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NationalGayNews.com
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/2112/173/
Rainbow Shopping Network
Monday, 12 November 2007 14:40
Rainbow Shopping Network (RainbowShoppingNetwork.com) is an onlinemarketplace designed to help the GLBT community make informed onlinepurchasing decisions, while saving time and money. By logging on, shopperswill find the best handpicked deals available plus exclusive, money-savingcoupons from hundreds of retailers, including the largest collection ofgay-owned and gay-friendly online stores on the Internet.
"At Rainbow Shopping Network, we make it easy for GLBT Americans and theirfamily, friends and allies to make purchasing decisions they can feel goodabout," said Ryan Phillips, co-founder of Rainbow Shopping Network. "Inaddition to having access to the biggest gay-owned and gay-friendly onlinemarketplace, our shoppers can feel good knowing they're getting the bestdeals and coupons available online-saving anywhere from 5%-80% off retailprices. Best of all, we donate 10% of our site's revenue to worthy GLBTnonprofit organizations."
Rainbow Shopping Network's virtual shopping mall offers goods and servicesfrom top-name online stores such as Dell, Apple, Smith & Hawkin, Love &Pride, Harry & David and many more-spanning every category imaginableincluding apparel, travel, home and garden, gay pride merchandise,computers, music and much more. The site also features many gay-owned storesthat GLBT shoppers may have never heard about.
"In addition to showcasing money-saving coupons and deals in one place, wealso recommend specific products that we think our GLBT shoppers would enjoyor benefit from," Phillips said. "In this sense, Rainbow Shopping Networkprovides a very personal shopping experience for our visitors."
The network's gay-owned and gay-friendly online stores have been thoroughlyprescreened and each is designated with a colorful icon, making them easyfor shoppers to identify. Gay-owned stores are owned by at least one memberof the GLBT community. Gay-friendly stores offer same-sex domesticpartnership benefits to employees and have an employee non-discriminationpolicy addressing sexual orientation. For a complete list of RainbowShopping Network's gay-friendly criteria, please visit ww.RainbowShoppingNetwork.com/about.php.
more . . . . .
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NationalGayNews.com
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/2113/176/
U.S. House Agrees, 'The beauty Is in the Mix'
By Deb Price
Monday, 12 November 2007 15:37
In a respectful and moving gesture, Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the gavel sothat she could personally proclaim that the U.S. House had just voted infavor of a national ban on anti-gay job discrimination.
"On this vote, the yeas are 235, the nays are 184. The bill is passed," saidthe beaming speaker, whose pantsuit was a gay-friendly lavender.
It had taken more than three decades for the House to pass the bill nowknown as the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), succeeding after itsrazor-thin defeat in the Senate in 1996.
The nearly all-day extravaganza on Nov. 7 was stuffed with surprises -- whocould have imagined a lawmaker explaining "gaydar" on the House floor? --lessons and tears. One disappointment -- that transgender people were notincluded -- is a reminder of the hard work ahead.
Snapshots of the day I'll cherish:
-- That's Congressman Teddy Bear to you: Gay Rep. Barney Frank ofMassachusetts is a legislative bulldog. But he choked back tears in pleadingwith colleagues to help him protect workers "afraid they'll lose their jobin a gas station if someone finds out who they love. ... Don't send me outof here having failed to help those people."
more . . . . .
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NationalGayNews.com
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/2114/173/
A Cabaret Benefiting APLA
Monday, 12 November 2007 16:27
Popular stars of stage and screen will usher in the holiday season onSunday, December 8 as "Hope for the Holidays: A S.T.A.G.E. SeasonalCelebration" comes to Key Club in West Hollywood. The event, a benefit forAIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), is a one night only dinner and performanceof holiday classics in a cabaret setting.
This first-ever holiday event was created by producers David Galligan,Rodney Gould, Jonathan Kanes, Charles R. Pollock and Ted Seifman of theSouthland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.), the annual springAIDS benefit that salutes Broadway's most respected composers. Theaward-winning Galligan will direct.
