**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.
=
ExpressGayNews.com
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20071212&Category=GJNEWS_01&ArtNo=712120058&SectionCat=NEWS03&Template=printart
Gender identity, gender change: Stratham school child case brings issue toforefront
Article published Dec 12, 2007
STRATHAM - Whether a girl is called a tomboy, or a boy has been told hethrows a football like a girl, everyone in some way or another is affectedby the issue of gender identity.
Most recently, after a letter was sent out to the parents of a StrathamMemorial Elementary School classroom regarding a student's choice to berecognized as transgendered, the frequency of the situation has surfaced asbeing more common than generally thought.
Unlike transsexuals, people who identify themselves as transgendered can bephysiologically male or female, but feel as though they're trapped in a bodyof the wrong sex.
Tawnee Walling, executive director of Seacoast Outright, who has been incontact with the family of the 9-year-old student, confirmed on Tuesday thatthe school department sent a letter to the parents of students in oneparticular classroom, and that the letter addressed the student's decisionto change his name in order to be recognized as a female.
According to Walling, children are able to differentiate their genderidentity by the age of 3, and she herself has worked on 20 different casesthis year alone involving transgendered youth in the Seacoast area.
more . . . . .
=
ExpressGayNews.com
http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=15652
Gay ambassador retires in protest
Guest criticizes Rice, claims State Dept. rules put partner in danger
By LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Dec 12, 1:23 PM
Saying he could no longer subject his domestic partner to potential dangeroverseas, the gay former U.S. Ambassador to Romania ended his 26-year careerin the Foreign Service last month in protest over what he says is the unfairtreatment of gay diplomats and their partners.
Michael E. Guest, 50, told the Blade this week that he spent the past threeyears urging Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her high-level advisersto change policies that critics have said provide more benefits to familypets than to the partners of gay Foreign Service officers stationed abroad.
"I decided that if for three years I haven't been able to get them to doanything about these problems and if I'm going to have to go overseas, thenI might as well just pull the plug and start looking for a new line of work," Guest said. "Because I'm not going to take my partner overseaswithout them fixing the problems, and they've shown no inclination of fixingthem."
Guest said he retired in September under a policy that offers an "early out" to Foreign Service officers with more than 20 years of service whoreach the age of 50. He had been serving as dean of the State Department'sLeadership and Management School in Arlington, Va., which trains futureambassadors and Foreign Service officers, since 2004, when he completed histour of duty in Romania.
He became the nation's second openly gay ambassador when President Bushappointed him as U.S. Ambassador to Romania in 2001. His three-year term inBucharest drew high marks from the Romanian government and praise from theBush administration, even though U.S. religious right groups expressedoutrage that his domestic partner moved in with Guest at the Americanembassy's private living quarters in Bucharest.
more . . . . .
=
ExpressGayNews.com
http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=15654
Graham seeks Metro probe of gay bashing
Man injured in attack aboard deserted subway car
By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | Dec 12, 1:39 PM
Gay D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) said he is asking Metro subwayauthorities to review policies for investigating bias-related crimes afternews surfaced this week that Metro transit police failed to classify aviolent attack against a gay man in a subway car last Saturday as a hatecrime.
Metro police revised their official report of the incident late Monday,listing it as a bias-related crime, after Nathaniel Salerno, the victim ofthe assault, told Channel 5 News in a broadcast interview that his attackersshouted anti-gay names at him as they punched and kicked him in a desertedsubway car about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8.
The decision to revise the report also took place after the D.C. police Gay& Lesbian Liaison Unit interviewed Salerno and exchanged information withMetro police, according to GLLU Officer Joe Morquecho.
Salerno, 25, a resident of Capitol Hill, told the Blade he was troubled thatMetro police initially did not list the incident as a hate crime. He said hetold three officers who assisted him at the Smithsonian station, where heexited the train, that between four and seven young men repeatedly calledhim "faggot" as they assaulted him.
Metro spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said Metro police filed their initialreport after interviewing Salerno minutes after the incident, when he wasshaken and bleeding and refused to be taken to a hospital by paramedics whoarrived on the scene. Farbstein said Metro police were activelyinvestigating the incident and would be using video images of some or all ofthe suspects recorded by cameras in the station to help identify theattackers.
more . . . . .
