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ExpressGayNews.com
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/
Remainders: Mitt's Muslim moment
November 27, 2007
Huffington Post has Mansoor Ijaz calling bullshit -- literally -- onRomney's denial and explanation today over what he said about Muslims andhis Cabinet
Greg Sargent has two other named sources who have Romney saying somethingsimilar at another event in Nevada
And John McCain piles on
My question: Why was Ijaz at a Romney fundraiser? He gave a lot to Dems inthe 90s, but appears to have stopped political giving in recent years.
And as if Romney's camp needed another distraction, the Tuttman case is nowgrowing beyond the realm of the Boston Herald
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ExpressGayNews.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/26/AR2007112602083_pf.html
More Testing Pledged On HIV
Increasing Giveaway Of Condoms Also Part of D.C. Strategy
By David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 27, 2007; B01
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's administration pledged yesterday to triple thenumber of free condoms being distributed by the D.C. government within ayear and to work with city hospitals to increase HIV testing in emergencyrooms.
The plans were announced as the administration released a report that calledHIV-AIDS a "modern epidemic" in the District and showed that the condition,once considered a gay disease, has spread to the general population.
Of the 3,269 HIV cases identified between 2001 and 2006, 37 percent werespread through heterosexual sex, compared with 25 percent attributable tomen having sex with men. The study also showed the stark impact on theAfrican American community, where more than 80 percent of the new cases wereidentified.
Almost 12,500 people in the District were known to have HIV or AIDS in 2006,the report said.
Shannon Hader, who directs the city's HIV/AIDS Administration, said thegovernment will ramp up several initiatives that began before she arrived inOctober. Among her goals is tripling the number of free condoms distributedby the city, to 3 million, by 2009 to help prevent the spread of cases.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/11/112707rug.htm
Bookie Gives $150,000 To Gay Rugby Tournament
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: November 27, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(Dublin) Ireland's largest bookmaker is giving $150,000 to an internationalgay rugby tournament to be held next June at Dublin University.
Bookmaking is legal in Ireland, and Paddy Power Inc. says that it only makesgood sense to support the gay event.
"This might raise a few eyebrows when it comes to town, but we're not scaredof that," said company spokesperson Ken Robertson, who points out the LGBTmarket is an "important sector".
The International Gay Rugby Association holds the Bingham Cup in a differentworld city every two years.
Dublin's Emerald Warriors beat out competing bids from Paris and Sydney tohold the 2008 Bingham Cup.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/11/112707palm.htm
College: Pet Insurance Yes, Gay Partner Insurance No
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: November 27, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(Palm Beach, Florida) After rejecting a proposal earlier this year toprovide health benefits to the same-sex domestic partners of its employeesPalm Beach Community College has decided to offer workers insurance fortheir pets.
Anyone who works for the college would be able to enroll in the petinsurance plan, through Veterinary Pet Insurance. It would cost employeesbetween $22 and $28 per month for dogs and $15 to $18 per month for cats.
The plan will come into effect on January 8.
LGBT civil rights group the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council calledthe decision an outrage coming just months after the college's Board ofTrustees deadlocked on domestic partner benefits.
"While many pet owners consider their dogs and cats part of their families,there is a basic disconnect when an employer will insure an employee's petbut not an employee's partner," Deidre Newton, a PBCC alumnus who is nowvice president of the human rights council, told the Sun-Sentinel.
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365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/11/112707lcd.htm
Company Markets Larry Craig 'I'm Not Gay' Action Doll
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: November 27, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(New York City) An online company that markets Christmas gifts from thewhimsical to the satirical is selling a Larry Craig action doll that speaks,proclaiming in Craig's own words "I am not gay".
The doll, which stands about 12 inches tall, wears a T-shirt with his nowfamous "I am not gay" pronouncement.
The action figure is sold by stupid.com for $34.95.
The arms are "bendable, so you can put him in all sorts of poses... even thefamous 'wide stance' the Senator refers to," the company says on its website.
The doll even talks. "Press the button, and he delivers a portion of hisPress Conference" proclaiming his innocence of charges of lewd conduct.
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Advocate.com
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid50678.asp
Streisand Endorses Hillary for President
November 28, 2007
Barbra Streisand, who hedged her bets months ago with donations to HillaryRodham Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards, has settled on onepresidential candidate. It's Hillary Clinton.
