her abstract nudes be put back up on the walls of a public exhibition organized by a program that deemed them offensive.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-long-beach-art10-2009feb10,0,2515704.story
-Porn Star Stormy Daniels to Take on Sexual Hypocrite Sen. David Vitter?
Sen. David Vitter's phone number was found in the records of the notorious D.C. madam. Now he faces re-election (and massive karmic payback) against a sultry adult entertainer named Stormy. Max Blumenthal has an exclusive interview. With 2010 midterm elections approaching, Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter is positioning himself as a leading conservative stalwart. In July 2008, Vitter joined accused bathroom-stall sex solicitor Sen. Larry Craig in co-sponsoring the anti-gay-marriage Marriage Protection Amendment, then addressed a massive antiabortion rally on the National Mall three days after Barack Obama's inauguration. Vitter was also the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's lone vote against sending Hillary Clinton's secretary of State nomination to the Senate floor.
http://www.alternet.org/story/126103/
-We would like to announce Ali and Mohammad left India to Canada today. In July 17, 08 we call to action for Ali and Mohammad, an Iranian gay couple asylum seeker in India who needs urgent support by Canadian Embassy there. "UNHCR submitted our case as "urgent" and "high priority" for resettlement to the Canadian embassy in New Delhi. The Canadian embassy started processing on our application on May 17, 2007, and we completed interviews with the Canadian embassy on July 19, 2007. We even received our health checkups in the same week. However, we are still waiting for our process to be complete so that we can resettle in a safer country." They said in their telephone conversation in July 2008. You can find more information on IRQR website in Queer Refugee page.
-Downsized Nine-to-Fivers Turn to Kinky Sex Work
"I've seen it before," says Linda, "during the tech bust in 2002. Women who thought they would always make a decent living in the tech sector lost their jobs." They came looking to Linda's industry for freelance work, and now it's happening again: professional women whose cubicle-bound careers have been downsized are entering Linda's corner of the "gig economy" -- a corner that involves whips, ropes, and occasionally, nipple clamps. With staff jobs evaporating and former nine-to-fivers cobbling together incomes through scattered side projects, freelancing as a dominatrix -- or "pro-domme," as industry types prefer to call it -- has become a plausible gig option.
http://www.alternet.org/story/125614/
-Selective Prosecution of Males in Underage Sex Cases?
A 14-year-old Massachusetts boy has been charged with various sex crimes for his involvement in sexual game-playing with three girls aged 12 and 11. Although he too is a minor, the state declined to charge the girls with any wrongdoing. Strange as it may seem to say, that type of sexual behavior among children that young is not all that unusual these days. Where the plot thickens, though is that his attorney moved the court for an order requiring the state to produce documents showing that its prosecution of the boy was not sexually motivated. That is, he's claiming that the state discriminates against boys in its decisions about prosecution in sex cases involving minors. The state vociferously objected to the defense motion, but the trial court ruled for the boy and the Supreme Judicial Court agreed.
-Young Black Men Unaware of H.I.V. Risks, Survey Finds
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/health/10hiv.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail0=y
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HeartStrong - February Update
-We are busy in the SE doing outreach work over the next month or so. We've already done one HeartStrong Educational Forum in Lakeland FL. This coming Sunday the Atlanta chapter of PFLAG is hosting us and we will be having an HS Forum at their regular meeting. For location and time go to http://www.pflagatl.org
-On Sunday the 22, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga, TN will be hosting us for a Forum during their regular morning service. This is our only visit to TN this year.
-We still have 9 additional forums to do and tons of outreach work. We recently spent an afternoon here in FL in the parking lot of an office building for the Seventh Day Adventist church. We left our GLBT friendly "tracts" under windshield wipers and even got to hand them personally to people coming and going from the building. We believe there is no bad way to get our life saving information to people. Maybe most of the people who get our info throw it away. But we are reaching for that one person who needs to know they are not alone, that one parent who needs to know how to respond to their child coming out as GLBT or that one teacher from that one school who is ready to begin living an honest life. Our work can be tedious but we believe that it is effective and our success is realized through the lives we have saved, the families put back together and knowing that everything we do counts. You can help us in our work. Maybe you can't drive around the country and personally visit schools and pass out materials. But you can empower us to do it. We've been doing our outreach and educational work since 1996 and we are only able to do it because of the sacrifical giving of our HeartStrong friends. Thanks for you time!
Marc Adams
Founder/Executive Director, HeartStrong
http://heartstrong.org/HeartStrong/125012100.html
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
GLBT DIGEST - February 11, 2009
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-NY: For Supporters of Gay Marriage, a Dashing of Great Expectations
By JEREMY W. PETERS
When Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith spoke to a hotel ballroom in Manhattan packed with hundreds of gay-rights advocates, fund-raisers and politicians on Saturday night, his mere mention of the words "marriage equality" roused the crowd.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/nyregion/09gay.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=gay&st=cse
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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Harvard Dean, Chosen as Solicitor General, Goes Before Senators
By Robert Barnes
When Harvard Law School hosted a huge dinner a few years ago for the conservative Federalist Society, the school's dean, Elena Kagan, received such long and enthusiastic applause that she felt compelled to hold up her arms in mock protest.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/09/AR2009020903303.html
-Whitman makes exploratory bid for GOP nomination [Supported Prop 8]
By JULIET WILLIAMS
Former eBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman officially launched her bid to seek the Republican nomination for California governor on Monday, capping a year-long tour on the political stage after leaving her high-profile Silicon Valley post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021000739.html
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Ex-Central Mich. basketball player sues, says she lost scholarship partly because she's not gay
Central Michigan and its women's basketball coach are being sued by a former player, who claims her heterosexuality was a factor in losing a scholarship after two seasons.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-bkw-cent-michigan-lawsuit,0,4644303.story
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Steve Rothaus
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Gay marriage activists to hold national protest on Thursday
News release from Marriage Equality USA:
Oakland, California: On National Freedom to Marry Day, Thursday, February 12, 2009, at local marriage counters in cities all over the country, same-sex couples will request marriage licenses at their local County Clerk's Offices to raise awareness of the harms and impact the inability to marry causes on their families.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Fla. school sued over refusing gay-straight club
By RON WORD
Two Florida high school students on Tuesday sued their school board because they were not allowed to form a club that promotes the tolerance of gays.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/897819.html
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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Isle of Man politician compared to Nazis over trans comments
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk .
A member of the Isle of Man's parliament has been accused of using language more akin to the Nazis during a debate about the rights of transexuals.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11123.html
-London event to discuss if bareback pornography is hindering HIV prevention
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
A special event at London's Southbank centre this week will explore the impact of unsafe sex practices in gay pornography.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11122.html
-Ireland to refuse adoption rights for gay couples
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
A leading gay rights group in Ireland is angry that new adoption legislation is discriminatory. The Irish government published the Adoption Bill 2009 last month. It limits access to adoption
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11121.html
-Tennessee man pleads guilty to shootings at gay-friendly church
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
An 58-year-old jobless man in Tennessee has admitted to the killing of two people and the wounding of six others at a church last year.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11119.html
-US Congress returns to equal immigration rights for same-sex couples
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
A 2007 bill that would offer binational same-sex relationships the same recognition and treatment afforded to binational married couples will come back before the US House of Representatives on Thursday.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11114.html
-Macedonian candidate for President claims gays face no discrimination
By Tony Grew
A leading candidate for President of Macedonia has claimed that discrimnation against gay and lesbian people is a myth.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11112.html
-Hip hop star Kanye West admits he used to be scared of gay people
American music star Kanye West has said he "used to be scared to talk to a gay person" and clarified comments that gay people dress better than heterosexuals. ip hop has been branded a homophobic form of music because of the anti-gay lyrics used by some artists. Mr West has repeatedly spoken out against homophobia
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11110.html
-New "Mr Gay World" is a leader and a spokesman claims contest organiser
A 37-year-old from Dublin has won an international beauty contest and now refers to himself as "Mr Gay World."
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11102.html
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The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Maine Marriage Initiative Launches Website
The Maine Marriage Initiative has launched a website, complete with a glittering image of a bright-eyed young heterosexual couple and their son, the message below it reading, "Families should be strengthened ... not redefined."
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72872.asp
-Utah Gov: I'll Back Gay Rights Bills
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. says he would support a legislative effort to provide some rights to gay and transgender individuals.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72876.asp
-Youth Center Vandalism Not a Hate Crime
Four people have been charged with second-degree criminal mischief for vandalizing a gay youth center in Bayshore, N.Y. The four will not be charged with a hate crime despite outcry from public officials as high as Gov. David Paterson.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72849.asp
-Kansas Lesbian Discharged From National Guard
A nine-year member of the Kansas Army National Guard was discharged under the military's ban on gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members. Amy Brian was the Kansas Guard's first discharge under the nearly 16-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" policy, according to the Associated Press.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72785.asp
-A Time for Integration
Slowly but surely, a new generation of gay guys and girls is showing a generation of people used to living their lives on the outskirts how to integrate again. Click the byline to view more stories by this author.By Reichen Lehmkuhl
http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid72535.asp
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Withers: Is Barack Obama George Bush 2.0?
By James Withers, contributing editor, 365Gay Blog
Barely a month into the job and there's chatter among the political blogs that President Barack Obama differs little from the former president now living in Dallas. The Daily Show host Jon Stewart got the ball rolling on Obama's first day by noting both men used the same rhetoric in their speeches.
http://www.365gay.com/blog/021009-obama-supports-bush-terror-policies/
-Rainbow list highlights GLBTQ children's literature
By Dana Rudolph
"We're trying to find the best books that reflect GLBTQ experiences," says Nel Ward, chair of the American Library Association's (ALA) Rainbow List committee. The committee, a joint initiative of the ALA's GLBT and Social Responsibilities Round Tables, has just published its second annual list of recommended books for young readers from birth through age 18.
http://www.365gay.com/living/rainbow-list-highlights-glbtq-childrens-literature/
-Doctor resignation exposes shortage of HIV doctors in Canadian province
By The Canadian Press
(St John's, Newfoundland) Newfoundland and Labrador is scrambling to find a replacement for the province's only infectious disease specialist, who will be leaving next month.
http://www.365gay.com/news/doctor-resignation-exposes-shortage-of-hiv-doctors-in-canadian-province/
-Doctor who helped discover HIV says race for cure replaced prevention push
By The Canadian Press
(Calgary, Alberta) When Dr. Luc Montagnier painstakingly teased out the source of the new mysterious AIDS syndrome in a Paris laboratory 25 years ago, the very concept of the disease sparked panic in many people.
http://www.365gay.com/news/doctor-who-helped-discover-hiv-says-race-for-cure-replaced-prevention-push/
-Where are the gay greeting cards?
By Lisa Neff
I'm hoping for a love-is-in-the air mood on Valentine's Day, but the Peanuts-themed card I've found for my true love won't inspire the romance.
http://www.365gay.com/opinion/neff-where-are-the-gay-greeting-cards/
-Straight man promotes Gay Marriage In Colorado
A straight Colorado man is promoting a ballot measure that would allow same-sex marriage in the state.
http://www.365gay.com/news/straight-man-promotes-gay-marriage-in-colorado/
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Forwarded from Gays Without Borders
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-Moscow Gay Pride organisers have filed a complaint against Dmitry Medvedev at the European Court of Human Rights. They accuse the President of inaction following their request to stage a gay march in the Russian capital in May 2008.
http://www.russiatoday.com/features/news/37057
-Hip-hop homophobes? They are probably gay Research tells us almost everyone has a period of omnivorous urges I have always been slightly bemused by homophobia. Why would two adults (or 10) having consensual sex upset you? What's it to you? A new expose of one of the West's most rancidly anti-gay subcultures - hip-hop - offers the beginnings of an answer. Hip-hop has long been the ultimate in fag-bashing, gay-trashing hate music. Listen to many albums and a list of homophobic howls will hit you: Eminem squeaking "Hate fags? The answer's yes!", or Masse saying "I be wastin' em. That's what you faggots get!" The music's mood was summarised in a 1992 Ice Cube hit: "True niggaz ain't gay." This boom-boom-boom of homo-cidal hate has a crushing effect on gay kids. It sends out the message: you are so repulsive you should be killed. It's one of several reasons why gay teenagers are still - after all the amazing progress we have made - six times more likely to commit suicide than their straight siblings.
www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-hiphop-homophobes-they-are-probably-gay-1380365.html
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Forwarded from Euro-Queer
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article:
-One of the accepted panels in the Outgames Human Rights Conference is from the European Sexuality Resource Center. This is an initiative of organizations throughout Europe that intend to bring information resources on sexuality issues to a new level. The initiative is presently small, as you will see on www.sexualityresources.eu, but we intend to continue efforts to find the funding that will allow us to make the impact this purpose deserves.
http://www.copenhagen2009.org/Conference/2nd_International_Conference.aspx
-GAY RIGHTS GROUP SLAM NEW IRISH ADOPTION BILL
The National Lesbian & Gay Federation have expressed disappointment over a inequalities within the new Irish Adoption Bill
On January 23rd, with little public announcement, the Government published the Adoption Bill 2009. The Bill limits access to adoption to married couples and individuals, excluding non-married same-sex and opposite-sex couples from providing full security for their children or the opportunity to provide a secure base for children unable to live with their families of origin and therefore requiring adoption.
http://www.gcn.ie/GAY+RIGHTS+GROUP+SLAM+NEW+IRISH+ADOPTION+BILL
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Go to the links for the following articles:
Contact rays.list@comcast.net if you can't access the article
-Will Obama open federal bench to gays?