"The theatre community has been an exceptional ally since the start of theepidemic," explains Craig E. Thompson, APLA executive director. " 'Hope forthe Holidays' is the latest example of their longstanding commitment to thefight against AIDS."
The cast for the live performance includes: Ian Abercrombie, Catte Adams,David Burnham, Patrick Cassidy, Ashley Cuellar, Kevin Earley, BonnieFranklin, Betty Garrett, Jon Maher, Valarie Pettiford, Stefanie Powers, JaiRodriguez, Sally Struthers, Rip Taylor, The Leading Ladies and BruceVilanch, plus a special appearance by The Beverly Center's Hunky Santa andthe Candy Cane Girls.
Before the 8:00 p.m. show, VIP ticket holders will enjoy a cocktailreception and fine dining experience. A live auction of a select number ofitems including an in-home dinner for 10 prepared by renowned chef NealFraser of Grace restaurant will also precede the show.
more . . . . .
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NationalGayNews.com
http://origin.sltrib.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?articleId=7439427&siteId=297
'Gayborhoods' gaining buzz in SLC
Debut of term in mayoral debate could be another sign of Utah's growing gaypopulation
By Rosemary Winters
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:11/12/2007 01:32:40 AM MST
Salt Lake City's mayoral race is over - with Ralph Becker's landslidetriumph. But the buzz of a "gayborhood" unfolding in the Marmalade area westof Capitol Hill is still ringing.
It was likely the only new vocabulary word tossed at Becker and hisopponent, Dave Buhler, during their slew of debates. For many Utahns, italso may have been the first revelation that the reddest of red states has"gayborhoods."
Some people point to the 9th and 9th area as a prime example. Q SaltLake Editor Michael Aaron, whose article in the gay and lesbian magazineprimed the debate question, argues that Marmalade has eclipsed the Avenuesto become the caital's "gayest" gayborhood. He says you can even find gayenclaves in South Salt Lake and West Valley City.
So what is a gayborhood?
In big cities, a gayborhood might center on a business district withbars, stores and restaurants catering to or owned by members of the gay,lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community, but in Salt Lake City ithas come to mean simply a neighborhood with a higher concentration of GLBTresidents.
more . . . . .
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NationalGayNews.com
http://nationalgaynews.com/content/view/2116/175/
ENDA Ends and Community Gains
By Jacob Anderson-Minshall
Tuesday, 13 November 2007 01:55
Last week, the House of Representatives passed a version of the federalEmployment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that includes protections on thebasis of sexual orientation but not gender identity. In effect this votetemporarily suspends one of the most contentious political moments in theLGBT community's history, since ENDA is unlikely to be voted on in theSenate this year and Bush has promised to veto the legislation if it crosseshis desk.
The debate over the ENDA version that was stripped of gender protection hasbeen a divisive one, pitting LGBT community members against each other. Andyet, what threatened to pull the community asunder had a surprisinglyunifying effect. More than 360 organizations banded together as United ENDAto support civil rights legislation only if it protects all lesbian, gay,bisexual and transgender people.
According to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the activism aroundENDA generated unprecedented contact with legislators. A Task Forcespokesperson said, "Dozens of House offices told us they have never heardfrom our community in such numbers and with such passion on any issue, ever."
Of course, the ENDA debate has had negative impacts, as well. In October,when the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced it wouldn't oppose a strippeddown ENDA, Donna Rose, the first and only openly transgender member of theirboard of directors, resigned in protest.
Rose co-chaired HRC's Business Council, where she played a significant rolein the annual Corporate Equality Index. Her presentation to Eastman Kodak isfeatured in HRC's documentary film, Understanding Transgender. Passionateabout workplace advocacy, the activist (donnarose.com) currently sits on theboards of GLAAD and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce andpreviously served on Out and Equal's transgender advisory committee and theboard of advisors for the National Center for Transgender Equality. Afrequent public speaker, she's been featured on Entertainment Tonight, inUSA Today and in local publications across the country. In 2004, TheAdvocate honored Rose as a "Gay Corporate Leader."
more . . . . .