''Madame President of the United States...it's an extraordinary thought. Wetruly are in a momentous time, where a woman's potential has nolimitations,'' Streisand said in a statement released Tuesday by the Clintoncampaign. ''Hillary Clinton has already proven to a generation of women thatthere are no limits for success.''
The Oscar-winning actress and singer is an FOB -- Friend of Bill Clinton --and the endorsement is hardly surprising. In Hollywood, as in politics,timing is everything, and Streisand's endorsement comes one day afteranother entertainment superstar, Oprah Winfrey, announced she would campaignfor Clinton rival Barack Obama.
''Hillary is a powerful voice for change as we find our country at animportant crossroads. Under her leadership, our country will regain itsrespect within the global community. She will prioritize issues of globalclimate change, universal health care, and rebuilding a strong economy.After eight long years, the public will once again have faith in theirgovernment,'' said Streisand, a longtime supporter of Democratic candidates.
In the statement, Hillary Clinton said she was honored for the support.
more . . . . .
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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/home.html>
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law Summer Program Abroad inAmsterdam
International Perspectives on LGBT Rights
At the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands
Co-sponsored by the Williams Institute and Whittier Law School
July 8, 2008 to August 8, 2008
(a two-week option is also available)
Co-sponsored with Whittier Law School's Summer Program, this fully approvedand ABA accredited program allows law students to earn up to six units ofcredit toward their law school degrees. This yearâ?Ts program includescourses on gay and lesbian parenting, the legal issues of LGBT youth, AIDSand international law, international human rights, and discriminationagainst the LGBT community.
This summerâ?Ts faculty includes
â-ª Matt Coles, Director of ACLUâ?Ts Lesbian and Gay Rights Project
â-ª Jenny Pizer, West Coast Legal Director, Lambda Legal
â-ª Professor Holning Lau, Hofstra Law School
â-ª Professor Elizabeth Glazer, Hofstra Law School
â-ª Brad Sears, Executive Director of the Williams Institute
â-ª Professor Russell Robinson, UCLA School of Law
â-ª Professor Paula Ettelbrick, Executive Director, International Gay andLesbian Human Rights Commission
â-ª Professor Jon Heilman, Whittier Law School
â-ª Professor David Kaye, Whittier Law School
â-ª Professor Judith Daar, Whittier Law School
â-ª Professor Seval Yildirim, Whittier Law School
For additional information regarding the program, students should emailProfessor Heilman at
=
Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
[euro-queer] Urjent Action - Help Stop deportation of gay Iranianfrom the US
please sign our petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/irqo-hassan/
To Whom It May Concern
IRQO is an international, non-profit, queer human rights organization basedin Toronto, Canada with key workers in Europe and Iran. IRQO helps Iraniangay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered refugees all over the world. Wehelp when Iranian lesbians or gay men who are threatened with deportationback to Iran. We also help Iranian LGBTs (lesbian, gay, bisexual,transgender) obtain asylum in friendly countries.
Iranian who are homosexuals are a uniquely identified group who are severelylooked down upon and subject to mistreatment and humiliation, includingtorture at the hands of the current Islamic Republic of Iran for theirsexual orientation. Homophobia runs deep into the Iranian governmentpolicies and homosexuality is considered a criminal act, punishable bylashing, hanging, stoning, cutting in half by a sword, or other methods oftorture.
However, IRQO believes in a brighter future and would not let the hatredstop us from achieving our hopes of becoming useful members of society.Hassan Parhizkar is a homosexual Iranian national, currently in the USA andbeing threatened with being deported back to Iran by ICE [Immigration andCustoms Enforcement] IRQO is deeply concerned that Hassan Parhizkar would besubject to torture and would face the death penalty upon his deportation toIran on account of his homosexuality.
more....
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Anything But Straight
www.waynebesen.com
Nude Warrior Adventure
by Wayne Besen
Nov. 26, 2007
A central tenet to "ex-gay" theory is that a male turns gay because of apoor relationship with his father. Under this baseless hypothesis, asensitive boy perceives paternal disapproval, and as a defensive measure,the child rejects his dad and all things masculine that remind him of thebroken relationship. The mother supposedly reinforces the downward spiral bybecoming the child's fierce protector. The circle is complete when thespurned boy rebuffs sports and male peers in school and instead choosesfemale friends and leisure activities such as playing house.