The more than 50 open federal judgeships offer a prime opportunity for the Obama administration to promote greater LGBT diversity by naming out candidates to fill the spots, according to this article. There is only one known out federal judge, Deborah A. Batts, of the Southern District of New York, Bay Area Reporter notes.
http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=3701
-Have you heard that Ken Starr -- and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund -- filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and attempting to forcibly divorce 18,000 same-sex couples that were married in California last year? The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, 2009, with a decision expected within the next 90 days. The Courage Campaign has created a video called "Fidelity," with the permission of musician Regina Spektor, that puts a face to those 18,000 couples and all loving, committed couples seeking full equality under the law. Please watch this heartbreaking video now. If you have the same reaction that I did, you can help spread the word by sharing it with your friends ASAP -- before the Valentine's Day deadline:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/ic/q40cdkwxz1gap7/SiFfQwwWBVE
-GSU's experts on sex issues anger state legislator
By AARON GOULD SHEININ
A powerful state lawmaker believes Georgia's university system must not be too bad off financially if it can afford to employ experts in such subjects as oral sex and male prostitution.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/02/02/sex_experts_legislature.html
-'Eleven Things About Sex Lawyers and Judges Should Know'
Publisher, Broward Law - Norm Kent
by Dr. Marty Klein
Because I periodically appear in court as an expert witness, and consult with lawyers and people in trouble, I've learned a bit about what attorneys and judges know about sex. Like physicians, physical therapists, and psychologists, it's very little. They really need to know more. Not about fallopian tubes and HIV, but about the role sex plays in real peoples' lives. About how they actually make decisions. And about how Americans are more similar to each other in the bedroom than the overheated rhetoric of Bill O'Reilly and the abstinence-only crowd suggests.
http://browardlawblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/eleven-things-about-sex-lawyers-and.html
-Counterpoint: Why Hate Crimes Legislation is a Bad Idea
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/02/loving_hate_why_hate_crimes_legislation.php
-With Sexual Liberty and Justice for All
"COLORADO JUST OPENED ITS PUBLIC BATHROOMS TO EITHER SEX!"
The Focus on the Family ad screams above a waist-down shot of a man in combat boots waiting in front of a stall, toilet seat up, as a white girl in a long white smock, white shoes and bobby socks, sneaks open her stall door next to him. The message below blasts Colorado's Democratic governor and legislators for passing an anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity. After losing his campaign to kill the bill last spring, James Dobson, head of the Christian culture war powerhouse, warned "Every woman and little girl will have to fear that a predator, bisexual, cross-dresser or even a homosexual or heterosexual male might walk in and relieve himself in their presence."
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/02/06/with-liberty-and-sexual-justice-all
-NJ: Palimony-in-Writing Bill Passed by N.J. Senate Judiciary Committee
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday approved bipartisan-sponsored legislation that would require all palimony agreements to be in writing and signed in order to be enforceable. The bill, S-2091, amends N.J.S.A. 25:1-5, which already requires that prenuptial agreements be put into writing, to include palimony agreements. It adds a new paragraph "h" stating: "A promise by one party to a non-marital personal relationship to provide support for the other party, either during the course of such relationship or after its termination" shall be in writing and signed by the party to be charged.
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202428137822&pos=ataglance
-WY lesbian pol 'too lazy' to be closeted; Straight Mormons for gay rights
Cathy Connelly, Wyoming first and only out member of the state legislature says she's "far too lazy" to be closeted. And two straight Mormon politicians out there are supportive of gay civil rights.
http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2009/02/wy-lesbian-pol-too-lazy-to-be-closeted.html
-Effort to Track Sex Offenders Draws Resistance
An aggressive federal effort to keep track of sexual offenders is at risk of collapse because of objections from states and legal challenges from sex offenders and others. The effort, approved by Congress three years ago, requires all states to adopt strict standards for registering sex offenders and is meant to prevent offenders from eluding the authorities, especially when they move out of state.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/us/09offender.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
-Obama's Deputy AG Nominee Under Fire for Porn Industry Ties
If you thought the attacks on Attorney General nominee Eric Holder were fierce, you ain't seen nothin' like the God-wrath visited upon David Ogden, President Obama's choice to fill what was Paul McNulty's job under Alberto Gonzales. McNulty, together with Kyle Sampson, Gonzales' Chief of Staff, were instrumental in the firings of nine U.S. Attorneys. At least two of those attorneys got the shaft, and another likely forced out of her job, because of their lack of interest in mounting anti-porn cases for Obscenity Prosecution Task Force czar Brent Ward, a former U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah. Ogden was part of the defense team that helped scuttle the Justice Department's last attempt to prosecute Adam & Eve for mailing obscene materials to Utah. It's no surprise that Ward's supporters are up in arms against him.
http://avnmag.avn.com/articles/34406.html
-Canadian courts to test the boundaries between polygamous & same-sex unions
http://www.baptiststandard.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9154&Itemid=53
-CEOs, Bankers Used Corporate Credit Cards for Sex, Says New York Madam
Wall Street Exposed as Convicted Escort Boss Reveals Client List of 9,800 Wall street lawyers, investment bankers, CEOs and media executives often used corporate credit cards to pay for $2,000 an hour prostitutes, according to the madam who ran one of New York's biggest and most expensive escort services until it was busted last year. But prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney's office chose not to pursue any of the corporate titans, says Kristin Davis, who pleaded guilty last year to charges of running a prostitution business that used more than a hundred women.
http://abcnews.go.com/blotter/story?id=6813806&page=1
-Register now for the Ithaca College Sport, Sexuality, and Culture
Conference
The conference begins on Wednesday evening, March 18th with Tuti Scott, President of Imagine Philanthropy and former Chief External Affairs Officer for the omen's Sports Foundation; followed by a keynote address from internationally known expert in the area of masculinity, sport, and sexuality, Eric Anderson, who is a lecturer at the University of Bath. On Thursday, March 19th at 7:00pm, former NBA player, author, and entrepreneur, John Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address. The full schedule of events during the two and a half days of the conference can be found at
http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/grad/sportmgmt/sportsexualitycultureintr/ConferenceSchedule/
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Palm Beach Human Rights Council
www.pbchrc.org
-University of South Florida: New scholarship supports LGBT community
The Alumni Association has developed the first endowed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) scholarship at USF. The idea started a year and a half ago as a $1,000 fund and is now a $29,000 endowment with a $20,000 donation from Dr. Karen Berkman, chair of USF's President's Committee on Issues of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (CISOGI). "We felt that this was something that we wanted to be at USF forever, and the only way to make that happen was to get an endowed scholarship fund," Berkman said. For a scholarship to become endowed, $25,000 must be raised. Once that amount is reached, the scholarship is essentially permanent and operates off of interest, she said. USF is now among the few public universities in Florida to offer such a scholarship, said Merrell Dickey, Alumni Association director of chapter and corporate relations.
http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001Q2Adiqq9HW_atYxvkN9391iBVpmIJTFGyq9N9qTwDzSxs1o7pqHTdwvHtQvDsKqgz-ilvSzbCbIvNuBjxHHYl1tDyUKEhD8x8Vj0xa59r3M9GSJM0OUs-A%3D%3D
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-NY: For Supporters of Gay Marriage, a Dashing of Great Expectations
By JEREMY W. PETERS
When Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith spoke to a hotel ballroom in Manhattan packed with hundreds of gay-rights advocates, fund-raisers and politicians on Saturday night, his mere mention of the words "marriage equality" roused the crowd.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/nyregion/09gay.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=gay&st=cse
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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Harvard Dean, Chosen as Solicitor General, Goes Before Senators
By Robert Barnes
When Harvard Law School hosted a huge dinner a few years ago for the conservative Federalist Society, the school's dean, Elena Kagan, received such long and enthusiastic applause that she felt compelled to hold up her arms in mock protest.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/09/AR2009020903303.html
-Whitman makes exploratory bid for GOP nomination [Supported Prop 8]
By JULIET WILLIAMS
Former eBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman officially launched her bid to seek the Republican nomination for California governor on Monday, capping a year-long tour on the political stage after leaving her high-profile Silicon Valley post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021000739.html
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Ex-Central Mich. basketball player sues, says she lost scholarship partly because she's not gay
Central Michigan and its women's basketball coach are being sued by a former player, who claims her heterosexuality was a factor in losing a scholarship after two seasons.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-bkw-cent-michigan-lawsuit,0,4644303.story
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Steve Rothaus
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Gay marriage activists to hold national protest on Thursday
News release from Marriage Equality USA:
Oakland, California: On National Freedom to Marry Day, Thursday, February 12, 2009, at local marriage counters in cities all over the country, same-sex couples will request marriage licenses at their local County Clerk's Offices to raise awareness of the harms and impact the inability to marry causes on their families.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Fla. school sued over refusing gay-straight club
By RON WORD
Two Florida high school students on Tuesday sued their school board because they were not allowed to form a club that promotes the tolerance of gays.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/897819.html
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Pink News - UK
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Isle of Man politician compared to Nazis over trans comments
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk .
A member of the Isle of Man's parliament has been accused of using language more akin to the Nazis during a debate about the rights of transexuals.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11123.html
-London event to discuss if bareback pornography is hindering HIV prevention
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
A special event at London's Southbank centre this week will explore the impact of unsafe sex practices in gay pornography.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11122.html
-Ireland to refuse adoption rights for gay couples
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
A leading gay rights group in Ireland is angry that new adoption legislation is discriminatory. The Irish government published the Adoption Bill 2009 last month. It limits access to adoption
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11121.html
-Tennessee man pleads guilty to shootings at gay-friendly church
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
An 58-year-old jobless man in Tennessee has admitted to the killing of two people and the wounding of six others at a church last year.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11119.html
-US Congress returns to equal immigration rights for same-sex couples
By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
A 2007 bill that would offer binational same-sex relationships the same recognition and treatment afforded to binational married couples will come back before the US House of Representatives on Thursday.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11114.html
-Macedonian candidate for President claims gays face no discrimination
By Tony Grew
A leading candidate for President of Macedonia has claimed that discrimnation against gay and lesbian people is a myth.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11112.html
-Hip hop star Kanye West admits he used to be scared of gay people
American music star Kanye West has said he "used to be scared to talk to a gay person" and clarified comments that gay people dress better than heterosexuals. ip hop has been branded a homophobic form of music because of the anti-gay lyrics used by some artists. Mr West has repeatedly spoken out against homophobia
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11110.html
-New "Mr Gay World" is a leader and a spokesman claims contest organiser
A 37-year-old from Dublin has won an international beauty contest and now refers to himself as "Mr Gay World."
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11102.html
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The Advocate
http://advocate.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Maine Marriage Initiative Launches Website
The Maine Marriage Initiative has launched a website, complete with a glittering image of a bright-eyed young heterosexual couple and their son, the message below it reading, "Families should be strengthened ... not redefined."
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72872.asp
-Utah Gov: I'll Back Gay Rights Bills
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. says he would support a legislative effort to provide some rights to gay and transgender individuals.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72876.asp
-Youth Center Vandalism Not a Hate Crime
Four people have been charged with second-degree criminal mischief for vandalizing a gay youth center in Bayshore, N.Y. The four will not be charged with a hate crime despite outcry from public officials as high as Gov. David Paterson.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72849.asp
-Kansas Lesbian Discharged From National Guard
A nine-year member of the Kansas Army National Guard was discharged under the military's ban on gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members. Amy Brian was the Kansas Guard's first discharge under the nearly 16-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" policy, according to the Associated Press.
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid72785.asp
-A Time for Integration
Slowly but surely, a new generation of gay guys and girls is showing a generation of people used to living their lives on the outskirts how to integrate again. Click the byline to view more stories by this author.By Reichen Lehmkuhl
http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid72535.asp
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365Gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Withers: Is Barack Obama George Bush 2.0?
By James Withers, contributing editor, 365Gay Blog
Barely a month into the job and there's chatter among the political blogs that President Barack Obama differs little from the former president now living in Dallas. The Daily Show host Jon Stewart got the ball rolling on Obama's first day by noting both men used the same rhetoric in their speeches.
http://www.365gay.com/blog/021009-obama-supports-bush-terror-policies/
-Rainbow list highlights GLBTQ children's literature
By Dana Rudolph
"We're trying to find the best books that reflect GLBTQ experiences," says Nel Ward, chair of the American Library Association's (ALA) Rainbow List committee. The committee, a joint initiative of the ALA's GLBT and Social Responsibilities Round Tables, has just published its second annual list of recommended books for young readers from birth through age 18.
http://www.365gay.com/living/rainbow-list-highlights-glbtq-childrens-literature/
-Doctor resignation exposes shortage of HIV doctors in Canadian province
By The Canadian Press
(St John's, Newfoundland) Newfoundland and Labrador is scrambling to find a replacement for the province's only infectious disease specialist, who will be leaving next month.
http://www.365gay.com/news/doctor-resignation-exposes-shortage-of-hiv-doctors-in-canadian-province/
-Doctor who helped discover HIV says race for cure replaced prevention push
By The Canadian Press
(Calgary, Alberta) When Dr. Luc Montagnier painstakingly teased out the source of the new mysterious AIDS syndrome in a Paris laboratory 25 years ago, the very concept of the disease sparked panic in many people.
http://www.365gay.com/news/doctor-who-helped-discover-hiv-says-race-for-cure-replaced-prevention-push/
-Where are the gay greeting cards?