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NationalGayNews.com
http://thehill.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=69752&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=70
Groups press ethics panel on Sen. Craig
By Alexander Bolton
November 13, 2007
A leading national gay rights advocacy organization is pressuring Sen.Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Ethics Committee, to dropan investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Sen. Larry Craig(R-Idaho). As a result, Democrats may question the merits of pushing theembattled Republican out of Congress.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which last week helped push gayrights legislation through the House, has written a strongly worded letterto Boxer and Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), the Republican vice chairman of theethics panel, criticizing their investigation of Craig as unfair.
The group argues the Ethics Committee has singled out Craig because heallegedly solicited gay sex but has ignored allegations of improprietyinvolving Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) because Vitter's alleged behavior washeterosexual.
On Monday, the president of another prominent gay advocacy group, the Gayand Lesbian Victory Fund, also criticized the investigation in a telephoneinterview with The Hill.
The outspoken critiques by national gay rights leaders puts pressure onBoxer to reconsider an ethics committee action that gay political leadersview as a witch hunt motivated by the homophobia of GOP Senate leaders.
Boxer may be more responsive to their criticisms than many of her colleaguesbecause she represents San Francisco, home to one of the largest gaycommunities in the nation. Her home state is also considered one of the mostpolitically progressive in the nation.
more . . . . .
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/11/111207baptist.htm
NC Baptist Church Facing Expulsion Over Gay Inclusion
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: November 12, 2007 - 3:00 pm ET
(Charlotte, North Carolina) A Baptist church in Charlotte could find itselfexpelled from the North Carolina Baptist Convention this week when the stateorganization holds its annual convention.
Delegates will vote on whether to throw Myers Park Baptist Church outbecause of its unconditional welcoming of gays and lesbians.
The state Baptist Convention voted last year to expel any church that voicessupport for gays and lesbians. Churches are permitted to allow gays andlesbians to become members but only after they have repented.
Myers Park Baptist has been a member of the Baptist State Convention since1943 and has a congregation of nearly two-thousand people.
"We think the local church ought to be free to interpret Scripture itself... And we believe in the spirit of Christ, who allowed all to come to thetable," the Rev. Stephen Shoemaker, Myers Park's senior minister told theCharlotte Observer.
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Advocate.com
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid50433.asp
GOP Legislator Guilty of Soliciting Bathroom Sex
November 13, 2007
After a short deliberation Friday, Florida state representative Bob Allenwas found guilty of soliciting oral sex in a public bathroom. While he didnot testify during the trial -- a decision made by his attorneys, MSNBCreports -- the fallen politico said that he is innocent of the charges andhas done nothing wrong.
"My family, my God, and my constituents know that, and we're not going tostop until we get that justice," Allen said, according to MSNBC.
Moments after the verdict was announced, Florida house speaker Marco Rubioreleased a statement denouncing Allen and recommending that he be removedfrom his Merritt Island seat.
"This conviction makes it impossible for Representative Allen to representresponsibly the citizens of his district," he said in the statement."Furthermore, it is my personal belief that it harms the reputation of theFlorida house of representatives. We will now take the appropriate steps."
It would take a two-thirds vote in the legislature to unseat Allen, thoughthe conviction carries no penalty for him as a lawmaker. It would takeanother two-thirds vote in the house to formally censure or reprimand him,according to the Orlando Sentinel.
more . . . . .
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2859606.ece
Gays should be hanged, says Iranian minister
Dominic Kennedy
From The Times of London
November 13, 2007
Homosexuals deserve to be executed or tortured and possibly both, an Iranianleader told British MPs during a private meeting at a peace conference, TheTimes has learnt.
Mohsen Yahyavi is the highest-ranked politician to admit that Iran believesin the death penalty for homosexuality after a spate of reports that gayyouths were being hanged.