Of course, this quackery ignores that many gay men had terrificrelationships with their fathers and have close heterosexual male friends.There are also countless men who had horrendous relationships with theirdads and they turned out straight. Another curveball to this absurdpsychobabble is that that gay men, such as former professional baseballplayer Billy Bean, can hit a 100 mph fastball with a sliver of timber. Ihave yet to see any sports-promoting ex-gay therapists duplicate suchathletic prowess.
It is also worth mentioning that no respected mental health associationsupports such ideas and the overwhelming majority of people who subscribe tothese beliefs are devoutly religious, even as they disingenuously claimtheir "scientific" theories are secular.
If a guy wants to become heterosexual, according to ex-gay literature, hemust reclaim his masculinity by playing sports and hanging out withheterosexual friends, while they partake in "manly" activities. For years,ex-gay organizations have included lipstick seminars for lesbians and touchfootball games for men. However, they routinely butchered the butchingprocess, producing surprisingly effete leaders such as Alan Chambers and SyRogers. Or, they featured clownish figures, such as Focus on the Family'sMelissa Fryrear, who nearly tumbled off a stage in Orlando, while boastinghow she mastered the art of walking in high heels.
Realizing their forte was white-knuckling prayer, not bare-knuckledmachismo - several ex-gay organizations began outsourcing to a paramilitary,pseudo-psychological outfit, The ManKind Project. Ex-gay programs,particularly Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality (JONAH), haveaggressively promoted The ManKind Project's New Warrior Training Adventure.
This cult-like national program is a $650 weekend boot camp whereparticipants - mostly straight - are greeted by large, intimidating mendressed in dark clothing and faces painted black. During their stay, the menare forced to take cold showers, survive on about four hours sleep, andsubsist on very little food. In follow-up meetings, the activities includeshaving another man's face, kidnapping a member of another camp group andchanging clothes with other men. The idea is to help them get in-touch withtheir feelings and uncover and heal deep wounds that are barriers tosuccessful lives.
more....
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=15390
HRC commemorates anniversary of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Presidential candidates respond to question of how to overturn gay militaryban
WASHINGTON | Nov 26, 12:50 PM
The fourteenth anniversary of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the military's ban onopenly gay personnel, will occur on Nov. 30. This week the Human RightsCampaign, in recognition of this event, will ask each Democraticpresidential candidate which steps he or she will take to repeal thisoppressive policy if elected.
This feature will run in conjunction with a tribute to gay soldiers on theNational Mall titled "12,000 Flags for 12,000 Patriots," which theWashington Blade covered last week. Each flag on display represents asoldier discharged because of his or her sexual orientation. TheServicemembers Legal Defense Network, Liberty Education Forum, Log CabinRepublicans and Servicemembers United are co-sponsoring this event.
Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) is the first candidate to have his responseposted on HRC's blog, HRC Back Story, and he will be followed by Sen. JoeBiden (D-Del.), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.),Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.). The candidateshave all expressed their desire to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and theirresponses should reflect their repeal plan.
"This is an issue of fundamental fairness - and our military ought to treateveryone fairly. 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' did not become wrong. It was alwayswrong," Edwards' statement said.
Sen. Dodd is the second candidate to be featured. He said Tuesday: "AsPresident, I would call for a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to drawup plans that put an end to this policy within six months."
To read these full statements, go to HRC Back Story. Updates with each ofthe candidates' responses will be posted here throughout the week.
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=15417
Two transgender members quit HRC
Rift is over trans-exclusive ENDA
WASHINGTON (AP)
Nov 27, 5:30 PM
Two transgender members of the Human Rights Campaign quit Tuesday, sayingthe group's support of an employment nondiscrimination bill that excludedtransgender workers put them "in an untenable position."
Jamison Green and Donna Rose's resignations from the Human Rights Campaign'sbusiness council are effective immediately, according to a joint letter.
"Considering recent broken promises, the lack of credibility that HRC haswith the transgender community at large, and HRC's apparent lack ofcommitment to healing the breach it has caused, we find it impossible tomaintain an effective working relationship with the organization," theysaid.
The House, with support from the Human Rights Campaign, earlier this monthpassed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The measure would make itillegal for employers to make decisions about hiring, firing, promoting orpaying an employee based on sexual orientation.
But it does not protect transgender workers. That term covers transsexuals,cross-dressers and others whose outward appearance does not match theirgender at birth.