By Lisa Neff
I'm hoping for a love-is-in-the air mood on Valentine's Day, but the Peanuts-themed card I've found for my true love won't inspire the romance.
http://www.365gay.com/opinion/neff-where-are-the-gay-greeting-cards/
-Straight man promotes Gay Marriage In Colorado
A straight Colorado man is promoting a ballot measure that would allow same-sex marriage in the state.
http://www.365gay.com/news/straight-man-promotes-gay-marriage-in-colorado/
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Forwarded from Gays Without Borders
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-Moscow Gay Pride organisers have filed a complaint against Dmitry Medvedev at the European Court of Human Rights. They accuse the President of inaction following their request to stage a gay march in the Russian capital in May 2008.
http://www.russiatoday.com/features/news/37057
-Hip-hop homophobes? They are probably gay Research tells us almost everyone has a period of omnivorous urges I have always been slightly bemused by homophobia. Why would two adults (or 10) having consensual sex upset you? What's it to you? A new expose of one of the West's most rancidly anti-gay subcultures - hip-hop - offers the beginnings of an answer. Hip-hop has long been the ultimate in fag-bashing, gay-trashing hate music. Listen to many albums and a list of homophobic howls will hit you: Eminem squeaking "Hate fags? The answer's yes!", or Masse saying "I be wastin' em. That's what you faggots get!" The music's mood was summarised in a 1992 Ice Cube hit: "True niggaz ain't gay." This boom-boom-boom of homo-cidal hate has a crushing effect on gay kids. It sends out the message: you are so repulsive you should be killed. It's one of several reasons why gay teenagers are still - after all the amazing progress we have made - six times more likely to commit suicide than their straight siblings.
www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-hiphop-homophobes-they-are-probably-gay-1380365.html
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Forwarded from Euro-Queer
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article:
-One of the accepted panels in the Outgames Human Rights Conference is from the European Sexuality Resource Center. This is an initiative of organizations throughout Europe that intend to bring information resources on sexuality issues to a new level. The initiative is presently small, as you will see on www.sexualityresources.eu, but we intend to continue efforts to find the funding that will allow us to make the impact this purpose deserves.
http://www.copenhagen2009.org/Conference/2nd_International_Conference.aspx
-GAY RIGHTS GROUP SLAM NEW IRISH ADOPTION BILL
The National Lesbian & Gay Federation have expressed disappointment over a inequalities within the new Irish Adoption Bill
On January 23rd, with little public announcement, the Government published the Adoption Bill 2009. The Bill limits access to adoption to married couples and individuals, excluding non-married same-sex and opposite-sex couples from providing full security for their children or the opportunity to provide a secure base for children unable to live with their families of origin and therefore requiring adoption.
http://www.gcn.ie/GAY+RIGHTS+GROUP+SLAM+NEW+IRISH+ADOPTION+BILL
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Go to the links for the following articles:
Contact rays.list@comcast.net if you can't access the article
-Will Obama open federal bench to gays?
The more than 50 open federal judgeships offer a prime opportunity for the Obama administration to promote greater LGBT diversity by naming out candidates to fill the spots, according to this article. There is only one known out federal judge, Deborah A. Batts, of the Southern District of New York, Bay Area Reporter notes.
http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=3701
-Have you heard that Ken Starr -- and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund -- filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and attempting to forcibly divorce 18,000 same-sex couples that were married in California last year? The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, 2009, with a decision expected within the next 90 days. The Courage Campaign has created a video called "Fidelity," with the permission of musician Regina Spektor, that puts a face to those 18,000 couples and all loving, committed couples seeking full equality under the law. Please watch this heartbreaking video now. If you have the same reaction that I did, you can help spread the word by sharing it with your friends ASAP -- before the Valentine's Day deadline:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/ic/q40cdkwxz1gap7/SiFfQwwWBVE
-GSU's experts on sex issues anger state legislator
By AARON GOULD SHEININ
A powerful state lawmaker believes Georgia's university system must not be too bad off financially if it can afford to employ experts in such subjects as oral sex and male prostitution.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/02/02/sex_experts_legislature.html
-'Eleven Things About Sex Lawyers and Judges Should Know'
Publisher, Broward Law - Norm Kent
by Dr. Marty Klein
Because I periodically appear in court as an expert witness, and consult with lawyers and people in trouble, I've learned a bit about what attorneys and judges know about sex. Like physicians, physical therapists, and psychologists, it's very little. They really need to know more. Not about fallopian tubes and HIV, but about the role sex plays in real peoples' lives. About how they actually make decisions. And about how Americans are more similar to each other in the bedroom than the overheated rhetoric of Bill O'Reilly and the abstinence-only crowd suggests.
http://browardlawblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/eleven-things-about-sex-lawyers-and.html
-Counterpoint: Why Hate Crimes Legislation is a Bad Idea
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/02/loving_hate_why_hate_crimes_legislation.php
-With Sexual Liberty and Justice for All
"COLORADO JUST OPENED ITS PUBLIC BATHROOMS TO EITHER SEX!"
The Focus on the Family ad screams above a waist-down shot of a man in combat boots waiting in front of a stall, toilet seat up, as a white girl in a long white smock, white shoes and bobby socks, sneaks open her stall door next to him. The message below blasts Colorado's Democratic governor and legislators for passing an anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity. After losing his campaign to kill the bill last spring, James Dobson, head of the Christian culture war powerhouse, warned "Every woman and little girl will have to fear that a predator, bisexual, cross-dresser or even a homosexual or heterosexual male might walk in and relieve himself in their presence."
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/02/06/with-liberty-and-sexual-justice-all
-NJ: Palimony-in-Writing Bill Passed by N.J. Senate Judiciary Committee
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday approved bipartisan-sponsored legislation that would require all palimony agreements to be in writing and signed in order to be enforceable. The bill, S-2091, amends N.J.S.A. 25:1-5, which already requires that prenuptial agreements be put into writing, to include palimony agreements. It adds a new paragraph "h" stating: "A promise by one party to a non-marital personal relationship to provide support for the other party, either during the course of such relationship or after its termination" shall be in writing and signed by the party to be charged.
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202428137822&pos=ataglance
-WY lesbian pol 'too lazy' to be closeted; Straight Mormons for gay rights
Cathy Connelly, Wyoming first and only out member of the state legislature says she's "far too lazy" to be closeted. And two straight Mormon politicians out there are supportive of gay civil rights.
http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/2009/02/wy-lesbian-pol-too-lazy-to-be-closeted.html
-Effort to Track Sex Offenders Draws Resistance
An aggressive federal effort to keep track of sexual offenders is at risk of collapse because of objections from states and legal challenges from sex offenders and others. The effort, approved by Congress three years ago, requires all states to adopt strict standards for registering sex offenders and is meant to prevent offenders from eluding the authorities, especially when they move out of state.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/us/09offender.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
-Obama's Deputy AG Nominee Under Fire for Porn Industry Ties
If you thought the attacks on Attorney General nominee Eric Holder were fierce, you ain't seen nothin' like the God-wrath visited upon David Ogden, President Obama's choice to fill what was Paul McNulty's job under Alberto Gonzales. McNulty, together with Kyle Sampson, Gonzales' Chief of Staff, were instrumental in the firings of nine U.S. Attorneys. At least two of those attorneys got the shaft, and another likely forced out of her job, because of their lack of interest in mounting anti-porn cases for Obscenity Prosecution Task Force czar Brent Ward, a former U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah. Ogden was part of the defense team that helped scuttle the Justice Department's last attempt to prosecute Adam & Eve for mailing obscene materials to Utah. It's no surprise that Ward's supporters are up in arms against him.
http://avnmag.avn.com/articles/34406.html
-Canadian courts to test the boundaries between polygamous & same-sex unions
http://www.baptiststandard.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9154&Itemid=53
-CEOs, Bankers Used Corporate Credit Cards for Sex, Says New York Madam
Wall Street Exposed as Convicted Escort Boss Reveals Client List of 9,800 Wall street lawyers, investment bankers, CEOs and media executives often used corporate credit cards to pay for $2,000 an hour prostitutes, according to the madam who ran one of New York's biggest and most expensive escort services until it was busted last year. But prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney's office chose not to pursue any of the corporate titans, says Kristin Davis, who pleaded guilty last year to charges of running a prostitution business that used more than a hundred women.
http://abcnews.go.com/blotter/story?id=6813806&page=1
-Register now for the Ithaca College Sport, Sexuality, and Culture
Conference
The conference begins on Wednesday evening, March 18th with Tuti Scott, President of Imagine Philanthropy and former Chief External Affairs Officer for the omen's Sports Foundation; followed by a keynote address from internationally known expert in the area of masculinity, sport, and sexuality, Eric Anderson, who is a lecturer at the University of Bath. On Thursday, March 19th at 7:00pm, former NBA player, author, and entrepreneur, John Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address. The full schedule of events during the two and a half days of the conference can be found at
http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/grad/sportmgmt/sportsexualitycultureintr/ConferenceSchedule/
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Palm Beach Human Rights Council
www.pbchrc.org
-University of South Florida: New scholarship supports LGBT community
The Alumni Association has developed the first endowed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) scholarship at USF. The idea started a year and a half ago as a $1,000 fund and is now a $29,000 endowment with a $20,000 donation from Dr. Karen Berkman, chair of USF's President's Committee on Issues of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (CISOGI). "We felt that this was something that we wanted to be at USF forever, and the only way to make that happen was to get an endowed scholarship fund," Berkman said. For a scholarship to become endowed, $25,000 must be raised. Once that amount is reached, the scholarship is essentially permanent and operates off of interest, she said. USF is now among the few public universities in Florida to offer such a scholarship, said Merrell Dickey, Alumni Association director of chapter and corporate relations.
http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001Q2Adiqq9HW_atYxvkN9391iBVpmIJTFGyq9N9qTwDzSxs1o7pqHTdwvHtQvDsKqgz-ilvSzbCbIvNuBjxHHYl1tDyUKEhD8x8Vj0xa59r3M9GSJM0OUs-A%3D%3D
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS - February 11, 2009
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Battle Is Close in Israeli Election
By ETHAN BRONNER and ISABEL KERSHNER
JERUSALEM - Israel began what could possibly be days or even weeks of political jockeying to assemble a governing coalition on Wednesday, a day after elections that anointed no immediate winner and left unclear the shape of the next Israeli government.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/world/middleeast/12mideast.html?hp
-U.S. Prepares to Broach Hard Issues With China
By MARK LANDLER
The Obama administration plans to realign the United States' relationship with China by putting more emphasis on climate change, energy and human rights, widening the focus beyond the economic concerns of the Bush years, according to senior administration officials.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/washington/11diplo.html
-Cuomo Cites Big Bonuses for Many at Merrill
By LOUISE STORY
Merrill Lynch paid out bonuses of more than $1 million to 696 people last year, according to Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo of New York.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/business/12merrill.html
-Agent Claims Evidence on Stevens Was Concealed
By NEIL A. LEWIS
An F.B.I. agent who worked on the investigation of Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, who was convicted on ethics charges, has said in a stunning formal complaint that a fellow agent and prosecutors contrived to improperly conceal evidence from the court and the defense.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/us/politics/11stevens.html
-Op-Ed Columnist: The Open-Door Bailout
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Bangalore, India: Leave it to a brainy Indian to come up with the cheapest and surest way to stimulate our economy: immigration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/opinion/11friedman.html?ref=opinion
-Editorial: Continuity of the Wrong Kind
The Obama administration failed - miserably - the first test of its commitment to ditching the extravagant legal claims used by the Bush administration to try to impose blanket secrecy on anti-terrorism policies and avoid accountability for serial abuses of the law.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/opinion/11wed2.html?ref=opinion
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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-A Rush-and-Shush Rescue
By David Ignatius
The financial rescue program involves "very large numbers," Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said yesterday in announcing a package that could cost up to $2 trillion. Uh, yeah. . . . His bailout numbers would be equivalent to nearly 15 percent of last year's gross domestic product. And that's not counting the $838 billion stimulus program or the $350 billion we've already spent on the Troubled Assets Relief Program.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021003099.html
-An Unfinished Product
America's banks need a plan. The Obama administration delivered a concept.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021003390.html
-Pakistan Wants More From U.S.
During Envoy's Visit, Islamabad Presses for Aid, Cooperation
By Karen DeYoung
Inside the warm welcome and promises of a "new beginning" that Pakistan extended U.S. special envoy Richard C. Holbrooke yesterday was a warning that Pakistan expects more from the United States in return for its cooperation against al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021003575.html?hpid=moreheadlines
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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-CIVIL RIGHTS: For a century, NAACP has been doing The Work
By LEONARD PITTS JR.
lpitts@miamiherald.com
It began before it began. This was in 1905 when the great black scholar W.E.B. DuBois called a meeting of prominent black men. They met on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls because hotels in their own country would not accommodate them and formed what became known as the Niagara Movement.
http://www.miamiherald.com/285/story/898190.html
-Holocaust denier forfeits his Catholic office
Vatican needs to do more to quell uproar over bishop's reinstatement Pope Benedict XVI stirred up another controversy last month when he reinstated a bishop who said of the Holocaust: ``There was not one Jew killed in the gas chambers. It was all lies, lies, lies.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/896431.html
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Charm offensive backfires on Obama
Once upon a time, America thought Prince Charming would glide in and kiss her, reviving her from a coma induced by a poison apple of greed, deceit, carelessness, recklessness and overreaching.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-10dowdsbfeb10,0,3600012.story
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Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
-Mugabe Swears In Tsvangirai as Zimbabwe's New Prime Minister
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123434763224672379.html
-Geithner at the Improv
Amid more public uncertainty, private capital flees.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123431393654070877.html
-No Pity for Rich Tax Cheats Yet IRS Says the Wealthy Have Fewer Errors on Returns
By MARTIN VAUGHAN
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123431935722571333.html
-The Unmentionable Bank Solution It's all about "regulatory forbearance."