President Ahmadinejad, questioned by students in New York two months agoabout the executions, dodged the issue by suggesting that there were no gaysin his country.
Britain regularly challenges Iran about its gay hangings, stonings andexecutions of adulterers and perceived moral criminals, Foreign andCommonwealth Office (FCO) papers show.
The latest row involves a woman hanged this June in the town of Gorgan afterbecoming pregnant by her brother. He was absolved after expressing hisremorse. Britain said that this demonstrated the unequal treatment of menand women in law and breached Iran's pledge to restrict the death penalty tothe most serious crimes.
A series of reported executions of gays, including two underage boys whosepublic hanging was posted on the internet, has alarmed human rightscampaigners.
The Pet Shop Boys dedicated Fundamental, their Grammy-nominated album, toMahmoud Asqari and Ayad Marhouni, who were hanged in Justice Square inMashhad in 2005. Graphic photographs of the execution of the youths, whowere under 18 when arrested, were released by the Iranian Students NewsAgency.
Gay rights groups in Britain, such as Outrage!, accuse Iran of cloakingexecutions for homosexuality with bogus charges for more serious crimes.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, the FCO released papers to The Timesabout the death penalty being used in Iran for homosexuality, adultery andsex outside marriage.
more.....
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The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Verhagen, issued a new HumanRights strategy document.
It was send to the Dutch Parliament to be discussed.
One of the 6 new priorities will be the fight against discrimination ofLGBT-people world wide.
In Paragraph 2.7 (pages 47 and 48) the new Strategic approach ishighlighted.
- The Netherlands will pay attention to the situation ofLGBT-people in bilateral relations with other countries and will focus, ifapplicable, on decriminalization of homosexual conduct and activities.
- The Netherlands will support capacity building of internationaland local NGOs that advocate non-discrimination of LGBT-people
- The Netherlands will actively lobby to support NGOs that advocatenon-discrimination of LGBT-people and applied for a consultative status atECOSOC.
- The Netherlands will finance the position of an expert onnon-discrimination of LGBT-people in the office of the Commissioner forHuman Rights of the Council of Europe
In this chapter also:
"The Yogyakarta Principles (see www.yogyakartaprinciples.org ) are seen bythe government as a guideline for its policy.
These principles contain a list of human rights and fundamental freedoms inrelation to sexual orientation and gender identity. The core of thesePrinciples is the message that the universality of human rights means thathuman rights apply to everybody - and thus also to homosexual men, lesbianwomen, bisexuals and transgender people."
The Dutch government announces that it will install a new Human Rights Fundin order to increase the possibilities to finance the activities of HumanRights NGOs worldwide. For 2008 the amount of 20 million Euro can be usedfor these activities.
The above is an unauthorized translation.
Boris O. Dittrich,
Advocacy Director
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Program
Human Rights Watch
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118
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Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=17521
Lithuania: Amnesty rallies supporters to oppose rising homophobia in Balticstate
Posted: 12 November 2007
Amnesty International today called on its 2.2 million members worldwide toaddress the rising tide of homophobia in Lithuania.
In recent months the gay community in the Baltic state has seen marchesrepeatedly banned for spurious reasons, a smoke-bomb attack on a gay-rightsconference, and numerous homophobic comments from leading politicians.
Amnesty International said:
'To persecute people for their sexual orientation is to violate theirfundamental human rights.
'Amnesty International calls on the Lithuanian authorities to respect theright to peaceful freedom of assembly for all, the right not to bediscriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation and to activelypromote respect for diversity in their country.
'The Lithuanian authorities also need to offer adequate police protection tothe country's gay community.'
Amnesty has asked its members to write to the country's Minister of theInterior, Raimondas Sukys, and the Mayor of Vilnius, Juozas Imbrasas tovoice their concerns.