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=15410
Mont. Co. trans bill signed into law
Becomes effective in Feb.
By JOSHUA LYNSEN
Nov 27, 3:19 PM
A measure to bar discrimination against transgender people in MontgomeryCounty has been signed into law.
County Executive Isiah Leggett signed the bill Nov. 21, one week aftercouncil members voted unanimously to "prohibit discrimination in housing,employment, public accommodations, cable television service and taxicabservice on the basis of gender identity."
Scott Davenport, president of Equality Montgomery County, said the lawrepresents an important step forward in the county. It becomes effective inFebruary.
"We believe that these are very important protections for transgender peoplein Montgomery County," he said. "We also believe strongly that whateverchallenges are put forward by the extreme right, that the overwhelmingmajority of citizens in Montgomery County will do the right thing."
Four conservative groups are challenging the law, arguing the lawestablishes a loophole that allows men to enter women's bathrooms. Threegroups are preparing to challenge the measure in court and another group isseeking a public referendum.
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6170.html
Gay escort denies link with Senator
Gemma Pritchard
27th November 2007 14.31
A gay prostitute has denied having any current involvement with US SenatorTrent Lott, whose abrupt resignation yesterday sparked rumours of a sexscandal.
According to satirical politics blog, BigHeadDC.com, escort BenjaminNicholas, whose clientele is said to include politicos, celebrities andbusinessmen, had a working relationship with Senator Lott.
Mr Nicholas says on his website www.benjaminnicholas.com: "First andforemost, I live by the 'Golden Rule' with mutual respect being my priorityto each of my guys.
"Secondly, the group of guys that I see is a very small, very exclusive one.This 'exclusivity' doesn't pertain to money or power, but simply to beingwith good people."
On his blog and website he emphasises the high degree of confidentialitybetween him and his elite clients.
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6153.html
Catholic adoption agencies seek ways round gay rules
Steve Leng
26th November 2007 11:15
Claims by the Roman Catholic Church that the government would be offeringmoney to help them avoid new regulations in their adoption agencies havebeen dismissed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
In a statement issued last week on the Catholic Bishops Conference ofEngland and Wales website, they claim the government will "pay for furtherwork to be done to explore whether within the law there might yet be waysfound which will enable the adoption work to carry on and for our agenciesto continue."
Earlier this year the Sexual Orientation Regulations came into force, makingit illegal to discriminate against gay, lesbian and bisexual people whenproviding goods and services, including adoption agencies.
The Roman Catholic Church tried to get an opt-out from the regulations fortheir adoption agencies, but after a Cabinet row they were unsuccessful.
The Church was given 18 months to adjust its practices so that it can allowgay couples to adopt from its agencies or close them down.
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6172.html
Archbishops fuel homophobia says gay judge
27th November 2007 15.54
Gemma Pritchard
Australia's most high-profile gay judge has said that only some of hiscolleagues have accepted his homosexuality and he is unhappy with the wayrelations between them have developed.
Michael Kirby, a Justice of the High Court, has also accused the Anglicanand Catholic archbishops of Sydney, Peter Jensen and George Pell, of makingit hard for people to adopt a more tolerant attitude to gays.
And when asked on Australian broadcaster ABC radio's Sunday Profile if someof his fellow judges had yet made "the journey from tolerance to acceptanceof your homosexuality", he said: "We have our different values and ourdifferent life experiences, and they have theirs and I have to respecttheirs. If I'd had a different life experience, maybe I would have been abit different."
Justice Kirby, who has lived openly with his partner for the last 38 years,said he enjoyed his time on the New South Wales (NSW) Court of Appeal, whichhe left in 1996 to join the High Court.
"I wouldn't say (I was) happy with the way relations have developed. Thatwould be putting it too high," he said.
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.guardian.co.uk/gayrights/story/0,,2216689,00.html
Gays and rape centre at odds over age of consent
Making sex legal at 16 in line with rest of Britain 'would hurt thevulnerable'
Henry McDonald, Ireland editor
Sunday November 25, 2007
The Observer
Gay rights campaigners have clashed with Belfast's Rape Crisis Centre overplans to lower the age of sexual consent to 16. The British government haspublished proposals to bring Northern Ireland's legal process, under whichit is illegal for 16-year-olds to have sex, into line with the rest of theUK.
The centre has joined a loose alliance with the Catholic church, evangelicalProtestant churches and Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party to opposethe proposed change from 17 to 16. Ranged against them are organisationsrepresenting the gay community.