Tim Geithner didn't use the words "regulatory forbearance" yesterday in his banking bailout presentation. In fact, no one in Washington uses those words, which are seriously out of fashion. Yet regulatory forbearance is the most important item in the government toolkit, and the giant raspberry Mr. Geithner received from the market yesterday should be his signal that the market understands this and worries he doesn't.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123431242260270741.html
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Pew Research center
http://pewresearch.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-State of the Administration
Obama Rides High Despite Slip in Support for Stimulus Package
Although support for the economic stimulus package has weakened over the last month, President Obama's personal image is extremely strong with fully 92% of the public rating him a good communicator. The belief that Obama represents a break from politics as usual is also widespread. Read more
-From Candidate to President
One-word descriptions of President Obama have changed dramatically since he was a candidate. View the changes in perceptions from campaign trail to Oval Office in word clouds. Read more
-Media Judgment: The First 10 or So Days
Less than three weeks into the new administration, many among the media talking-heads were declaring it a failure, one asking if it was the roughest debut in recent presidential history. Read more
-Thoughts for Food
McDonald's and Starbucks: 43% Yin, 35% Yang
In a smackdown between Big Macs and caffe lattes, Americans typecast themselves by just about every conceivable demographic characteristic and, most notably, by political ideology. Read more
-Regional Politics
Venezuela's Chavez Faces Lessened Popularity in the Region -- and at Home
Since first elected president 10 years ago, Hugo Chavez has often portrayed himself as a regional leader, at the forefront of a new era of Latin American populism. However, in many countries in the region, Chavez fails to inspire much confidence. Read more
-God's Politics
Religion's Role in the 2008 Election
Two experts examine the religious vote in the November election and discuss implications for the future. Read more
-Daily Number
35% - Friending Mom and Dad
The number of adult internet users (those ages 18 years and older who go online) who have a profile on a social networking website has quadrupled in the past four years, rising from 8% in 2005 to 35% now. Check back every weekday for another number in the news. Read more
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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Group pledges to fight GOP senators who support stimulus
From Alexander Mooney
An influential conservative political action committee is pledging to support primary challenges to any Republican senator who backs the economic stimulus package -- the latest public show of dissatisfaction from the right over the massive measure before Congress.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/10/stimulus.gop.pac/index.html
-Clinton holds out hope for useful talks with Iran
By ROBERT BURNS
The U.S. and Iran have a chance to "work out a way of talking" that could lead to understandings on a range of issues, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday.
http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/politics-17/1234315461135110.xml&storylist=topstories
-Pelosi not cracking under conference pressure
By Jared Allen and Mike Soraghan
If House leaders are under pressure to pass the Senate's economic stimulus bill, they sure aren't showing it.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-not-cracking-under-conference-pressure-2009-02-10.html
-Op-Ed Columnist: The Destructive Center
By PAUL KRUGMAN
What do you call someone who eliminates hundreds of thousands of American jobs, deprives millions of adequate health care and nutrition, undermines schools, but offers a $15,000 bonus to affluent people who flip their houses?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/opinion/09krugman.html?_r=1
-GOP makes Pelosi focus in stimulus fight
By Sasha Issenberg
Direct attacks on Obama seen as unwise
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/02/11/gop_makes_pelosi_focus_in_stimulus_fight/
-What Rocky Start?
One Lousy Week Aside, Obama Is Doing Fine
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021003101.html
-Jeb trashes stimulus package Crist wants
Former Gov. Jeb Bush is wandering the halls of the state Capitol today, advocating for his Foundation for Florida's Future education package because Gov. Charlie Crist canceled a lunch with Bush and other former governors so that he could introduce President Barack Obama in Fort Myers. Crist wants the stimulus package. Bush thinks it's bad news, as evidenced by this brief interview as he hustled away and drove off in a family wagon driven by Foundation chief Pat Levesque along with lobbyist John Thrasher.
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/02/jeb-trashes-sti.html
-CUBA: Congressional bill would end ban on travel to Cuba
By LIZA GROSS AND FRANCES ROBLES
A bill in Congress says all Americans should be able to visit Cuba. 'The conditions are good' for the legislation to pass.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/story/898174.html
-Proposed law could scuttle Everglades land-purchase deal
By Andy Reid
State legislators could use a bill filed Tuesday to try to cut off the money for Gov. Charlie Crist's $1.34 billion Everglades land buy.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpeverglades0211sbfeb11,0,7219624.story
-Food for thought: Big government saves state money
By Frank Cerabino
You ought to care about Florida's prison food even if you think prisoners deserve nothing better than slop from a trough. This month, the state began feeding its own prisoners again, ending a seven-year odyssey of free-market thinking that produced profit for a Pennsylvania company and millions of dollars in extra expense to Florida taxpayers, according to the state's own auditors.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/02/10/a1b_bino_0211.html
-SUPREME COURT: A Tough Choice Draws Nearer
By Stuart Taylor Jr
President Obama has tried to remain true to his campaign message of bipartisanship. But he's struggled to get everyone else to play along. Congressional Democrats, finally out from under the GOP thumb, want to enjoy their powers, while Republicans are already plotting their comeback. It'll only get worse with time, as firm decisions have to be made on issues that are loaded with ideology and emotion.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/183705
-There's a New Lawyer in Town
The top 10 cases the Obama Justice Department should redo.
By Emily Bazelon and Judith Resnik
Emily Bazelon will join Dahlia Lithwick in a chat about Obama's legal policies from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Feb. 12, on Washingtonpost.com.
Submit a question in advance or join the chat.
http://www.slate.com/id/2210637/
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Battle Is Close in Israeli Election
By ETHAN BRONNER and ISABEL KERSHNER
JERUSALEM - Israel began what could possibly be days or even weeks of political jockeying to assemble a governing coalition on Wednesday, a day after elections that anointed no immediate winner and left unclear the shape of the next Israeli government.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/world/middleeast/12mideast.html?hp
-U.S. Prepares to Broach Hard Issues With China
By MARK LANDLER
The Obama administration plans to realign the United States' relationship with China by putting more emphasis on climate change, energy and human rights, widening the focus beyond the economic concerns of the Bush years, according to senior administration officials.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/washington/11diplo.html
-Cuomo Cites Big Bonuses for Many at Merrill
By LOUISE STORY
Merrill Lynch paid out bonuses of more than $1 million to 696 people last year, according to Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo of New York.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/business/12merrill.html
-Agent Claims Evidence on Stevens Was Concealed
By NEIL A. LEWIS
An F.B.I. agent who worked on the investigation of Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, who was convicted on ethics charges, has said in a stunning formal complaint that a fellow agent and prosecutors contrived to improperly conceal evidence from the court and the defense.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/us/politics/11stevens.html
-Op-Ed Columnist: The Open-Door Bailout
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Bangalore, India: Leave it to a brainy Indian to come up with the cheapest and surest way to stimulate our economy: immigration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/opinion/11friedman.html?ref=opinion
-Editorial: Continuity of the Wrong Kind
The Obama administration failed - miserably - the first test of its commitment to ditching the extravagant legal claims used by the Bush administration to try to impose blanket secrecy on anti-terrorism policies and avoid accountability for serial abuses of the law.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/opinion/11wed2.html?ref=opinion
=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-A Rush-and-Shush Rescue
By David Ignatius
The financial rescue program involves "very large numbers," Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said yesterday in announcing a package that could cost up to $2 trillion. Uh, yeah. . . . His bailout numbers would be equivalent to nearly 15 percent of last year's gross domestic product. And that's not counting the $838 billion stimulus program or the $350 billion we've already spent on the Troubled Assets Relief Program.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021003099.html
-An Unfinished Product
America's banks need a plan. The Obama administration delivered a concept.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021003390.html
-Pakistan Wants More From U.S.
During Envoy's Visit, Islamabad Presses for Aid, Cooperation
By Karen DeYoung
Inside the warm welcome and promises of a "new beginning" that Pakistan extended U.S. special envoy Richard C. Holbrooke yesterday was a warning that Pakistan expects more from the United States in return for its cooperation against al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021003575.html?hpid=moreheadlines
=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-CIVIL RIGHTS: For a century, NAACP has been doing The Work
By LEONARD PITTS JR.
lpitts@miamiherald.com
It began before it began. This was in 1905 when the great black scholar W.E.B. DuBois called a meeting of prominent black men. They met on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls because hotels in their own country would not accommodate them and formed what became known as the Niagara Movement.
http://www.miamiherald.com/285/story/898190.html
-Holocaust denier forfeits his Catholic office
Vatican needs to do more to quell uproar over bishop's reinstatement Pope Benedict XVI stirred up another controversy last month when he reinstated a bishop who said of the Holocaust: ``There was not one Jew killed in the gas chambers. It was all lies, lies, lies.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/896431.html
=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Charm offensive backfires on Obama
Once upon a time, America thought Prince Charming would glide in and kiss her, reviving her from a coma induced by a poison apple of greed, deceit, carelessness, recklessness and overreaching.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-10dowdsbfeb10,0,3600012.story
=
Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
-Mugabe Swears In Tsvangirai as Zimbabwe's New Prime Minister
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123434763224672379.html
-Geithner at the Improv
Amid more public uncertainty, private capital flees.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123431393654070877.html
-No Pity for Rich Tax Cheats Yet IRS Says the Wealthy Have Fewer Errors on Returns
By MARTIN VAUGHAN
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123431935722571333.html
-The Unmentionable Bank Solution It's all about "regulatory forbearance."
Tim Geithner didn't use the words "regulatory forbearance" yesterday in his banking bailout presentation. In fact, no one in Washington uses those words, which are seriously out of fashion. Yet regulatory forbearance is the most important item in the government toolkit, and the giant raspberry Mr. Geithner received from the market yesterday should be his signal that the market understands this and worries he doesn't.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123431242260270741.html
=
Pew Research center
http://pewresearch.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-State of the Administration
Obama Rides High Despite Slip in Support for Stimulus Package
Although support for the economic stimulus package has weakened over the last month, President Obama's personal image is extremely strong with fully 92% of the public rating him a good communicator. The belief that Obama represents a break from politics as usual is also widespread. Read more
-From Candidate to President
One-word descriptions of President Obama have changed dramatically since he was a candidate. View the changes in perceptions from campaign trail to Oval Office in word clouds. Read more
-Media Judgment: The First 10 or So Days
Less than three weeks into the new administration, many among the media talking-heads were declaring it a failure, one asking if it was the roughest debut in recent presidential history. Read more
-Thoughts for Food
McDonald's and Starbucks: 43% Yin, 35% Yang
In a smackdown between Big Macs and caffe lattes, Americans typecast themselves by just about every conceivable demographic characteristic and, most notably, by political ideology. Read more
-Regional Politics
Venezuela's Chavez Faces Lessened Popularity in the Region -- and at Home
Since first elected president 10 years ago, Hugo Chavez has often portrayed himself as a regional leader, at the forefront of a new era of Latin American populism. However, in many countries in the region, Chavez fails to inspire much confidence. Read more
-God's Politics
Religion's Role in the 2008 Election
Two experts examine the religious vote in the November election and discuss implications for the future. Read more
-Daily Number
35% - Friending Mom and Dad
The number of adult internet users (those ages 18 years and older who go online) who have a profile on a social networking website has quadrupled in the past four years, rising from 8% in 2005 to 35% now. Check back every weekday for another number in the news. Read more
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Group pledges to fight GOP senators who support stimulus
From Alexander Mooney
An influential conservative political action committee is pledging to support primary challenges to any Republican senator who backs the economic stimulus package -- the latest public show of dissatisfaction from the right over the massive measure before Congress.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/10/stimulus.gop.pac/index.html
-Clinton holds out hope for useful talks with Iran
By ROBERT BURNS
The U.S. and Iran have a chance to "work out a way of talking" that could lead to understandings on a range of issues, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday.
http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/politics-17/1234315461135110.xml&storylist=topstories
-Pelosi not cracking under conference pressure
By Jared Allen and Mike Soraghan
If House leaders are under pressure to pass the Senate's economic stimulus bill, they sure aren't showing it.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-not-cracking-under-conference-pressure-2009-02-10.html
-Op-Ed Columnist: The Destructive Center
By PAUL KRUGMAN
What do you call someone who eliminates hundreds of thousands of American jobs, deprives millions of adequate health care and nutrition, undermines schools, but offers a $15,000 bonus to affluent people who flip their houses?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/opinion/09krugman.html?_r=1
-GOP makes Pelosi focus in stimulus fight
By Sasha Issenberg
Direct attacks on Obama seen as unwise
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/02/11/gop_makes_pelosi_focus_in_stimulus_fight/
-What Rocky Start?
One Lousy Week Aside, Obama Is Doing Fine
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021003101.html
-Jeb trashes stimulus package Crist wants
Former Gov. Jeb Bush is wandering the halls of the state Capitol today, advocating for his Foundation for Florida's Future education package because Gov. Charlie Crist canceled a lunch with Bush and other former governors so that he could introduce President Barack Obama in Fort Myers. Crist wants the stimulus package. Bush thinks it's bad news, as evidenced by this brief interview as he hustled away and drove off in a family wagon driven by Foundation chief Pat Levesque along with lobbyist John Thrasher.
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/02/jeb-trashes-sti.html
-CUBA: Congressional bill would end ban on travel to Cuba
By LIZA GROSS AND FRANCES ROBLES
A bill in Congress says all Americans should be able to visit Cuba. 'The conditions are good' for the legislation to pass.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/story/898174.html
-Proposed law could scuttle Everglades land-purchase deal
By Andy Reid
State legislators could use a bill filed Tuesday to try to cut off the money for Gov. Charlie Crist's $1.34 billion Everglades land buy.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpeverglades0211sbfeb11,0,7219624.story
-Food for thought: Big government saves state money
By Frank Cerabino
You ought to care about Florida's prison food even if you think prisoners deserve nothing better than slop from a trough. This month, the state began feeding its own prisoners again, ending a seven-year odyssey of free-market thinking that produced profit for a Pennsylvania company and millions of dollars in extra expense to Florida taxpayers, according to the state's own auditors.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/02/10/a1b_bino_0211.html
-SUPREME COURT: A Tough Choice Draws Nearer
By Stuart Taylor Jr
President Obama has tried to remain true to his campaign message of bipartisanship. But he's struggled to get everyone else to play along. Congressional Democrats, finally out from under the GOP thumb, want to enjoy their powers, while Republicans are already plotting their comeback. It'll only get worse with time, as firm decisions have to be made on issues that are loaded with ideology and emotion.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/183705
-There's a New Lawyer in Town
The top 10 cases the Obama Justice Department should redo.