=
ExpressGayNews.com
http://www.tcgnews.com/santiagotimes/index.php?nav=story&story_id=15538&topic_id=15
CHILE'S EDUCATION MINISTRY EQUIVOCATES IN LESBIAN TEACHER CASE
"My Human Rights Are Being Violated, and The Ministry Isn't Saying Anything," Says Religion Teacher Sandra Pavez
(Dec. 12, 2007) Chile's Movement for Homosexual Integration and Freedom(MOVILH) strongly criticized Chile's Ministry of Education on Monday for itshandling of the case of Sandra Pavez, a lesbian religion teacher who wasdenied teacher re-certification by the Catholic Church.
According to MOVILH, Catholic Church officials revoked Pavez's permission toteach religion after learning that Pavez is a lesbian. Pavez has beenteaching religion for 21 years at a public elementary school in Santiago'sSan Bernardo district.
A 1983 Ministry of Education decree requires all religion teachers topossess an aptitude certificate issued by a religious authority. Without achurch-issued certificate of approval, Pavez is legally unable to teach inChile's public schools. The San Miguel Appeals Court recently ruled againstPavez's claim that the Church's refusal to grant her certification violatedher constitutional rights (ST, Nov. 30).
Monday's meeting, which MOVILH described as the most difficult confrontationthat Chile's sexual minorities movement has had with a government body, wasdisappointing for Pavez and the gay rights group. One of MOVILH's chiefcomplaints was the absence of Education Minister Yasna Provoste, who hadbeen scheduled to participate in the meeting. Representing the Ministry wereUndersecretary Pilar Romaguera and other Ministry officials.
more . . . . .
=
365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/12/121207eu.htm
EU Leaders Sign First International Treaty Guaranteeing Gay Civil Rights
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: December 12, 2007 - 3:00 pm ET
(Strasbourg, France) The European Union has become the first internationalbody to have a treaty containing explicit language prohibitingdiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of signed Wednesday at a ceremony inStrasbourg, seat of the European Parliament.
Parliamentary President Hans-Gert Poettering, European Commission PresidentJose Manuel Barroso, and the current head of the Council of EU memberstates, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates put their signatures to thedocument amid cheers from some member states and jeers from others.
Britain and Poland had wanted the charter put to a referendum and haverefused to sign onto the document.
The Charter brings together into a single document all of the separate EUlaws and regulations on human-rights but despite the fanfare it has no legalforce. That will only happen when the parliaments of all 27 member statesratify a concord called the Lisbon Treaty that reforms the way the EUoperates.
more . . . . .
=
365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/12/121207nh.htm
Midnight Civil Unions Planned In N.H.
by The Associated Press
Posted: December 12, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(Concord, New Hampshire) Same-sex couples plan to celebrate New Hampshire'snew civil unions law by holding a midnight group ceremony as soon as the lawtakes effect Jan. 1.
Democratic state Rep. Gail Morrison, a supporter of the civil unions billthat passed earlier this year, announced Wednesday she is organizing thegroup ceremony to take place at midnight on the Statehouse steps.
Morrison and co-organizer Jen Major say couples who have previously obtainedlicenses from town and city clerks and want to participate can sign upbeginning at 11 p.m. on Dec. 31. Morrison and Major plan to get civil unionswith their partners that night, Major said.
"It's the time to get together and celebrate our small victory," Major saidin a phone interview.
State vital records officials are estimating 3,500 to 4,000 couples will getcivil unions in 2008. That's roughly double the 1,704 unions performed inVermont in 2000, the first year they were offered.
more . . . . .
=
365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/12/121207sweden.htm
Sweden's Biggest Church Supports Gay Marriage Bill
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: December 12, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET
(Stockholm) The Church of Sweden said Wednesday that it approves oflegislation that would make laws governing marriage gender neutral.
The denomination describes itself as Evangelical Lutheran and its membershipincludes about 75 percent of Sweden's population.
In making its statement of support for the bill now before Parliament theChurch, however, said it would continue to use the word "marriage" to referto opposite sex unions.