Eileen Calder, director of the centre, defended its decision to resistchanges to the sexual offences law. 'On many issues we have been on theopposite side of the DUP and the Catholic church, in areas like abortion,where the centre is pro-choice. But on other issues, such as pornography, wehave worked with the churches in campaigning against sexploitation,' shesaid.
'Our concern is to protect vulnerable young men and women from older sexualpredators. The 17 age limit has never been used to prosecute, say, a man of16 who gets his 15-year-old girlfriend pregnant. What we are concerned aboutis men in their 20s, 30s, 40s and older preying on young people. And thatapplies to the gay community as well as the heterosexual community.'
Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland (Glyni) said it was 'illogical' toargue that there was a huge gap between someone at 17 and another at 16.Along with the Rainbow Project, a charity supporting gays, Glyni haswelcomed the introduction of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order2007, reducing the age of consent to 16.
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/opinions/Govt_must_tighten_screws_on_gays_lesbians.shtml
Govt must tighten screws on gays, lesbians
homosexuality: Mayanja Nkangi
Uganda is experiencing an internationally orchestrated Crescendo of demandsfor "rights" by the homosexual fraternity: male, lesbian, Bisexual,Transgender, and Transvestite:
Essentially these "rights" reduce to only one, namely, the absolute,non-negotiable, "right" to pursue and enjoy sexual pleasure man with man,woman with woman; with the bisexual exploiting the pleasures of both worlds,and the transgender covetting and securing the sexual pleasures which bothGod and his or her heterosexual parents never gave him or her.
The Transvestite is apparently ambivalent as to which sexual genus to firmlypursue, but fits himself or herself somehow. Thus this alleged right ispure sexual hedonism or the relentless pursuit of sexual pleasure for itsown sake.
The gay claim to legitimise same sex unions or marriages is purely ancillaryto the sexual pleasures and is merely an insurance or security for accessingand enjoying same sex sexual pleasures.
What is implicit here is a claim to the 'right to sex', and this should bereadily conceded as a human right which is universally accepted by humanity.
more . . . . .
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6166.html
Kyrgyzstani group publishes homosexuality information
27th November 2007 12:24
PinkNews.co.uk staff writer
The publication of a brochure about homosexuality in the central Asianrepublic of Kyrgyzstan has drawn attention to the discrimination lesbian,trans and bisexual people in the country face.
However, the head of Bishkek mosque condemned the publication.
"If there is no reaction to it, then our society has truly sunken below thelevel of animals," said Myktybek ajy, according to the BBC.
Homosexuality: A Kyrgyzstan Reality has an initial print run of 1,000copies, half of them in Russian and the other 500 in Kyrgyz.
The publication is the work of Labris, a group of more than 100 people thatprovides legal and emotional advice, information and support to lesbian,bisexual and trans Kyrgyzstanis.
more . . . . .
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/07/Nov/2701.htm
Somali Online Gay Community Causing Worldwide Outrage
Commentary by Andrew Prince
Editor, UKBlackOut
LONDON, November 27, 2007 (UKBlackOut) - When we think of very homophobiccommunities we automatically think of places like Jamaica, but recently Ihave come to know that there are other dimensions to homophobia.....one fromthe Somali community.
At least in the Jamaican community they are more informed idiots (pardon thepun), but what I have been witnessing over the past few days goes beyondanything one could identify on planet earth.
Recently I was asked to develop a website for a group of gay Somalis inLondon, www.somaligaycommunity.org. (click HERE for the main page in theSomali language)
This is the first website of it's kind anywhere in the world and as ithappened, it drew a lot of attention during it's first week online with over133,000 hits.
To say the least, there have been a lot of excitement and news coverage,with some of the major online news sites, including ones serving the mainlySomali Muslim community, carrying the story and asking for interviews fromthe Moderator of the website.
more . . . . .
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2007/11/27/42200.html
Hundreds protest turning Morocco into a "brothel"
Moroccan "bride" jailed for gay wedding
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
DUBAI (AlArabiya.net)
A wedding for a well-known gay man in Morocco ended with the colorful'bride' behind bars, along with five other wedding guests, and sparked riotsand calls for authorities to clamp down on gays in Moroccan society.