By Emily Bazelon and Judith Resnik
Emily Bazelon will join Dahlia Lithwick in a chat about Obama's legal policies from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Feb. 12, on Washingtonpost.com.
Submit a question in advance or join the chat.
http://www.slate.com/id/2210637/
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
FLORIDA DIGEST - February 11, 2009
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Seiler crushes opponents in Ft. Lauderdale mayoral win, Rodstrom will get second term
By Brittany Wallman
Jack Seiler was elected Fort Lauderdale's new mayor Tuesday, crushing his three opponents and winning the seat outright.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-bn-021009-newmayor,0,3598533.story
-Fort Lauderdale mayor and commission election results
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/fort_lauderdale/sfl-flbftlcommbox0211sbfeb11,0,7050528.htmlstory
-Six candidates remain after Dania Beach City Commission primary
By Andrew Ba Tran
On Tuesday morning there were seven candidates eligible for the three open City Commission seats. One primary election later - and $60,000 in city funds spent on it - there were six.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-bn-0210-dania,0,730390.story
-Jack Seiler wins race for Fort Lauderdale mayor
BY AMY SHERMAN
Jack Seiler's long political résumé and well-financed campaign helped him win the Fort Lauderdale mayor's race.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/898150.html
-Wilton Manors, Dania Beach election results
BY DIANA MOSKOVITZ
Voters elected Scott Newton to the Wilton Manors City Commission on Tuesday and eliminated one candidate from the commission race in Dania Beach.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/898155.html
=
South Florida Blade
http://www.floridablade.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Election flops for gay hopefuls
Coleman Prewitt still in contention for run-off; all other candidates defeated
By Dan Renzi,
by Juan Carlos Rodriguez
There will be no gay mayor in Fort Lauderdale this election season and only one of seven other openly gay candidates for municipal office remains in contention March 10 as the Broward's most gay municipal election came to a close Tuesday.
http://www.floridablade.com/blog/index.cfm#23941
=
From Terry DeCarlo
Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Events
Broward House
-We wanted to let you know that the Alec Mapa show this Friday is almost sold out. There are a few seats left and we have discounted them to only $25 to make it a full house for him. We are letting you in on this first before we put it out to the general public so that you may have first pick of the seats that are left - Please let all your friends know as we are sure these seats will not last long. The show is this Friday night at 8:30 pm at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. You can call the box office right now to secure your seats at this price; the number is 954-462-0222, don't wait though, we will be utting this out to the general public later on tonight.
Thanks, hope to see you there
=
Stonewall Library & Archives
-Tonight! AWARD-WINNING NOVELIST KG MACGREGOR TO APPEAR AT STONEWALL ON
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, AT 7:00 PM - 1300 East Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale
On February 11, at 7:00 pm, as part of its Distinguished Authors Lecture Series, Stonewall will host a reading and book signing by the enormously popular award-winning novelist K.G. MacGregor. A former teacher, K.G. MacGregor holds a PhD in journalism and mass communication. She began writing lesbian fiction in 2002 and in 2005, she signed with Bella Books, which published the Goldie Award finalist Just This Once. Her sixth Bella novel, Out of Love, won the 2007 Lambda Literary Award for Women's Romance, and the 2008 Goldie Award in Lesbian Romance. In 2008, she published Without Warning and Secrets So Deep.Copies of several of Ms. MacGregor's books will be available for purchase the night of the event. This event is free and open to the public. Stonewall is located at 1300 East Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Our mission is to collect, preserve, organize for use and display materials related to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender culture and history; support related research and sponsor cultural and educational programs. For further information, please contact:
Jack Rutland, Executive Director
Stonewall Library & Archives
954-763-8565
Jack-rutland@stonewall-library.org
=
2009 WINTER PARTY FESTIVAL IS JUST DAYS AWAY
Buy Your Pass Before They Sell Out!
This winter has seen some chillingly low temperatures, but winter is about to get red hot-in Miami Beach. Dance parties, cocktail receptions, spa days, art exhibits and much more - Winter Party Festival is coming, February 25 to March 2. Of course, the Festival climaxes on March 1 with the magical Winter Party Beach Party on the warm sands of South Beach. There is not a more spectacular dance floor on the planet. Check out the full Festival schedule at www.winterparty.com
~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Report: South Florida home prices will continue to fall
By MATTHEW HAGGMAN
A national report predicts that South Florida's housing market recovery won't be this year, and not next year either in Miami-Dade County.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/898012.html
-OAKLAND PARK: Oakland Park makes moves toward becoming urban oasis
BY EILEEN SOLER
A Broward city that looks more like a concrete jungle on the outside is well on its way to becoming a wildlife sanctuary.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/communities/story/892156.html
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Crist backs Obama, Martinez votes 'no'
By AMIE PARNES
As Gov. Charlie Crist stumped alongside President Obama at a town hall in Florida and touting his economic stimulus plan, the man he has tried to lobby for days was in the Senate chamber voting against it.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/18674.html
-Fla. tourism hotline run by out-of-state company
By DARA KAM
The agency in charge of tourism maintains a call center that is operated outside of the Sunshine State by a company not based in Florida. The out-of-state hotline earned the head of Visit Florida, which contracted for the call center, the wrath of GOP lawmakers scrutinizing state spending during budget meetings today.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/state/epaper/2009/02/10/0210xgrvisitflorida.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Seiler crushes opponents in Ft. Lauderdale mayoral win, Rodstrom will get second term
By Brittany Wallman
Jack Seiler was elected Fort Lauderdale's new mayor Tuesday, crushing his three opponents and winning the seat outright.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-bn-021009-newmayor,0,3598533.story
-Fort Lauderdale mayor and commission election results
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/fort_lauderdale/sfl-flbftlcommbox0211sbfeb11,0,7050528.htmlstory
-Six candidates remain after Dania Beach City Commission primary
By Andrew Ba Tran
On Tuesday morning there were seven candidates eligible for the three open City Commission seats. One primary election later - and $60,000 in city funds spent on it - there were six.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-bn-0210-dania,0,730390.story
-Jack Seiler wins race for Fort Lauderdale mayor
BY AMY SHERMAN
Jack Seiler's long political résumé and well-financed campaign helped him win the Fort Lauderdale mayor's race.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/898150.html
-Wilton Manors, Dania Beach election results
BY DIANA MOSKOVITZ
Voters elected Scott Newton to the Wilton Manors City Commission on Tuesday and eliminated one candidate from the commission race in Dania Beach.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/898155.html
=
South Florida Blade
http://www.floridablade.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Election flops for gay hopefuls
Coleman Prewitt still in contention for run-off; all other candidates defeated
By Dan Renzi,
by Juan Carlos Rodriguez
There will be no gay mayor in Fort Lauderdale this election season and only one of seven other openly gay candidates for municipal office remains in contention March 10 as the Broward's most gay municipal election came to a close Tuesday.
http://www.floridablade.com/blog/index.cfm#23941
=
From Terry DeCarlo
Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Events
Broward House
-We wanted to let you know that the Alec Mapa show this Friday is almost sold out. There are a few seats left and we have discounted them to only $25 to make it a full house for him. We are letting you in on this first before we put it out to the general public so that you may have first pick of the seats that are left - Please let all your friends know as we are sure these seats will not last long. The show is this Friday night at 8:30 pm at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. You can call the box office right now to secure your seats at this price; the number is 954-462-0222, don't wait though, we will be utting this out to the general public later on tonight.
Thanks, hope to see you there
=
Stonewall Library & Archives
-Tonight! AWARD-WINNING NOVELIST KG MACGREGOR TO APPEAR AT STONEWALL ON
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, AT 7:00 PM - 1300 East Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale
On February 11, at 7:00 pm, as part of its Distinguished Authors Lecture Series, Stonewall will host a reading and book signing by the enormously popular award-winning novelist K.G. MacGregor. A former teacher, K.G. MacGregor holds a PhD in journalism and mass communication. She began writing lesbian fiction in 2002 and in 2005, she signed with Bella Books, which published the Goldie Award finalist Just This Once. Her sixth Bella novel, Out of Love, won the 2007 Lambda Literary Award for Women's Romance, and the 2008 Goldie Award in Lesbian Romance. In 2008, she published Without Warning and Secrets So Deep.Copies of several of Ms. MacGregor's books will be available for purchase the night of the event. This event is free and open to the public. Stonewall is located at 1300 East Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Our mission is to collect, preserve, organize for use and display materials related to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender culture and history; support related research and sponsor cultural and educational programs. For further information, please contact:
Jack Rutland, Executive Director
Stonewall Library & Archives
954-763-8565
Jack-rutland@stonewall-library.org
=
2009 WINTER PARTY FESTIVAL IS JUST DAYS AWAY
Buy Your Pass Before They Sell Out!
This winter has seen some chillingly low temperatures, but winter is about to get red hot-in Miami Beach. Dance parties, cocktail receptions, spa days, art exhibits and much more - Winter Party Festival is coming, February 25 to March 2. Of course, the Festival climaxes on March 1 with the magical Winter Party Beach Party on the warm sands of South Beach. There is not a more spectacular dance floor on the planet. Check out the full Festival schedule at www.winterparty.com
~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Report: South Florida home prices will continue to fall
By MATTHEW HAGGMAN
A national report predicts that South Florida's housing market recovery won't be this year, and not next year either in Miami-Dade County.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/898012.html
-OAKLAND PARK: Oakland Park makes moves toward becoming urban oasis
BY EILEEN SOLER
A Broward city that looks more like a concrete jungle on the outside is well on its way to becoming a wildlife sanctuary.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/communities/story/892156.html
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Crist backs Obama, Martinez votes 'no'
By AMIE PARNES
As Gov. Charlie Crist stumped alongside President Obama at a town hall in Florida and touting his economic stimulus plan, the man he has tried to lobby for days was in the Senate chamber voting against it.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/18674.html
-Fla. tourism hotline run by out-of-state company
By DARA KAM
The agency in charge of tourism maintains a call center that is operated outside of the Sunshine State by a company not based in Florida. The out-of-state hotline earned the head of Visit Florida, which contracted for the call center, the wrath of GOP lawmakers scrutinizing state spending during budget meetings today.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/state/epaper/2009/02/10/0210xgrvisitflorida.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
Sunday, February 08, 2009
GLBT DIGEST - February 08, 2009
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-NY: No Gay Marriage Bill This Year, Smith Says
By JEREMY W. PETERS
Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith said on Saturday night that he did not believe legislation to legalize marriage between same-sex couples had enough support to become law in New York this year.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/nyregion/08gaymarriage.html?hp
-Slipstream
Prop 8 Donor Web Site Shows Disclosure Law Is 2-Edged Sword
By BRAD STONE
FOR the backers of Proposition 8, the state ballot measure to stop single-sex couples from marrying in California, victory has been soured by the ugly specter of intimidation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/business/08stream.html
-New Efforts Focus on Exonerating Prisoners in Cases Without DNA Evidence
By JOHN ELIGON
In 1988, nine years after Gary Dotson was convicted of raping a woman in a Chicago suburb, his lawyer tried to clear his name with what was then a novel approach: DNA testing, which was conducted on the woman's underwear.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/nyregion/08exonerate.html
=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Government's Gold, Government's Rules
by David Waters
Candidate Obama didn't care for President Bush's 2002 executive order that allowed faith-based groups to discriminate in hiring and still get federal grants to run social programs. "If you get a federal grant, you can't use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can't discriminate against them -- or against the people you hire -- on the basis of their religion," Obama said in Ohio last July.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2009/02/governments_gold_governments_r.html
=
Steve Rothaus
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Gay. Lesbian. Bi. Trans. Straight. Proud.
On April 18, 2009, Miami's colors will be flying higher than ever. And you are invited to our grand celebration. Come join Miami and Miami Beach's diverse, strong, beautiful and inspiring LGBT community, our Mayor, friends, families, and co-workers as we take over the streets, paint the town rainbow and show our PRIDE side. Mark your calendar. Tell all your friends. And make history as part of Miami's first, big coming-out party, a one-of-a-kind, it-takes-all-kinds celebration you don't want to miss.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
-Video | CBS News: Portland mayor's former lover talks
(Scroll down to the article and video)
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-GAY TRAVEL
Gay travel: Five great gay getaways for the New Year
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/travel/story/887497.html
-TRAVEL BOOKS
New guide to Atlanta targets gay travelers
Associated Press
There's a new guidebook for gay travelers interested in visiting Atlanta. The Out Traveler: Atlanta (Alyson Books, $15.95) is the latest in a series that also includes books on New York City, South Florida and Hawaii. The Atlanta edition was written by two gay friends who grew up in the city, Jordan McAuley and Matt Burkhalter.
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/travel/story/887496.html
=
Forwarded from Michael Emanuel Rajner
merajner@gmail.com
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-The U.S. Positive Women's Network will be holding a Policy/Communications
Workgroup Orientation call on Friday February 13th. This Workgroup is for HIV+ women, including transgender women, who want to be involved in national policy work with the U.S. Positive Women's Network. This particular call is not open to allies*, though some of our calls are. Ally = People of any HIV status who support the PWN mission to strengthen the collective power of women living with HIV in the U.S. to advocate for policies and programs that meet our needs. The call will be toll-free. Please feel free to forward this invitation on to your networks. RSVP is required. See below for RSVP details. Date: Friday February 13th Time: 9:00am PST/10:00am MT/11:00am CT/12pm ET Duration: 90 minutes For call info and agenda please RSVP to wn@womenhiv.org or 510-986-0340 ext 316 with your name, location, phone number, and affiliation.