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london.gov.uk
http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=14457
Mayor of London calls for new homophobic hatred laws to be robust andeffective
12-11-2007 695
Commenting on the Government's proposal to make it an offence to incitehatred against people on the basis of their sexual orientation, the Mayor ofLondon Ken Livingstone today said:
'I welcome the Government's proposal to make it an offence to incite hatredagainst people on the basis of their sexual orientation. Many lesbian andgay people experience high levels of violence, abuse, threats and insultsand it is right that the government should act to provide protection againstthis and promote equality.
'Those who suggest that this legislative proposal should not be supportedbecause it would threaten free speech are wrong. Such a law would notcriminalise people being rude, let alone a free exchange of ideas, debate ordifferences of opinion.
'The Government's proposal would make it a criminal offence to incitehatred. That is a high threshold. The sort of thing that should fall undersuch legislation, for example, would be the hatred incited by the far rightwhen they assert that all homosexuals are paedophiles.
'Such abuse can have devastating consequences on the lives of individuals,leading to fear, isolation, bullying, physical and verbal attacks. Goodcommunity relations are destroyed by such incitement to hatred.
'Any proposal for incitement to homophobic hatred legislation must beeffective. That means it must meet at least the standard set by the 1986Public Order Act provisions against incitement to racial hatred. Anythingthat falls short of this, as was unfortunately the case with the Actoutlawing incitement to religious hatred, is likely to be ineffective and sobring the law into disrepute.
'Given the Government's impending Single Equality Act, I have urged theadoption of equality laws, which provide consistent and equal protectionsand rights, including equal protection against incitement to hatred.'
more....
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Pink News
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/view.php?id=6026
New Polish PM pressed on civil unions
12th November 2007 11:40
Maryam Omidi
Gay rights activists in Poland have asked incoming Prime Minister DonaldTusk to discuss legalisation of civil unions, the introduction ofcomprehensive sexual education in schools and the ban of discriminationbased on sexual orientation.
Mr Tusk is head of the centre-right Christian-democratic Civic PlatformParty (PO), which won the recent election on 21st October.
According to Catholic World News PO member Stefan Niesiolowski said: "I willnot agree to homosexual marriage."
MP Janusz Palikot, who at a recent news conference wore a T-shirt with thewords "I am gay" emblazoned on the front, took a different stance.
Mr Palikot has said that although it is unlikely for Poland, a conservativecountry, to consent to same-sex marriages, "there will be tolerance andacceptance of minorities."
more . . . . .
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-flasexpills1113pnnov13,0,1595136.story?coll=sofla_tab01_layout
'All-natural' sex tablets pose risks for men
By Justin Pritchard
The Associated Press
November 13, 2007
LOS ANGELES
Many of the pills marketed as safe herbal alternatives to Viagra and otherprescription sex medications pose a hidden danger: For men on common heartand blood-pressure drugs, popping one could lead to a stroke or heartattack.
"All-natural" products with names like Stamina-RX and Vigor-25 promise anapothecary's delight of rare Asian ingredients, but many work because theycontain unregulated versions of the very pharmaceuticals they are supposedto replace.
That secret represents a special danger for the millions of men who takenitrates - drugs prescribed to lower blood pressure and regulate heartdisease. When mixed, nitrates and impotency pharmaceuticals can slow bloodflow catastrophically, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
An Associated Press investigation shows that spiked herbal impotency pillsare emerging as a major public health concern that officials haven't figuredout how to track, much less tame.
Emergency rooms and poison control hotlines are starting to log moreincidents of the long-ignored phenomenon. Sales of "natural sexualenhancers" are booming - rising to nearly $400 million last year. Anddangerous knockoffs abound.
more . . . . .
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To Form a More Perfect Union: Marriage Equality News
Information, news, and discussion about the legal recognition of same-sexcouples and their families, including marriages, domestic partnerships,civil unions, adoptions, foster children and similar issues.
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/weblog/
Go to the website, above, for the following articles:
--
A lesbian couple will appeal a ruling by a lower court that said a RochesterMinnesota gym did not discriminate against the women when it denied them afamily membership.