The Court of First Instance in the northern city of Al-Qasr Al-Kabir, wherethe wedding took place, handed down jail sentences to six people whoparticipated in the lavish wedding ceremony, including the 'bride', Fouad, awell-known gay man who sells alcohol for a living.
The identity of the groom is still unknown, press reports said Monday, but afull investigation is underway.
The wedding, attended by scores of gays and lesbians, lasted two days andhad many elements of a traditional Moroccan wedding.
The 'bride,' adorned with jewelry and full facial makeup, wore a green gownwith a golden belt. His head was covered with a white scarf. For the secondday's celebrations, which featured a musical performance, he changed into ayellow cloak.
more . . . . .
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://blogcentral.jpost.com/index.php?cat_id=5&blog_id=93&blog_post_id=1752
The Hillel Experience: Jews who abuse: dating violence on campus
Posted by Danielle Freni | Comments: 6
November 22 2007; 02:11PM
Sometimes nice Jewish boys aren't so nice. Just ask Shira D. Epstein.
As a college freshman, Epstein joined Hillel to connect with her Jewishpeers on campus. One of those peers turned into a boyfriend who spent anentire semester abusing her both emotionally and sexually.
"You wouldn't think that a guy who was pre-med, well-dressed and going toHillel on Friday nights was bad in any way," says Epstein who is now anassistant professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Epstein designed theself-esteem building curriculum "Strong Girls, Healthy Relationships" forJewish Women International (JWI).
The curriculum is one of several educational programs offered through JWI inresponse to a staggering statistic: 1 in 5 college students admits beingabused by a current partner. (source, Jewish Women International)
"Dating violence is more prevalent on college campuses than many peoplethink," says Rella Kaplowitz, a program specialist at JWI. "And it doesn'tjust refer to physical abuse. There is a significant amount of verbal,emotional and sexual abuse occurring in college relationships as well."
more . . . . .
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.startribune.com/357/story/1577158.html
Nick Coleman: Future archbishop's compassion stops short when it comes togays
By Nick Coleman, Star Tribune
Last update: November 27, 2007 - 8:01 PM
John Nienstedt, Coadjutor Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of SaintPaul and Minneapolis, has been quoted as saying he believes homosexuality isthe result of some kind of childhood trauma. Today, he is inflicting traumaof his own.
That's the opinion of many Catholic friends and relatives of gay and lesbianpeople in the Twin Cities. They say they have been wounded and angered bycomments Nienstedt made about homosexuals in the Nov. 15 edition of TheCatholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the archdiocese.
"Those who actively encourage or promote homosexual acts or such activitywithin a homosexual lifestyle formally cooperate in a grave evil," wroteNienstedt, who is scheduled to succeed retiring Archbishop Harry Flynn inMay. "If they do so knowingly and willingly, [they] are guilty of mortalsin."
Nienstedt went on to set three conditions for such church members to receivecommunion: They must experience a "conversion of heart," express "sorrow fortheir action" and receive absolution from a priest.
His views, a church spokesman said, merely reflect Catholic teachings asdelineated in The Catechism of the Catholic Church which also requiresindividual homosexuals to be accepted with "respect, compassion andsensitivity."
more . . . . .
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/story/238818.html
Students ask board to expand protection
BY JILLIAN COHAN
The Wichita Eagle
Posted on Tue, Nov. 27, 2007
A coalition of student groups Monday urged the Wichita school board toexpand its anti-discrimination and harassment policies to include protectionfor gay and lesbian students, or those perceived to be gay or lesbian.
The current policy offers protection from discrimination on the grounds of aperson's religion, race, gender, nationality, age or disability -- classesof protection that superintendent Winston Brooks noted are defined byfederal law.
The board heard strongly worded and at times emotional speeches from membersof Students United, an advocacy group affiliated with Hope Street YouthDevelopment, and from several high schools' Gay-Straight Alliance clubs.
The group asked that the board meet with them this week to discuss theissue. Several students shared stories of bullying, harassment andintimidation.
North senior Jasmine Cook's voice shook as she told how several boys hadshouted anti-gay epithets at her and a friend while throwing sand in theirfaces.
more . . . . .
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://lgbtyouthnews.blogspot.com/2007/11/gay-straight-alliances-growing-movement.html
Gay-straight alliances: A growing movement
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
On the surface, it looks like any high school club. A group of students andteachers are eating lunch together and chatting. There's a lot of laughterand silliness -- building a Kinder Surprise toy, sharing a fortune cookie.