The statement said that marriage and partnership are "forms of partnershipof equal value".
The support of the Church is considered the last major hurdle thelegislation faced before going before Parliament.
more . . . . .
=
365gay.com
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/12/121307wa.htm
4 Sought In Lawmaker Gay Sex Blackmail
by The Associated Press
Posted: December 13, 2007 - 8:00 am ET
(Spokane, Washington) Police issued arrest warrants Wednesday for four menaccused of trying to extort money from a former state legislator whoresigned his post after an affair with one of the accused became public.
Spokane County prosecutors contend in court documents that Cody Castagna andthree others attempted to blackmail former Rep. Richard Curtis in October.Castagna turned himself in to authorities Wednesday night.
Curtis, a Republican, told a newspaper in his southwest Washington districtshortly after the story broke that sex was not involved in what he said wasan extortion attempt. He also declared he was not gay. (story)
But in police reports, Curtis said he was being extorted by Castagna, who hehad sex with at a hotel room in Spokane, where Curtis was attending a GOPretreat. Castagna has denied wrongdoing and contended Curtis reneged on apromise to pay $1,000 for sex.
Castagna is charged with three counts of second-degree theft of a creditcard, one count of second-degree extortion and one count of conspiracy tocommit second-degree extortion.
more . . . . .
=
Church of Sweden approves gay marriage law
Published: 12 Dec 07 15:07 CET
The Local
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/9387/
Sweden's Lutheran Church said on Wednesday it was in favour of allowingsame-sex couples to wed in church but recommended that the term "marriage"be reserved for heterosexual unions.
The position of the Church, which has 7.2 million members out of apopulation of 9.1 million, had been solicited by the government as itprepares a bill on a new "gender neutral" marriage law that it hopes topresent to parliament early next year.
"Marriage and (same-sex) partnerships are equivalent forms of unions.Therefore the Church of Sweden's central board says yes to the proposal tojoin the legislation for marriages and partnerships into a single law," theChurch said in a statement.
"According to the Church of Sweden's board the word 'marriage' shouldhowever only be used for the relationship between a woman and a man," itsaid.
Sweden has since 1995 allowed gays and lesbians the right to civil unions,granting them the same legal status as married couples.
more....
=
Morocco: Overturn Verdicts for Homosexual Conduct
Convictions Violate Right to Privacy
(New York, December 12, 2007) - The criminal verdicts in Morocco against sixmen sentenced to prison for homosexual conduct should be set aside and themen released, Human Rights Watch said today.
The court of first instance in Ksar el-Kbir, a small city about 120kilometers south of Tangiers, convicted the men on December 10 of violatingarticle 489 of Morocco's penal code, which criminalizes "lewd or unnaturalacts with an individual of the same sex." According to lawyers for thedefendants, the prosecution failed to present any evidence that the menactually had engaged in the prohibited conduct in the first place.
"These men are behind bars for private acts between consenting adults thatno government has any business criminalizing in the first place," said SarahLeah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch."The men's rights to privacy and freedom of expression have been violated,and the court has convicted them without apparent evidence; they should beset free."
The men have been in jail since they were first arrested by the policebetween November 23 and 25, 2007, after a video circulated online -including on YouTube - purporting to show a private party, allegedlyincluding the men, taking place in Ksar el-Kbir on November 18. Pressreports claimed the party was a "gay marriage." Following the arrests,hundreds of men and women marched through the streets of Ksar el-Kbir,denouncing the men's alleged actions and calling for their punishment.
Abdelaziz Nouaydi, a Rabat lawyer on the men's defense team, said that thejudge convicted the men even though the prosecution presented no evidenceshowing that an act violating Article 489 had occurred and offered only thevideo as evidence. The video showed no indications of sexual activity. Themen all pleaded innocent to offenses under the article, which has a statuteof limitation of five years. At the trial, the judge refused to release themen provisionally pending their appeals.
more....
=
UK Civil Partnerships recognised in Spain
Breakthrough in international recognition
Call for common EU policy to recognise civil partners in all member states
London and Madrid - 13 December 2007
"The Spanish government has, for the first time, recognised UKsame-sex civil partnerships," said gay human rights campaigner PeterTatchell of OutRage!