=
Daily Queer News
www.dailyqueernews.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Why Hollywood Avoids Gay Movies
Scott Stiffler | EDGE Contributor | EDGE Boston
As we mentioned in last week's story on gay Israeli cinema, in the three years since "Brokeback Mountain," the American film industry has failed to deliver on the promise of delivering mainstream films with gay themes. Instead of, say, the long-awaited film of "The Front Runner" (a project that has lingered for 30 years), we get "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," a comedy whose jokes are at the expense of a gay marriage. And aside from a handful of more thoughtful gay independent films ("Shelter," "Ciao"), there have been the plethora of harmless, though hardly edifying sex comedies, such as "Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!" and "Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds" that qualify as guilty pleasures at best. It's as true today as it was last week; and the truth hurts. Is the absence of mainstream LGBT-themed films a matter of economics, lack of quality, or the reluctance of studios to greenlight and market "niche" films? All of the above and more, according to our panel of experts - who weighed in on the current state of American LGBT cinema, recent homo-friendly Sundance films, the curious case of "Milk," and the thorny question of Sean "Harvey Milk" Penn's possible homophobia. Read more
-Homelessness Increases Among Female Veterans
Cara, Feministe | AlterNet
It looks like the rates of homelessness among female veterans are rising: Even including the 20 or so beds that would make up the new women's home, Ms. Kiss described a grim calculus for female veterans. Ten years ago, women represented 3 percent of homeless veterans, she said, compared with 5 percent now. About 180,000 female troops now serve in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course, it's still important to note that the vast majority of homeless veterans are male, and the number of homeless female veterans is rather disproportionately low compared to their numbers in the military overall. But the bad news is, first, their numbers just may rise when they finally come home from Iraq and Afghanistan. And second, there are fewer services out there to cater to them: Read more
-Clinton Agrees On Changes for Gay Diplomats
On Top Magazine
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is responding positively to a request made by Congressional leaders to fix inequities for gay and lesbian employees at the State Department. Wisconsin's openly gay Representative Tammy Baldwin (D) is behind the request. She said in an exclusive OUTTAKEOnline (www.OUTTAKEOnline.com) interview that she had made similar requests to Clinton's predecessor, Condoleezza Rice, but little had come of the effort. In a letter dated Feb. 2, Baldwin was joined by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Florida Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in asking for policy changes for gay diplomats that would not require Congressional approval. Read more
-TX: Queer Liberaction Gearing Up for Freedom to Marry Day Protest
John Wright News Editor | Dallas Voice
Two months after forming in the wake of Proposition 8 in California, Queer Liberaction is preparing to make its biggest statement yet, according to the founder of the Dallas-based LGBT direct action group. QL founder Blake Wilkinson said the grassroots organization has attracted a core following of about 30 people since its first public demonstration in late November. On each of the last two weekends, QL has hosted Milk Box, a sidewalk community forum on the Cedar Springs strip. On Saturday, Feb. 7, QL plans a Queer Kiss-In outside the Dallas Museum of Art, followed by another Milk Box later that afternoon, Wilkinson said. The events will serve as QL's final tune-ups for a Freedom to Marry Day demonstration that's set for Thursday, Feb, 12 at the Dallas County Clerk's Office, in which participants will request same-sex marriage licenses. "The first several ones were just kind of practice," Wilkinson said of the group's demonstrations. "There's a solid group of people who are energized and really excited about all this stuff, and we've been organizing for Freedom to Marry Day for a while, and I think we'll get a decent response." Read more
-Marriage Equality's Political Mainstreaming
ROSS D. LEVI | Gay City News
At the press conference two weeks ago when Kirsten Gillibrand accepted Governor David Paterson's appointment to become New York's next US senator, she spoke about how she would be going to Washington to fight for economic and social justice issues like women's rights and marriage equality for same-sex couples. This first-ever public commitment to marriage equality by a US senator from New York was certainly noticed by the LGBT community. Less noticed was the fact that this was probably the most high-profile instance of a New York State politician using marriage equality as an illustration of their progressive Democratic credentials. In less than six years, marriage for same-sex couples had gone from being a controversial hot-button issue in statewide politics to a demonstration of New York Democratic bona fides. It is easy to forget that not even six years ago, in 2003when Canada became the first jurisdiction in our hemisphere where a New York same-sex couple could get legally married, national polls showed that only between 31 and 40 percent of Americans supported the idea of same-sex couples being allowed to marry, with between 51 and 56 percent opposed.
Read more
-DADT Doesn't Need More Study
Bay Area Reporter
During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama said he favored repealing the military's homophobic "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Just last month, before the inauguration, Obama's press secretary Robert Gibbs simply answered "Yes," when asked whether the new president would take action to overturn the law. Under the failed DADT policy, gays and lesbians in the armed forces are prohibited from serving openly. According to Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, 12,500 people who have served in the military were discharged under DADT since it took effect in 1993. So it was with some surprise Sunday when we read an article in the Boston Globe that said the Obama administration "is telling the Pentagon and gay rights advocates that it will have to study the implications of national security and enlist more support in Congress" before trying to repeal DADT. Another study? Read more
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-NY: No Gay Marriage Bill This Year, Smith Says
By JEREMY W. PETERS
Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith said on Saturday night that he did not believe legislation to legalize marriage between same-sex couples had enough support to become law in New York this year.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/nyregion/08gaymarriage.html?hp
-Slipstream
Prop 8 Donor Web Site Shows Disclosure Law Is 2-Edged Sword
By BRAD STONE
FOR the backers of Proposition 8, the state ballot measure to stop single-sex couples from marrying in California, victory has been soured by the ugly specter of intimidation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/business/08stream.html
-New Efforts Focus on Exonerating Prisoners in Cases Without DNA Evidence
By JOHN ELIGON
In 1988, nine years after Gary Dotson was convicted of raping a woman in a Chicago suburb, his lawyer tried to clear his name with what was then a novel approach: DNA testing, which was conducted on the woman's underwear.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/nyregion/08exonerate.html
=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Government's Gold, Government's Rules
by David Waters
Candidate Obama didn't care for President Bush's 2002 executive order that allowed faith-based groups to discriminate in hiring and still get federal grants to run social programs. "If you get a federal grant, you can't use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can't discriminate against them -- or against the people you hire -- on the basis of their religion," Obama said in Ohio last July.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2009/02/governments_gold_governments_r.html
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Steve Rothaus
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:
-Gay. Lesbian. Bi. Trans. Straight. Proud.
On April 18, 2009, Miami's colors will be flying higher than ever. And you are invited to our grand celebration. Come join Miami and Miami Beach's diverse, strong, beautiful and inspiring LGBT community, our Mayor, friends, families, and co-workers as we take over the streets, paint the town rainbow and show our PRIDE side. Mark your calendar. Tell all your friends. And make history as part of Miami's first, big coming-out party, a one-of-a-kind, it-takes-all-kinds celebration you don't want to miss.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
-Video | CBS News: Portland mayor's former lover talks
(Scroll down to the article and video)
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-GAY TRAVEL
Gay travel: Five great gay getaways for the New Year
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/travel/story/887497.html
-TRAVEL BOOKS
New guide to Atlanta targets gay travelers
Associated Press
There's a new guidebook for gay travelers interested in visiting Atlanta. The Out Traveler: Atlanta (Alyson Books, $15.95) is the latest in a series that also includes books on New York City, South Florida and Hawaii. The Atlanta edition was written by two gay friends who grew up in the city, Jordan McAuley and Matt Burkhalter.
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/travel/story/887496.html
=
Forwarded from Michael Emanuel Rajner
merajner@gmail.com
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
-The U.S. Positive Women's Network will be holding a Policy/Communications
Workgroup Orientation call on Friday February 13th. This Workgroup is for HIV+ women, including transgender women, who want to be involved in national policy work with the U.S. Positive Women's Network. This particular call is not open to allies*, though some of our calls are. Ally = People of any HIV status who support the PWN mission to strengthen the collective power of women living with HIV in the U.S. to advocate for policies and programs that meet our needs. The call will be toll-free. Please feel free to forward this invitation on to your networks. RSVP is required. See below for RSVP details. Date: Friday February 13th Time: 9:00am PST/10:00am MT/11:00am CT/12pm ET Duration: 90 minutes For call info and agenda please RSVP to wn@womenhiv.org or 510-986-0340 ext 316 with your name, location, phone number, and affiliation.
=
Daily Queer News
www.dailyqueernews.com
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Why Hollywood Avoids Gay Movies
Scott Stiffler | EDGE Contributor | EDGE Boston
As we mentioned in last week's story on gay Israeli cinema, in the three years since "Brokeback Mountain," the American film industry has failed to deliver on the promise of delivering mainstream films with gay themes. Instead of, say, the long-awaited film of "The Front Runner" (a project that has lingered for 30 years), we get "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," a comedy whose jokes are at the expense of a gay marriage. And aside from a handful of more thoughtful gay independent films ("Shelter," "Ciao"), there have been the plethora of harmless, though hardly edifying sex comedies, such as "Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!" and "Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds" that qualify as guilty pleasures at best. It's as true today as it was last week; and the truth hurts. Is the absence of mainstream LGBT-themed films a matter of economics, lack of quality, or the reluctance of studios to greenlight and market "niche" films? All of the above and more, according to our panel of experts - who weighed in on the current state of American LGBT cinema, recent homo-friendly Sundance films, the curious case of "Milk," and the thorny question of Sean "Harvey Milk" Penn's possible homophobia. Read more
-Homelessness Increases Among Female Veterans
Cara, Feministe | AlterNet
It looks like the rates of homelessness among female veterans are rising: Even including the 20 or so beds that would make up the new women's home, Ms. Kiss described a grim calculus for female veterans. Ten years ago, women represented 3 percent of homeless veterans, she said, compared with 5 percent now. About 180,000 female troops now serve in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course, it's still important to note that the vast majority of homeless veterans are male, and the number of homeless female veterans is rather disproportionately low compared to their numbers in the military overall. But the bad news is, first, their numbers just may rise when they finally come home from Iraq and Afghanistan. And second, there are fewer services out there to cater to them: Read more
-Clinton Agrees On Changes for Gay Diplomats
On Top Magazine
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is responding positively to a request made by Congressional leaders to fix inequities for gay and lesbian employees at the State Department. Wisconsin's openly gay Representative Tammy Baldwin (D) is behind the request. She said in an exclusive OUTTAKEOnline (www.OUTTAKEOnline.com) interview that she had made similar requests to Clinton's predecessor, Condoleezza Rice, but little had come of the effort. In a letter dated Feb. 2, Baldwin was joined by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Florida Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in asking for policy changes for gay diplomats that would not require Congressional approval. Read more
-TX: Queer Liberaction Gearing Up for Freedom to Marry Day Protest
John Wright News Editor | Dallas Voice
Two months after forming in the wake of Proposition 8 in California, Queer Liberaction is preparing to make its biggest statement yet, according to the founder of the Dallas-based LGBT direct action group. QL founder Blake Wilkinson said the grassroots organization has attracted a core following of about 30 people since its first public demonstration in late November. On each of the last two weekends, QL has hosted Milk Box, a sidewalk community forum on the Cedar Springs strip. On Saturday, Feb. 7, QL plans a Queer Kiss-In outside the Dallas Museum of Art, followed by another Milk Box later that afternoon, Wilkinson said. The events will serve as QL's final tune-ups for a Freedom to Marry Day demonstration that's set for Thursday, Feb, 12 at the Dallas County Clerk's Office, in which participants will request same-sex marriage licenses. "The first several ones were just kind of practice," Wilkinson said of the group's demonstrations. "There's a solid group of people who are energized and really excited about all this stuff, and we've been organizing for Freedom to Marry Day for a while, and I think we'll get a decent response." Read more
-Marriage Equality's Political Mainstreaming
ROSS D. LEVI | Gay City News
At the press conference two weeks ago when Kirsten Gillibrand accepted Governor David Paterson's appointment to become New York's next US senator, she spoke about how she would be going to Washington to fight for economic and social justice issues like women's rights and marriage equality for same-sex couples. This first-ever public commitment to marriage equality by a US senator from New York was certainly noticed by the LGBT community. Less noticed was the fact that this was probably the most high-profile instance of a New York State politician using marriage equality as an illustration of their progressive Democratic credentials. In less than six years, marriage for same-sex couples had gone from being a controversial hot-button issue in statewide politics to a demonstration of New York Democratic bona fides. It is easy to forget that not even six years ago, in 2003when Canada became the first jurisdiction in our hemisphere where a New York same-sex couple could get legally married, national polls showed that only between 31 and 40 percent of Americans supported the idea of same-sex couples being allowed to marry, with between 51 and 56 percent opposed.
Read more
-DADT Doesn't Need More Study
Bay Area Reporter
During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama said he favored repealing the military's homophobic "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Just last month, before the inauguration, Obama's press secretary Robert Gibbs simply answered "Yes," when asked whether the new president would take action to overturn the law. Under the failed DADT policy, gays and lesbians in the armed forces are prohibited from serving openly. According to Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, 12,500 people who have served in the military were discharged under DADT since it took effect in 1993. So it was with some surprise Sunday when we read an article in the Boston Globe that said the Obama administration "is telling the Pentagon and gay rights advocates that it will have to study the implications of national security and enlist more support in Congress" before trying to repeal DADT. Another study? Read more
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS - February 08, 2009
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Congress Is Divided Over Competing Stimulus Bills
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
The Senate agreement on a roughly $827 billion economic stimulus bill sets up tough negotiations with the House, primarily over tens of billions of dollars in aid to states and local governments, tax provisions, and education, health and renewable energy programs.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08stimulus.html?hp
-White House Memo: 'Mom in Chief' Touches on Policy, and Tongues Wag
By RACHEL L. SWARNS
The government workers greeted Michelle Obama like a Hollywood celebrity, whooping and cheering and oohing and aahing over her slate gray power suit. But when she took to the podium, the nation's self-described mom in chief quickly turned policy wonk.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08michelle.html?hp
-New G.O.P. Chairman Defends Payment to Sister
By ERIC LIPTON
Michael Steele, who was recently elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, paid a Maryland company run by his sister more than $37,000 for work related to his 2006 Senate campaign, a payment that Mr. Steele's spokesman said Saturday was entirely appropriate.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08steele.html?hp
-Back on World Stage, a Larger-Than-Life Holbrooke
By JODI KANTOR
Stashed in a drawer in his Manhattan apartment between snapshots of family vacations, a photograph shows Richard C. Holbrooke on a private visit to Afghanistan in 2006. He is mugging atop an abandoned Russian tank, flashing a sardonic V-for-victory sign and his best Nixon-style grin. The pose is a little like Mr. Holbrooke himself: looming, theatrical, passionate, indignant.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08holbrooke.html?hp
-Editorial: Bank Bailout, Redux
The Obama administration rightly concluded last week that unless bailed-out bankers were forced to take pay cuts, public support for a continuing bank rescue would never materialize. But the pay curbs are minor in the grand bailout scheme, which will ultimately put hundreds of billions of tax dollars, if not trillions, on the line.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08sun1.html?ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Columnist: Slumdogs Unite!