But the Gay-Straight Alliance at Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary Schoolhas a serious purpose -- ultimately, nothing less than changing attitudesabout people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, queer,questioning or otherwise non-straight.
That the group exists at all is a sign some students have overcome fears.
At first, Scott Malloch went to the meetings and sat with his back to thedoor, which contains a window. Although the 16-year-old identifies asstraight, he was initially scared of people assuming he might be gay.
There were more scared people behind him. Malloch actually heard about thegroup from gay friends who wanted him to go with them for support. But hisfriends got scared, so he went alone. They started going later.
more . . . . .
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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=124&id=17335
Gay World Rugby Cup Lands Major Sponsorship Deal
By Dylan Vox
Article Date: 11/27/2007
Next year Dublin, Ireland will play host to the Bingham Gay Rugby World Cup,which will be the largest international gay event ever held in the country.
The Emerald Warriors team which won the bid to host the tournament havereceived some great news that Paddy Power, Ireland's largest book maker,have given over $100,000 to sponsor the biannual tournament.
The Bingham Cup is one of the largest amateur rugby tournaments in the worldand last year's competition held in New York was the biggest yet. Thirtyteams from clubs around the world competed in the three-day tournament andmade a huge impact on creating public awareness of the sport.
The Cup was named in honor of Mark Bingham who died in the September 11tragedy, on board United Airlines flight 93. He is believed to have beenamong the passengers who stormed the cockpit to prevent the hijackers fromusing the plane to kill additional victims. The Cup was named in his honorin recognition of his membership of the San Francisco Fog RFC, which was thefirst club to host the event.
It was announced this March that the Emerald Warriors had received the bidto hold the event beating out teams in Paris and Sydney.
Richie Whyte the Tournament Director told IrishRugby.ie, "Paddy Power havean innovative and risk taking approach to the market. We are delighted thatthey see the Bingham Cup as a good fit for them both in terms of itssporting potential and public profile."
This deal is just the latest coup for gay sports associations who arebeginning to tap into mainstream organizations for sponsorship agreements.
The Bingham Cup will take place at Dublin University next June where arecord 32 teams are expected to compete.
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Gay & Lesbian Leadership
SmartBrier
http://www.smartbrief.com/index.jsp
Go to the website, above, for the following articles:
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Big business stepping up to educate workers on LGBT issues
Insurance firm Chubb Corp.'s leadership in providing diversity training onLGBT issues in the workplace is highlighted in this article. "You need morethan policies," diversity consultant Brian McNaught said. "You need aculture that on a daily basis feels welcoming, and the only way you change acorporate culture is through education." The Wall Street Journal(subscription required) (11/26)
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HRC to Democratic White House hopefuls: How to end military ban?
As part of its observance of the 14th anniversary of the "Don't Ask, Don'tTell" policy, Human Rights Campaign is seeking comment from the Democraticpresidential candidates on their plans for repealing the ban on gays openlyserving in the U.S. armed forces. The candidates' replies will be posted onHRC's Back Story blog. Washington Blade (11/26)
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Election win by out Georgia Republican sign of changing times - Newlyelected Doraville, Ga., councilmember Brian Bates, the first gay Republicanto win office in the state, is profiled as someone who symbolizes "progress"in LGBT acceptance by the mainstream. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (freeregistration) (11/26)
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Column: Rights of marriage shouldn't be tied to ritual -The possession of amarriage license should not be the legal basis for discharging financialobligations or receiving government benefits, writes historian and authorStephanie Coontz. She argues government should get out of the marriagebusiness. The New York Times (11/26)
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The American Family Association is responding to Human Rights Campaign'sboycott of Wal-Mart regarding its lack of domestic-partner benefits with a"buycott" to urge its supporters to shop at the discount retail giant,according to blogger Joe Murray. Read more at Paleo Place.
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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:
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Can Indiana dodge a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages andcivil unions again this year? Last year we barely escaped when the amendmentpassed the state Senate but stalled in committee in the House. Under Indianalaw if the amendment passes this session it would go in front of the votersduring the 2008 presidential elections.* While an Indianapolis Star pollreleased today shows that support for a constitutional amendment has droppeddramatically, the religious right has ramped up its propaganda machine.