"This is a big breakthrough in securing overseas recognition andrights for British lesbian and gay civil partners. Up to now, civilpartnerships are mostly unrecognised abroad.
"This creates huge legal problems for UK lesbian and gay civilpartners who travel, work or retire abroad. They are treated as twosingle people, with neither rights nor responsibilities.
"Up to now, the Spanish government has dismissed civil partnerships asa uniquely British institution, with no international validity. It hasrefused to give any legal rights to UK same-sex civil partners whohave settled in Spain; viewing civil partnerships as inferior to civilmarriage and unworthy of recognition.
"Spain's decision to recognise UK civil partnerships is the result ofmonths of lobbying by two UK civil partners who now live in Spain,Paul and Martin Ward. They fought and won this concession," said MrTatchell.
more....
=
Florida:
With the "marriage protection" amendment sponsors claiming victory ingathering the needed signatures to put it on the ballot, it's a perfect timeto introduce you to Heddy Pena.
Heddy Pena is a Board and Executive Committee member of Florida Red andBlue.
If you know her, you know Heddy is a passionate and aggressive fighter.
But it's her experience along with her passion that make her such anvaluable part of the Red and Blue team. In her day job, Heddy is ExecutiveDirector of Safeguarding American Values for Everyone - SAVE - the GLBT andcivil rights organization in Miami-Dade County.
Just five years ago, Heddy was Co-Chair of the successful "No toDiscrimination" campaign in Miami-Dade where she led the campaign to protectthe community's landmark Human Rights Ordinance (HRO) from repeal. In sodoing, she helped protect Miami-Dade residents from discrimination in theareas of employment, housing, public accommodations and finance.
Winning that campaign in a county that was strongly sending Governor JebBush back to office was a great accomplishment. It gives Red and Blue aroadmap for winning and it proves that an aggressive and well-organizedcampaign to preserve existing rights and benefits can win in Florida.
It's no surprise that the same people who tried and failed to removeMiami-Dade's HRO are behind next year's "marriage protection" amendment.Fortunately for us, Heddy is on the Red and Blue team - ready to stop themagain.
"We all face obstacles, but the role of government isn't to make life moredifficult," Heddy says. "As a straight woman running a LGBT organization, Ihave a different take on the roadblocks some are trying to enact - it'sabout control, and that's just wrong. Government intrusion into yourpersonal life oversteps boundaries by anyone's definition."
Beyond the political battlefield, Heddy is no stranger to the corporateboardroom. She started her career at AT&T, where she spent 19 years, risingto the position of Regional Director of International Public Affairs forCentral America and the Caribbean. After leaving AT&T in 1998, Heddyestablished a recruiting firm, Pena, Torres and Associates.
In addition to the time she spends with Florida Red and Blue, Heddy hasserved as chairperson of ASPIRA, a nonprofit organization dedicated solelyto the education and leadership development of Puerto Rican and other Latinoyouth. She has been a leader in the National Association of Women BusinessOwners, and served as National President of the Hispanic Association of AT&TEmployees (HISPA).
Red and Blue is fortunate to have Heddy's experience and passion on ourteam. We hope you'll join Heddy and match her commitment to the fightagainst government intrusion by making a contribution to Red and Blue HERE.
If you'd like to learn more about Heddy or the rest of Red and Blue'samazing leadership team, CLICK HERE.
At Florida Red and Blue, we're wrapping up the year and gearing up for nextyear's fight. Thank you for your continued support -- your contributiontoday will help us mount the statewide campaign we need to match Heddy'ssuccesses in 2002 and make us all proud.
- The Red and Blue Team
PS: The referendum on the "Marriage Protection" amendment is less than ayear away now. The sponsors still refuse to admit their amendment hurtsanyone and if we're going to call them on it, we need your help today. CLICKHERE to help us tell all of Florida what this amendment really means.
https://services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/contribution.aspx?X=N7UOV24VIanC4xuRMFqTUA%3d%3d&m=floridaredandblue
=
Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Save the Date! Freedom to Marry Week February 10-16, 2008
As the holidays approach and everyone starts planning for the New Year, wewanted to remind you that the 11th Annual Freedom to Marry Week is justaround the corner.