By FRANK RICH
SOMEDAY historians may look back at Tom Daschle's flameout as a minor one-car (and chauffeur) accident. But that will depend on whether or not it's followed by a multi-vehicle pileup that still could come. Even as President Obama refreshingly took responsibility for having "screwed up," it's not clear that he fully understands the huge forces that hit his young administration last week.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08rich.html?ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Contributors: Head Start Falls Further Behind
By DOUGLAS J. BESHAROV and DOUGLAS M. CALL
College Park, Md.: BARACK OBAMA ran for president promising change.
Unfortunately, a look inside the stimulus package reveals that "change" mostly means spending vastly more on domestic programs without necessarily improving the way they operate. Nowhere is this clearer than in its provisions concerning education, particularly Head Start.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08besharov.html?ref=opinion
-Editorial: Huang Qi
In a changing world, one unfortunate constant is the abhorrent ways in which China abuses its people. Huang Qi is a victim of that abuse because he dared to help other victims - grieving parents whose children were killed last May when hundreds of poorly built schools collapsed during the earthquake in Sichuan Province.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08sun2.html?ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Columnist: Beyond the Banks
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Jenin, West Bank: Visiting Israel, I've been peppered with questions from Israelis and Palestinians about where their peace process will fit in among President Obama's priorities. My guess, I've answered, is that President Obama has three immediate priorities: banks, banks and banks - and none of them are the West Bank.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08friedman.html?ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Contributor: Why the Muslim World Can't Hear Obama
By ALAA AL ASWANY
Cairo: PRESIDENT OBAMA is clearly trying to reach out to the Muslim world. I watched his Inaugural Address on television, and was most struck by the line: "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers." He gave his first televised interview from the White House to Al Arabiya, an Arabic-language television channel.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08aswany.html?ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Contributor: Speaking With the Enemy
By DONALD P. GREGG
WHEN former Vice President Dick Cheney warned last week that terrorists will be emboldened by President Barack Obama's decision to close Guantánamo and to ban harsh interrogation techniques, I was reminded of a story.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08gregg.html?ref=opinion
-Biden Signals U.S. Is Open to Russia Missile Deal
By HELENE COOPER and NICHOLAS KULISH
MUNICH - Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said Saturday that the United States will pursue a missile defense plan that has angered the Kremlin, but he also left open the possibility of compromise on the issue and struck a more conciliatory tone than the Bush administration on relations with Russia.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/washington/08biden.html?hp
=
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Twilight Zone: For years, I roamed the borderlands. But now their way of life is under siege.
By Tom Miller
TUCSON: I am a border rat. I've been one since the day I hopped back and forth between countries over a fallen, rusty barbed-wire fence in the woodland along the Arizona-Mexico line some 40 years ago. Since that act of joyful anarchy, I've traveled the entire length of the frontier numerous times, dined and slept in just about every border town on both sides and chatted with folks of high and low life throughout.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020602790.html
-A TAXING SEASON: Revenge of the Tax Code
By Chris Edwards
If it were a movie, it would be called "Revenge of the Tax Code." The complex income tax, which has bedeviled average Americans for years, is biting back at the elite who helped create it. Tom Daschle, former chief lawmaker in the Senate, withdrew his Cabinet nomination because of an "unintentional" $128,000 tax mistake. Rep. Charles Rangel, chief tax-writer in the House, is also entangled in a tax scandal, as is Tim Geithner, the Treasury secretary, and Nancy Killefer, another high-ranking nominee who has withdrawn.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020602845.html
-UNFAIR SHARE: You Can Cap The Pay, But The Greed Will Go On
By Rakesh Khurana and Andy Zelleke
President Obama is now three weeks into his new job -- annual salary $400,000 -- and already he and his team are working overtime to make sure that no one at the helm of a bailed-out firm will pocket much more than he does. It's time, the president said last week, for "restraint," not millions in bonuses.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020602794.html
-The Red, the Blue and the Gray
The extraordinary coincidence of the first African American president taking office a few weeks before Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday is just one of the many links between Barack Obama and the Great Emancipator.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020603332.html
-Jews in S. America Increasingly Uneasy
Government and Media Seen Fostering Anti-Semitism in Venezuela, Elsewhere
By Juan Forero and Joshua Partlow
CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 7 -- Jewish leaders said it had never before happened in Venezuela: a break-in with anti-Jewish intent at one of the city's most prominent synagogues. A dozen armed men overpowered guards, spray-painted office walls with anti-Semitic insults, desecrated historic Torah scrolls and made off with computers containing personal information on congregants.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/07/AR2009020701972.html?hpid=sec-religion
-Nearly 14,000 flee Sri Lanka's war zone
By C. Bryson Hull
COLOMBO (Reuters) - More than 1,400 civilians poured out of Sri Lanka's war zone on Sunday, bringing the total in the last four days to nearly 14,000 as soldiers try to deal a death blow to the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, the military said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/08/AR2009020800375.html?hpid=moreheadlines
=
Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
-Pakistani Militants Say They Killed Polish Hostage
ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani militants said they killed a kidnapped a Polish geologist on Saturday, heightening fears for a string of foreigners including an American U.N. worker abducted in Taliban territory near the Afghan border.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123410098014260689.html
-The Stimulus Tragedy
Obama bets that we can spend our way to prosperity. President Obama has started to play the "catastrophe" card to sell his economic stimulus plan, using yesterday's terrible January jobs report to predict doom unless Congress acts. No doubt he'll get his way, but the tragedy of this first great effort of the Obama Presidency is what a lost opportunity it is.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123396623933859023.html
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Lowdown on stimulus: Compare Senate and House plans
A comparison of the $827 billion economic recovery plan drafted by Senate Democrats and moderate Republicans with an $820 billion version passed by
the House. Additional debt costs would add about $350 billion or more over 10 years. Many provisions expire in two years.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-0209-stimuluscompare,0,7970425.story
-Middle East: Seeking peace not a sign of weakness
By Paul Hirschson
Two and a half years ago, Hezbollah attacked Israel, killing Israeli soldiers and kidnapping two others inside Israeli territory. Israel found itself at war with a school of thought which has elevated suicide to a place in society which amounts to nothing less than the worship of death.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-phcol08sbfeb08,0,7685132.story
-Water management: Science doesn't support restrictions
By Rim Bishop
At its Feb.12 public hearing, South Florida Water Management District Board members will decide whether to permanently and by force of law restrict lawn watering, in most cases to a maximum of two days per week. That is when SFWMD will determine whether to proceed with its proposed "Year Round Irrigation Rule." Adoption of the proposed rule will have the following effect on those supplied by public drinking water utilities:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-rbcol08sbfeb08,0,4408328.story
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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Draining D.C. swamp no easy job for Obama
By LEONARD PITTS JR.
``I screwed up.''
-- President Barack Obama, Feb. 3, 2009
Wait a minute. He said that? There were cameras and microphones? Somebody caught it on tape?
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other-views/story/891852.html
=
Forwarded from Susan Frishkorn
frishkorn@bellsouth.net
Go to this link for the following article:
-What the centrists have wrought
by Paul Krugman
I'm still working on the numbers, but I've gotten a fair number of requests for comment on the Senate version of the stimulus. The short answer: to appease the centrists, a plan that was already too small and too focused on ineffective tax cuts has been made significantly smaller, and even more focused on tax cuts. According to the CBO's estimates, we're facing an output shortfall of almost 14% of GDP over the next two years, or around $2 trillion. Others, such as Goldman Sachs, are even more pessimistic. So the original $800 billion plan was too small, especially because a substantial share consisted of tax cuts that probably would have added little to demand. The plan should have been at least 50% larger. Now the centrists have shaved off $86 billion in spending - much of it among the most effective and most needed parts of the plan. In particular, aid to state governments, which are in desperate straits, is both fast - because it prevents spending cuts rather than having to start up new projects - and effective, because it would in fact be spent; plus state and local governments are cutting back on essentials, so the social value of this spending would be high. But in the name of mighty centrism, $40 billion of that aid has been cut out. My first cut says that the changes to the Senate bill will ensure that we have at least 600,000 fewer Americans employed over the next two years. The real question now is whether Obama will be able to come back for more once it's clear that the plan is way inadequate. My guess is no. This is really, really bad.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/what-the-centrists-have-wrought/
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Rush Limbaugh has his grip on the GOP microphone
Rob Carr / Associated Press
LOUD AND CLEAR: After President Obama called out the radio host by name, he went on the air and said: "I am Rush Limbaugh, the man President Obama has instructed you not to listen to!" As Republicans grapple with their fall from power, not all are comfortable with the talk radio king's suggestion that he, by default, has become the politically wounded party's unofficial leader.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rush8-2009feb08,0,2881422.story
-America's Scorecard in Iraq
By STEVEN LEE MYERS
BAGHDAD - This is what victory in the war in Iraq was supposed to look like: Fifteen million Iraqis voting in free and fair (largely) elections, emerging from their polling stations with their purple-stained fingers in an atmosphere that was free (largely) of intimidation or violence.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/weekinreview/08myers.html?partner=MOREOVERFEATURES&ei=5040
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
=
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Congress Is Divided Over Competing Stimulus Bills
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
The Senate agreement on a roughly $827 billion economic stimulus bill sets up tough negotiations with the House, primarily over tens of billions of dollars in aid to states and local governments, tax provisions, and education, health and renewable energy programs.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08stimulus.html?hp
-White House Memo: 'Mom in Chief' Touches on Policy, and Tongues Wag
By RACHEL L. SWARNS
The government workers greeted Michelle Obama like a Hollywood celebrity, whooping and cheering and oohing and aahing over her slate gray power suit. But when she took to the podium, the nation's self-described mom in chief quickly turned policy wonk.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08michelle.html?hp
-New G.O.P. Chairman Defends Payment to Sister
By ERIC LIPTON
Michael Steele, who was recently elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, paid a Maryland company run by his sister more than $37,000 for work related to his 2006 Senate campaign, a payment that Mr. Steele's spokesman said Saturday was entirely appropriate.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08steele.html?hp
-Back on World Stage, a Larger-Than-Life Holbrooke
By JODI KANTOR
Stashed in a drawer in his Manhattan apartment between snapshots of family vacations, a photograph shows Richard C. Holbrooke on a private visit to Afghanistan in 2006. He is mugging atop an abandoned Russian tank, flashing a sardonic V-for-victory sign and his best Nixon-style grin. The pose is a little like Mr. Holbrooke himself: looming, theatrical, passionate, indignant.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08holbrooke.html?hp
-Editorial: Bank Bailout, Redux
The Obama administration rightly concluded last week that unless bailed-out bankers were forced to take pay cuts, public support for a continuing bank rescue would never materialize. But the pay curbs are minor in the grand bailout scheme, which will ultimately put hundreds of billions of tax dollars, if not trillions, on the line.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08sun1.html?ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Columnist: Slumdogs Unite!
By FRANK RICH
SOMEDAY historians may look back at Tom Daschle's flameout as a minor one-car (and chauffeur) accident. But that will depend on whether or not it's followed by a multi-vehicle pileup that still could come. Even as President Obama refreshingly took responsibility for having "screwed up," it's not clear that he fully understands the huge forces that hit his young administration last week.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08rich.html?ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Contributors: Head Start Falls Further Behind
By DOUGLAS J. BESHAROV and DOUGLAS M. CALL
College Park, Md.: BARACK OBAMA ran for president promising change.
Unfortunately, a look inside the stimulus package reveals that "change" mostly means spending vastly more on domestic programs without necessarily improving the way they operate. Nowhere is this clearer than in its provisions concerning education, particularly Head Start.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08besharov.html?ref=opinion
-Editorial: Huang Qi
In a changing world, one unfortunate constant is the abhorrent ways in which China abuses its people. Huang Qi is a victim of that abuse because he dared to help other victims - grieving parents whose children were killed last May when hundreds of poorly built schools collapsed during the earthquake in Sichuan Province.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08sun2.html?ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Columnist: Beyond the Banks
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Jenin, West Bank: Visiting Israel, I've been peppered with questions from Israelis and Palestinians about where their peace process will fit in among President Obama's priorities. My guess, I've answered, is that President Obama has three immediate priorities: banks, banks and banks - and none of them are the West Bank.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08friedman.html?ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Contributor: Why the Muslim World Can't Hear Obama
By ALAA AL ASWANY
Cairo: PRESIDENT OBAMA is clearly trying to reach out to the Muslim world. I watched his Inaugural Address on television, and was most struck by the line: "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers." He gave his first televised interview from the White House to Al Arabiya, an Arabic-language television channel.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08aswany.html?ref=opinion
-Op-Ed Contributor: Speaking With the Enemy
By DONALD P. GREGG
WHEN former Vice President Dick Cheney warned last week that terrorists will be emboldened by President Barack Obama's decision to close Guantánamo and to ban harsh interrogation techniques, I was reminded of a story.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/opinion/08gregg.html?ref=opinion
-Biden Signals U.S. Is Open to Russia Missile Deal
By HELENE COOPER and NICHOLAS KULISH
MUNICH - Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said Saturday that the United States will pursue a missile defense plan that has angered the Kremlin, but he also left open the possibility of compromise on the issue and struck a more conciliatory tone than the Bush administration on relations with Russia.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/washington/08biden.html?hp
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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Twilight Zone: For years, I roamed the borderlands. But now their way of life is under siege.