Recent political events, however, have rendered the amendment's fortunesuncertain. Political power, money, and influence will decide this issue morethan respect for civil rights or religious fervor. After the jump I start asmall series of posts examining the various forces behind the amendment'seventual success or failure. In this post: The state legislature and theIndianapolis Star poll.
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In an OpEd piece that ran in the New York Times last year ("Praise the Lordand Pass the Budget," May 20, 2006) novelist Mayra Montero expressedconcerns about the outsize influence of a few religious leaders ongovernment and their role in mediating a resolution to a budget crisis thatthreatened to overwhelm the island.
In this crisis, they took advantage of the ineffectiveness of other forcesin society and made off with the prize.
This is not to say that evangelicals, Catholics and other religious groupsshouldn't help out when there's a crisis - though it is a shame that thegovernor and the Legislature needed an intercessor to come to an agreement.But at what price? There is little doubt that one day these religious groupswill send an invoice: when Puerto Rico has to decide on matters like gayrights and abortion, they will surely seek restrictions. And then we willfind ourselves asking if divine intervention was really worth the cost.
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The colorful brochure from Mitt Romney's presidential campaign looks likemany of the political fliers flooding Iowa mail boxes this time of the year.But there is a difference. The piece is Romney's first to single out hisrivals by name, a shift that shows him becoming more aggressive in the finalweeks before the Jan. 3 caucuses. The mailing juxtaposes photos and quotesfrom Romney showing his support for a federal constitutional amendment todefine marriage as the union of one man and one woman with photos and quotesshowing Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Fred Thompson all oppose such ameasure. But it makes no mention of Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansasgovernor and Baptist preacher whose website says he has consistentlysupported a federal marriage amendment and led successful efforts to passsuch an amendment at the state level in 2002. Huckabee has surged from theback of the pack to a virtual tie with Romney for first place in the Iowapolls.
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Support among Hoosiers for a state constitutional amendment banning same-sexmarriage appears to be on the decline, according to an IndianapolisStar-WTHR (Channel 13) poll.Of the respondents, 44 percent said they opposeda constitutional ban, up from 40 percent in 2005. Earlier this year, theIndiana Senate passed the constitutional ban, but the amendment was voteddown in a House committee. Efforts to revive the amendment are expectedduring the 2008 legislative session."I'm glad to hear that the tide isturning," said Jon Keep, president of Indiana Equality, which has lobbiedagainst the amendment. "I think a lot of it has to do with people realizingthat this may not be the most important issue in the state right now and weneed to be addressing other things like property taxes."Eric Miller, aproponent of the amendment, disagreed. "There will be more than adequatetime to deal with property taxes and pass an amendment protecting marriage,"said Miller, founder of Advance America, a conservative activist group.
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National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/
Go to the website, above, for the following articles:
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A new study has provided a new twist on the connection between sexualorientation and right or leftandedness, claiming that gay or bisexual menhave an elevated incidence of extreme right-handedness.The findingcontradicts earlier studies that had shown that gay men (and lesbians) were39 percent more likely than heterosexuals to be left-handed.
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Trent Lott Fallout:: The Gay Escort Who Knew Too Much - Once upon a time,there was a twentysomething boy-next-door type with reddish blond hair and abrilliantly white smile. Not one to shy away from attention, he wrote a blogcalled "Fifteen Minutes," and also became a freelance writer for variouspublications, including The Stranger in Seattle. He'd often focus on hisnon-traditional lifestyle as a gay male escort - a topic that oftenfascinated his readers, which, in turn, helped him to garner a substantialamount of powerful business acquaintances through the years.
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Police Hunt Transsexual's Killer - Kellie Telesford, 40, was found dead atthe flat in Thornton Heath in south London on November 21. Friends hadraised concerns for Miss Telesford's welfare.Miss Telesford was born a man,named Kayiode Dexter Telesford, but had been living as a woman for severalyears. She was known to frequent gay and lesbian venues in Croydon andBrixton and police are appealing for anyone who had any contact with Kelliebetween November 15 and 21 to come forward.
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Louisville Public Schools Approves - Bias Protection For Gay, LesbianWorkers - The Jefferson County Board of Education voted late last night toextend employment, discrimination and harassment protection to gay, lesbianand bisexual workers. The 4-3 vote came after more than two hours of heatedcomments from about 50 people who supported or opposed the policychange.While they spoke, supporters in the crowd held up signs reading,"Fairness for All" and "Protect all Workers," while opponents raised signsthat said, "Protect the Children."
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