Mark your calendars and please let us know as soon as possible about thevarious plans you are making, so we can post your information on our websiteand include it in our outreach for the week.
Go to http://www.freedomtomarry.org/ to learn more and send us yourinformation.
=
EuroQueer
MEPs call for withdrawing public funds from extremist political groups
The European Parliament called today in Strasburg for public funding to bewithdrawn from political parties - or media businesses - that incite to hateof a group of people on the basis of their race, religion, handicap, sexualorientation or nationality. They also stressed that such speeches comingfrom public personalities should be considered an aggravating circumstance.
The European parliament adopted today a resolution to show its concern onthe fact that several European countries have experienced recently hatredviolent events and killings. The text, adopted by 527 votes in favour, 15against and 39 abstentions, calls for public funding to be withdrawn from"political parties that do not condemn violence and terrorism and don'tabide with human rights as set out in the Charter for FundamentalRights" -formally signed yesterday in plenary by the three EU institutions-,and to the media who promote racist, xenophobic and homophobic ideas. TheChamber also said to be "seriously alarmed at the Islamic fundamentalistrecruitment" in Europe.
Members stressed that public personalities should "refrain from statementsthat encourage or incite to hate or stigmatisation of groups of people onthe basis of their race, ethnic origin, religion, handicap, sexualorientation or nationality" and believed that being a public personalityshould be considered as an aggravating circumstance when inciting to hatred.
more....
=
Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/5373559.html
Midnight civil unions planned in N.H.
By BEVERLEY WANG Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press
Dec. 12, 2007, 5:18PM
CONCORD, N.H. - Same-sex couples plan to celebrate New Hampshire's new civilunions law by holding a group ceremony the minute the law takes effect Jan.1, organizers said Wednesday.
Democratic state Rep. Gail Morrison and Jen Major said the event is to takeplace just after midnight on the Statehouse steps. Both are former boardmembers of the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition and said they planto get civil unions with their own partners that night.
"My partner and I have been talking about wanting to do it the minute it waspossible, and where else do you celebrate those state accomplishments?" saidMorrison. "It's a combination of very private dedication to one another, butwithin the context of a historic state event, so the Statehouse steps seemedabsolutely the perfect place to be."
The two said couples who previously obtained licenses from town and cityclerks and want to participate can sign up beginning at 11 p.m. on Dec. 31.
"It's the time to get together and celebrate our small victory," Major said.
more . . . . .
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/795/story/167667.html
4 accused of Wash. extortion attempt
Police issued arrest warrants Wednesday for four men accused of trying toextort money from a former state legislator who resigned his post after anaffair with one of the accused became public.
Spokane County prosecutors contend in court documents that Cody Castagna andthree others attempted to blackmail former Rep. Richard Curtis in October.Castagna turned himself in to authorities Wednesday night.
Curtis, a Republican, told a newspaper in his southwest Washington districtshortly after the story broke that sex was not involved in what he said wasan extortion attempt. He also declared he was not gay.
But in police reports, Curtis said he was being extorted by Castagna, who hehad sex with at a hotel room in Spokane, where Curtis was attending a GOPretreat. Castagna has denied wrongdoing and contended Curtis reneged on apromise to pay $1,000 for sex.
Castagna is charged with three counts of second-degree theft of a creditcard, one count of second-degree extortion and one count of conspiracy tocommit second-degree extortion.
more . . . . .
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://365gay.com/Newscon07/12/121207eu.htm
EU Leaders Sign First International Treaty Guaranteeing Gay Civil Rights
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: December 12, 2007 - 3:00 pm ET
(Strasbourg, France) The European Union has become the first internationalbody to have a treaty containing explicit language prohibitingdiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of signed Wednesday at a ceremony inStrasbourg, seat of the European Parliament.
Parliamentary President Hans-Gert Poettering, European Commission PresidentJose Manuel Barroso, and the current head of the Council of EU memberstates, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates put their signatures to thedocument amid cheers from some member states and jeers from others.
Britain and Poland had wanted the charter put to a referendum and haverefused to sign onto the document.