By Tom Miller
TUCSON: I am a border rat. I've been one since the day I hopped back and forth between countries over a fallen, rusty barbed-wire fence in the woodland along the Arizona-Mexico line some 40 years ago. Since that act of joyful anarchy, I've traveled the entire length of the frontier numerous times, dined and slept in just about every border town on both sides and chatted with folks of high and low life throughout.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020602790.html
-A TAXING SEASON: Revenge of the Tax Code
By Chris Edwards
If it were a movie, it would be called "Revenge of the Tax Code." The complex income tax, which has bedeviled average Americans for years, is biting back at the elite who helped create it. Tom Daschle, former chief lawmaker in the Senate, withdrew his Cabinet nomination because of an "unintentional" $128,000 tax mistake. Rep. Charles Rangel, chief tax-writer in the House, is also entangled in a tax scandal, as is Tim Geithner, the Treasury secretary, and Nancy Killefer, another high-ranking nominee who has withdrawn.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020602845.html
-UNFAIR SHARE: You Can Cap The Pay, But The Greed Will Go On
By Rakesh Khurana and Andy Zelleke
President Obama is now three weeks into his new job -- annual salary $400,000 -- and already he and his team are working overtime to make sure that no one at the helm of a bailed-out firm will pocket much more than he does. It's time, the president said last week, for "restraint," not millions in bonuses.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020602794.html
-The Red, the Blue and the Gray
The extraordinary coincidence of the first African American president taking office a few weeks before Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday is just one of the many links between Barack Obama and the Great Emancipator.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020603332.html
-Jews in S. America Increasingly Uneasy
Government and Media Seen Fostering Anti-Semitism in Venezuela, Elsewhere
By Juan Forero and Joshua Partlow
CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 7 -- Jewish leaders said it had never before happened in Venezuela: a break-in with anti-Jewish intent at one of the city's most prominent synagogues. A dozen armed men overpowered guards, spray-painted office walls with anti-Semitic insults, desecrated historic Torah scrolls and made off with computers containing personal information on congregants.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/07/AR2009020701972.html?hpid=sec-religion
-Nearly 14,000 flee Sri Lanka's war zone
By C. Bryson Hull
COLOMBO (Reuters) - More than 1,400 civilians poured out of Sri Lanka's war zone on Sunday, bringing the total in the last four days to nearly 14,000 as soldiers try to deal a death blow to the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, the military said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/08/AR2009020800375.html?hpid=moreheadlines
=
Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/public/us
-Pakistani Militants Say They Killed Polish Hostage
ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani militants said they killed a kidnapped a Polish geologist on Saturday, heightening fears for a string of foreigners including an American U.N. worker abducted in Taliban territory near the Afghan border.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123410098014260689.html
-The Stimulus Tragedy
Obama bets that we can spend our way to prosperity. President Obama has started to play the "catastrophe" card to sell his economic stimulus plan, using yesterday's terrible January jobs report to predict doom unless Congress acts. No doubt he'll get his way, but the tragedy of this first great effort of the Obama Presidency is what a lost opportunity it is.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123396623933859023.html
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Lowdown on stimulus: Compare Senate and House plans
A comparison of the $827 billion economic recovery plan drafted by Senate Democrats and moderate Republicans with an $820 billion version passed by
the House. Additional debt costs would add about $350 billion or more over 10 years. Many provisions expire in two years.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-0209-stimuluscompare,0,7970425.story
-Middle East: Seeking peace not a sign of weakness
By Paul Hirschson
Two and a half years ago, Hezbollah attacked Israel, killing Israeli soldiers and kidnapping two others inside Israeli territory. Israel found itself at war with a school of thought which has elevated suicide to a place in society which amounts to nothing less than the worship of death.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-phcol08sbfeb08,0,7685132.story
-Water management: Science doesn't support restrictions
By Rim Bishop
At its Feb.12 public hearing, South Florida Water Management District Board members will decide whether to permanently and by force of law restrict lawn watering, in most cases to a maximum of two days per week. That is when SFWMD will determine whether to proceed with its proposed "Year Round Irrigation Rule." Adoption of the proposed rule will have the following effect on those supplied by public drinking water utilities:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-rbcol08sbfeb08,0,4408328.story
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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Draining D.C. swamp no easy job for Obama
By LEONARD PITTS JR.
``I screwed up.''
-- President Barack Obama, Feb. 3, 2009
Wait a minute. He said that? There were cameras and microphones? Somebody caught it on tape?
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other-views/story/891852.html
=
Forwarded from Susan Frishkorn
frishkorn@bellsouth.net
Go to this link for the following article:
-What the centrists have wrought
by Paul Krugman
I'm still working on the numbers, but I've gotten a fair number of requests for comment on the Senate version of the stimulus. The short answer: to appease the centrists, a plan that was already too small and too focused on ineffective tax cuts has been made significantly smaller, and even more focused on tax cuts. According to the CBO's estimates, we're facing an output shortfall of almost 14% of GDP over the next two years, or around $2 trillion. Others, such as Goldman Sachs, are even more pessimistic. So the original $800 billion plan was too small, especially because a substantial share consisted of tax cuts that probably would have added little to demand. The plan should have been at least 50% larger. Now the centrists have shaved off $86 billion in spending - much of it among the most effective and most needed parts of the plan. In particular, aid to state governments, which are in desperate straits, is both fast - because it prevents spending cuts rather than having to start up new projects - and effective, because it would in fact be spent; plus state and local governments are cutting back on essentials, so the social value of this spending would be high. But in the name of mighty centrism, $40 billion of that aid has been cut out. My first cut says that the changes to the Senate bill will ensure that we have at least 600,000 fewer Americans employed over the next two years. The real question now is whether Obama will be able to come back for more once it's clear that the plan is way inadequate. My guess is no. This is really, really bad.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/what-the-centrists-have-wrought/
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Rush Limbaugh has his grip on the GOP microphone
Rob Carr / Associated Press
LOUD AND CLEAR: After President Obama called out the radio host by name, he went on the air and said: "I am Rush Limbaugh, the man President Obama has instructed you not to listen to!" As Republicans grapple with their fall from power, not all are comfortable with the talk radio king's suggestion that he, by default, has become the politically wounded party's unofficial leader.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rush8-2009feb08,0,2881422.story
-America's Scorecard in Iraq
By STEVEN LEE MYERS
BAGHDAD - This is what victory in the war in Iraq was supposed to look like: Fifteen million Iraqis voting in free and fair (largely) elections, emerging from their polling stations with their purple-stained fingers in an atmosphere that was free (largely) of intimidation or violence.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/weekinreview/08myers.html?partner=MOREOVERFEATURES&ei=5040
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[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
FLORIDA DIGEST - February 08, 2009
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~
DEAN TRANTALIS ENDORSED BY GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce today co-endorsed candidate Dean Trantalis in the city's mayoral race. The unusual co-endorsement with candidate Jack Seiler underscores the closeness of the mayoral race in Fort Lauderdale , which is an open seat for the first time in 18 years. "The Chamber recognized that, contrary to conventional wisdom, my campaign has growing support in the business community," Trantalis said. "We've known all along this is a choice between a candidate who wants the city to move progressively into the future, and one who supports the status quo. Fort Lauderdale 's business community understands the need for vision and new ideas." The Chamber interviewed candidates on January 30 and deemed candidates as "qualified" on issues important to the business community. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce has 1,400 members. Trantalis has a long record of public service in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County , including a term as Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner and Vice Mayor. On the City Commission, Trantalis helped the city erase a $23 million deficit without raising taxes or cutting essential services. He also led the way in increasing the size of the Fort Lauderdale police force by 20 percent.
www.DeanForMayor.com
=
Black Gay Pride South Florida
-Black Gay Pride South Florida In Collaboration with Arts United
Loud & Proud Spoken Word
With Host Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHeee, Featured Poets Chunky & Profet
With The presentation of the Bayard rustin Community Justice award
ArtsServe (1350 E. Sunrise Blvd.) - Friday February 13, 2009 @ 7pm
-Black Gay Pride South Florida Invites You To Our Official Club Event
Jay's Bar - Saturday February 14th
2780 Davie Blvd - Fort Lauderdale
~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-In Florida, Despair and Foreclosures
By DAMIEN CAVE
Desperation has moved into this once-middle-class exurb of Fort Myers, where hammers used to pound.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/08lehigh.html?_r=1&hp
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Despite Amendment 1, Floridians are still trapped in their homes
By Mary Ellen Klas
Gov. Charlie Crist and a throng of supporters packed the lawn of Keith and Elizabeth Markowitz's Orlando home to launch the Amendment 1 property tax campaign last year with a promise: If the referendum passed, they would no longer be "trapped in their homes."
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article974188.ece
-Senator Wise to introduce bill on intelligent design
The senator wants it to balance Florida science standards that require the teaching of evolution.
Amid much controversy a year ago, the Florida Board of Education approved new standards that require public schools to teach that the scientific theory of evolution is the foundation of all biological science. But don't think that battle is over. Not even close. State Sen. Stephen Wise, a Jacksonville Republican, said he plans to introduce a bill to require teachers who teach evolution to also discuss the idea of intelligent design.
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-02-08/story/wise_to_introduce_intelligent_design_bill
-Nonpartisan sheriff for Broward? Let the voters decide
BY FRED GRIMM
Something like this could have kept our Kenny out of jail. Maybe if Jim Waldman had dubbed his proposed legislation the Sheriff Ken Jenne Prison Preemption Act, his fellow Democrats might not have stomped the idea as if it were an autographed photo of Rush Limbaugh.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/columnists/fred-grimm/story/893789.html
-Crist to decide on U.S. Senate bid after legislative session ends in May
Will the governor pass on trying for a second term in Tallahassee to run for the U.S. Senate?
By Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article974177.ece
-Palm Beach County stimulus wish lists hit nearly $2 billion
By DON JORDAN
They're lining up with empty pockets, a hat in one hand, a shovel in the other. As the U.S. Senate pores over its version of a House-approved federal stimulus plan that would send billions of dollars in economic stimulus money to local governments, municipalities around the country are making their requests known.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/02/07/a1a_localstimulus_0208.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~
DEAN TRANTALIS ENDORSED BY GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce today co-endorsed candidate Dean Trantalis in the city's mayoral race. The unusual co-endorsement with candidate Jack Seiler underscores the closeness of the mayoral race in Fort Lauderdale , which is an open seat for the first time in 18 years. "The Chamber recognized that, contrary to conventional wisdom, my campaign has growing support in the business community," Trantalis said. "We've known all along this is a choice between a candidate who wants the city to move progressively into the future, and one who supports the status quo. Fort Lauderdale 's business community understands the need for vision and new ideas." The Chamber interviewed candidates on January 30 and deemed candidates as "qualified" on issues important to the business community. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce has 1,400 members. Trantalis has a long record of public service in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County , including a term as Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner and Vice Mayor. On the City Commission, Trantalis helped the city erase a $23 million deficit without raising taxes or cutting essential services. He also led the way in increasing the size of the Fort Lauderdale police force by 20 percent.
www.DeanForMayor.com
=
Black Gay Pride South Florida
-Black Gay Pride South Florida In Collaboration with Arts United
Loud & Proud Spoken Word
With Host Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHeee, Featured Poets Chunky & Profet
With The presentation of the Bayard rustin Community Justice award
ArtsServe (1350 E. Sunrise Blvd.) - Friday February 13, 2009 @ 7pm
-Black Gay Pride South Florida Invites You To Our Official Club Event
Jay's Bar - Saturday February 14th
2780 Davie Blvd - Fort Lauderdale
~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-In Florida, Despair and Foreclosures
By DAMIEN CAVE
Desperation has moved into this once-middle-class exurb of Fort Myers, where hammers used to pound.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/08lehigh.html?_r=1&hp
=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
-Despite Amendment 1, Floridians are still trapped in their homes
By Mary Ellen Klas
Gov. Charlie Crist and a throng of supporters packed the lawn of Keith and Elizabeth Markowitz's Orlando home to launch the Amendment 1 property tax campaign last year with a promise: If the referendum passed, they would no longer be "trapped in their homes."
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article974188.ece
-Senator Wise to introduce bill on intelligent design
The senator wants it to balance Florida science standards that require the teaching of evolution.
Amid much controversy a year ago, the Florida Board of Education approved new standards that require public schools to teach that the scientific theory of evolution is the foundation of all biological science. But don't think that battle is over. Not even close. State Sen. Stephen Wise, a Jacksonville Republican, said he plans to introduce a bill to require teachers who teach evolution to also discuss the idea of intelligent design.
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-02-08/story/wise_to_introduce_intelligent_design_bill
-Nonpartisan sheriff for Broward? Let the voters decide
BY FRED GRIMM
Something like this could have kept our Kenny out of jail. Maybe if Jim Waldman had dubbed his proposed legislation the Sheriff Ken Jenne Prison Preemption Act, his fellow Democrats might not have stomped the idea as if it were an autographed photo of Rush Limbaugh.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/columnists/fred-grimm/story/893789.html
-Crist to decide on U.S. Senate bid after legislative session ends in May
Will the governor pass on trying for a second term in Tallahassee to run for the U.S. Senate?
By Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article974177.ece
-Palm Beach County stimulus wish lists hit nearly $2 billion
By DON JORDAN
They're lining up with empty pockets, a hat in one hand, a shovel in the other. As the U.S. Senate pores over its version of a House-approved federal stimulus plan that would send billions of dollars in economic stimulus money to local governments, municipalities around the country are making their requests known.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/02/07/a1a_localstimulus_0208.html
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
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