Amy and Sarah Monson went to court when the the Rochester Athletic Clubrefused to sell them a family membership because they are not legallymarried.
The Monsons are in a committed relationship and are raising a child.
The club argued that the couple's sexuality was not an issue, saying thegym's rules state only that to be eligible for a family membershipapplicants "must be legally married under Minnesota law.
--
New Jersey: This Sunday's New York Times lauds Governor Corzine for hissupport of same-sex marriage even though he has said that he wants to waituntil 2009 to avoid muddying the political waters of next year'sPresidential race. Dr. Martin Luther King said it best when he said,"justice delayed is justice denied." While I, too, praise the Governor forhis support on this issue, I think he is dead wrong to postpone equalprotections for all in deference to politics. As New Jersey debates when toenact marriage equality -- whether in 2008, as activists want, or 2009 asthe Governor wants -- three factors predominate over the political and legallandscape. First, the civil union law is, as our state's civil rightsdirector said this week, a failure. [.] Second, calling same-sexrelationships "marriage" would make an actual difference in New Jersey. [.]Third, the Governor is wrong on the politics.
--
Mayor-elect Ralph Becker would push for civil unions in Salt Lake City if hecould. Of course, he can't - because of the same Utah law that bans gaymarriage - so he won't. Instead, Becker plans to stretch the rainbow agendaas far across the blue-hued capital city as the red-ruled Legislature willallow. On day one of his January job, he vows to dispatch an executive orderrequiring city contractors to provide domestic-partner benefits. There'smore. He also plans to send two progressive proposals to thesometimes-recalcitrant City Council, including the launch of adomestic-partnership registry, as well as language to widen the city'snondiscrimination ordinance. And the new mayor immediately will push torevamp the city's retirement policy to allow an employee to name a same-sexpartner or another designee as a beneficiary.
--
TOLEDOANS have nothing to fear and everything to hope for in the modestordinance that goes before City Council tomorrow to allow gay people topublicly register a "domestic partnership" in the city.
The registry, conceived by Councilman Joe McNamara, cannot be equated withgay marriage, nor is it in any way a slap at conventional marriage. Simplyput, it is an opportunity for local gay couples to have their relationshipsrecognized in a manner that has been accepted by a growing number ofprogressive communities around the country. At least seven states alreadyprovide for domestic partnerships, and many companies provide benefits forsame-sex partners. More to the point, John Madigan, the city law director,says the ordinance would not violate the spirit or letter of theconstitutional amendment approved by Ohio voters in 2004, which definedmarriage as a union between a man and a woman. At a Council hearing Friday,Mr. Madigan said he arrived at his opinion by studying the Ohio SupremeCourt's ruling that the 2004 amendment does not preclude application of thestate domestic violence law to unmarried couples, gay or straight. Theproposed registry, the law director said, "will not establish anything thatapproximates marriage." What it will do, we believe, is give gay couples thecomfort of acceptance and help promote Toledo as an inclusive community, aplace that accepts anyone and everyone willing to work hard and make thecity a progressive community in the most noble sense of the word.
--
Governing parties agree on tackling the issue of same-sex relationships,probably by introducing some form of legal partnership, in order to solve along neglected human rights issue. Theoretically, both governing parties arewilling to provide equal rights for same-sex couples, though only two MSZPMPs supported the liberal party's suggestion at a human rights commissionmeeting, writes hirszerzo.hu. In Hungary, same-sex couples have absolutelyno legal background for their relationships, which makes many aspects oftheir lives complicated. They are not entitled to the same property rightsas married couples, the same exemptions as married couples on inheritancetax, social security and pension benefits. In addition, they cannot begranted parental responsibility for a partner's children, tenancy rights,full life insurance recognition, next-of-kin rights in hospitals, andothers.
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
San Diego Union-Tribune
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20071112-9999-1n12gayright.html
Groups jousting over gay rights in California
By Bill Ainsworth
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 12, 2007
SACRAMENTO - In the battle over gay rights, this fall was supposed to be aslow period, almost like a political time-out. Both sides were expected tospend the next few months preparing for a California Supreme Court decisionon whether to overturn the state's ban on same-sex marriage.