The Charter brings together into a single document all of the separate EUlaws and regulations on human-rights but despite the fanfare it has no legalforce. That will only happen when the parliaments of all 27 member statesratify a concord called the Lisbon Treaty that reforms the way the EUoperates.
The International Lesbian and Gay Association - Europe hailed the Charter onWednesday and urged member states to ratify the Lisbon Treaty saying thatthe document will advance the rights of LGBT people throughout Europe.
more . . . . .
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6322.html
Men sentenced for Dubai rape of 15-year-old boy
12th December 2007 16:43
Antonio Fabrizio
Two men aged 35 and 18 have been sentenced by a Dubai court to fifteen yearsin prison for raping a 15-year-old Western boy.
One of the men is HIV positive. A third man is being tried by a juvenilecourt on the same charges.
Alexander Robert, of French-Swiss nationality, was in the United ArabEmirates last summer when a group of men took him to a desert, threatenedhim with a knife and repeatedly raped him.
Speaking to the International Herald Tribune, the teenager said in Octoberthat after his family denounced the case, Emirati authorities tried todiscourage them from pressing charges.
According to Alexander's mother Veronique Robert, authorities neglected toinform them about the HIV status of one of the rapists in an attempt to hidethat AIDS was present in the country.
more . . . . .
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
Australia
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6321.html
Election leaflet investigated for inciting gay hate
12th December 2007 16:30
PinkNews.co.uk staff writer
An election pamphlet produced by the Liberal party in Australia is beinginvestigated after complaints that it was designed to stir up hatred oflesbian and gay people.
Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner will investigate the leaflet,which called same-sex marriage and trans rights extreme and harmful andassociated them with the pirate skull and crossbones motif.
"The purpose of the Liberal pamphlet was not to promote policy debate but tofoster fear, ignorance and hatred," complainant Martine Delaney told theHobart Mercury.
"With the right of free speech comes a responsibility not to abuse thatright by inflaming prejudice."
The Liberal party's state director for Tasmania said they stood by thecontents of the leaflet and branded the people who brought complaint as"frivolous."
more . . . . .
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6319.html
Taiwanese Presidential candidate victim of gay slurs
12th December 2007 15:20
Tony Grew
A senior official in the Taiwan Ministry of Education has outraged equalitygroups with a series of comments about a leading political party's candidatefor President.
Chuang Kuo-jung, secretary-general of the ministry, said that the Kuomintangparty's Presidential candidate, Ma Ying-jeou, was effeminate.
He also said that the mayor of Taipei "looked very much like a gay,"according to Central News Agency.
Ma Ying-jeou, 57, was mayor of the city from 1998 to 2006 and is one ofTaiwan's most popular politicians.
Chaung's comments were televised across Taiwan. Women's rights advocatescomplained that he was ignoring the Gender Equality Education Law initiatedby his own ministry.
more . . . . .
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.waynebesen.com/2007/12/log-cabin-fails-community.html
Log Cabin Fails Community
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
I am incredibly disappointed that the Log Cabin Republicans are not askingRudy Giuliani to clarify what he said about gay relationships on Meet thePress. In today's New York Times, Patrick Sammon, the president of the LogCabin Republicans, a group that has taken out advertisements criticizinganother Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, said of Mr. Giuliani, â?oHisrecord and his comments speak for themselves.â?
Which record is he talking about? The one he had as mayor of New York Cityor the one he has as a presidential candidate? We've already seen aflip-flop on civil unions, as Giuliani tries to appease the right wing base.
It is not the job of Log Cabin to play PR firm for Mr. Giuliani. Their roleis to inform GLBT voters, so we can make the right decisions in the votingbooth. It is highly irresponsible for Log Cabin to not take the lead on thisand get a clarification - unless they have so little power in the GOP, thatthey no longer have the slightest bit of access.
Note to Sammon: Pick up the phone and get us some answers.
9 Comments:
'they no longer have the slightest bit of access'...if they ever really hadany at all!
LOSERS!
posted by Anonymous, at 12/11/2007 2:38 PM
Like their Democratic counterparts, many in the LCR are loyal first andforemost to political party.
more . . . . .