Instead, it's been anything but quiet.
Gay rights advocates are spending millions of dollars on a televisionadvertising campaign to promote same-sex marriage.
Religious conservatives, meanwhile, have launched a referendum drive tooverturn a new law that they say will promote homosexuality in the schools.
Both campaigns illustrate the frustrations and successes each side hasexperienced.
During the past few years, gay rights advocates have persuaded theDemocratic-controlled Legislature and Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggerto pass many laws expanding protections against discrimination and addingbenefits and responsibilities for same-sex registered domestic partners.
This year, Schwarzenegger signed seven of eight bills advocated by EqualityCalifornia, a leading gay rights group.
But the group's top priority - same-sex marriage - has proven elusive.
more....
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
California Catholic Daily
http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=a8faddd4-c679-4e6f-81dd5ca16b7d1e72
"Gays, lesbians rule Democratic Party"
October 3, 2007
Leading gay newspaper reports homosexuals firmly in control of California'sparty leadership
Homosexuals have taken control of California's Democratic Party, says apolitical commentary in the influential homosexual newspaper Bay AreaReporter.
Beneath the headline "Gays, lesbians rule Democratic Party," politicalreporter Matthew Bajko, writing in the Sept. 27 issue, makes a strong casethat California's Democratic party is virtually owned by the gay, lesbianand transgender community.
Bajko points out that four openly homosexual men and one lesbian hold topleadership positions in the state party, and that three of the largestcounties have Democratic Party chairs who are openly homosexual: San Diego'sJess Durfee, Los Angeles' Eric Bauman and San Francisco's Scott Weiner.
Other openly homosexual Democratic chairs include Debra Broner in Del NorteCounty and Sacramento's Sam Catalano, who is the county's executive directorfor the Democratic Party, said Bajko.
Out of a total state population of 36.4 million, more than 15 million peoplelive in the five counties where homosexuals control the local DemocraticParty, according to Bajko's report.
more....
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
[euro-queer] Lithuania: Amnesty rallies supporters to oppose risinghomophobia in Baltic state
Posted: 12 November 2007
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=17521
Amnesty International today called on its 2.2 million members worldwide toaddress the rising tide of homophobia in Lithuania.
In recent months the gay community in the Baltic state has seen marchesrepeatedly banned for spurious reasons, a smoke-bomb attack on a gay-rightsconference, and numerous homophobic comments from leading politicians.
Amnesty International said:
'To persecute people for their sexual orientation is to violate theirfundamental human rights.
'Amnesty International calls on the Lithuanian authorities to respect theright to peaceful freedom of assembly for all, the right not to bediscriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation and to activelypromote respect for diversity in their country.
'The Lithuanian authorities also need to offer adequate police protection tothe country's gay community.'
more....
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The American Library Association has a Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, andTransgendered Round Table as an official part of the organization, which hasexisted in one form or another since 1970. The web site of the GLBTRT is at http://www.ala.org/ala/glbtrt/welcomeglbtround.htm
Their newsletter can be found at
http://isd.usc.edu/~trimmer/glbtrt/newsletter.htm
The co-chairs of the GLBTRT are Cal Zunt of the Cleveland, Ohio Public
Library (e-mail: Cal.Zunt@cpl.org ) and K.R. Roberto of the University ofDenver, Colorado's Penrose Library (e-mail KR.Roberto@du.edu ) You mightalso want to contact the chair of the Round Table's External RelationsCommittee, Holly Mercer (e-mail hmercer@ku.edu ).
I'm sure these people would be happy to share the information andprograms they've developed over 30+ years, to make libraries LGBT-friendly,as well as join in your efforts at the IFLA. I hope this information isuseful to you.
Regards as ever, Doug Ireland
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[Send your comments about articles to rays.list@comcast.net]
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