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14842051/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Arrest Warrants Issued In Legislator Gay Scandal Case
POSTED: 5:54 pm PST December 12, 2007
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Arrest warrants have been issued for four men allegedlyinvolved in the extortion of a state legislator who resigned after a gay sexscandal became public.
Spokane County prosecutors contend in court documents that Cody Castagna andthree others were involved in blackmailing former Rep. Richard Curtis, R-LaCenter, in October.
Castagna, 26, allegedly had sex with Curtis in a hotel room during arendezvous that led to allegations of cross-dressing, solicitation andblackmail.
The four men have been asked to surrender to authorities.
Prosecutors on Monday sent out a news release asking for potential pastvictims of Castagna to come forward.
more . . . . .
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.mediatransparency.com/story.php?storyID=222
Religious right meltdown? More fiction than fact
Bill Berkowitz
December 11, 2007
Despite rumblings in the traditional press about a religious right'crackup,' key conservative Christian organizations are bringing in 'moremoney than ever' says Americans United for Separation of Church and StateOver the past two-plus decades it has become fashionable for the traditionalpress to periodically pen the Religious Right's obituary. Or, if not anoutright death notice, articles will appear that detail real, or perceived,rifts within the Religious Right -- Pat Robertson's endorsement of RudyGiuliani for example -- plus periodic contentiousness between the ReligiousRight and other elements of the Republican Party. The traditional mediaoften conclude that the Religious Right's days are numbered.
While there are certainly differences within the leadership of the ReligiousRight over which candidate to support, it would be foolhardy to considerthese differences irreconcilable.
Commenting on the rift within the Religious Right, NewsMax's Tom Squitierirecently wrote that Robertson's endorsement "created a schism amongevangelical Republicans -- one that may cost the GOP the White House nextyear." Squitieri pointed out that a major backlash has been under way in theevangelical community over the endorsement."
People for the America Way's RightWingWatch recently picked up on thein-fighting within the Party as a whole theme, pointing to a piece"suggesting that moderate Republicans are growing increasingly weary of thestranglehold the Religious Right has had on the Republican Party for thelast several years and that efforts by presidential candidates to pander tothe likes of James Dobson, Tony Perkins, and Pat Robertson are onlyalienating them further."
more . . . . .
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2007/12/huckabee-faith-baptist-pastor-sermons.html?src=email&link=hed_20071212_ts3_Mike%20Huckabee%27s%20Secret%20Sermons
Huckabee Hides His Full Gospel?
Is Mike Huckabee the presidential candidate shunning Mike Huckabee thepreacher? Before entering politics, he was a pastor at two Baptist churches.Now his campaign tells Mother Jones it won't make his sermons available tothe media and the public.
David Corn and Jonathan Stein
December 10 , 2007
Now that he has his moment in the political spotlight, former Arkansasgovernor Mike Huckabee does not want his days at the pulpit to bescrutinized.
As Huckabee has surged to the front of the Republican pack in Iowa, hisreligious views have drawn media and voter attention. After all, Huckabee, aformer Baptist pastor, has been campaigning as a "Christian leader." But hehas vacillated on how far to interject faith into politics. At an earlydebate, he indicated he does not believe in evolution, but at a more recentdebate, when he was asked by Wolf Blitzer if the creation of the Earthoccurred six thousand years ago and only took six days, as stated in the OldTestament, Huckabee said, "I don't know. I wasn't there." During aquestion-and-answer session with students at fundamentalist LibertyUniversity last month, he asserted that his rise in the polls has anexplanation that is "beyond human" and is due to the power of hissupporters' prayers. Afterward, he backtracked slightly, adding, "I'm sayingthat when people pray, things happen.... I'm not saying that God wants me tobe elected." (At a victory rally held after Huckabee won a 1993 specialelection for lieutenant governor, Huckabee told his supporters that he hadonly won because God had intervened, according to the Texarkana Gazette.)
With Huckabee walking this fine line, his campaign has declined to makeavailable sermons that Huckabee delivered during his preaching days.
Before beginning his political career, Huckabee was a Southern Baptistminister for 12 years in his home state of Arkansas. He assumed thepastorate at Immanuel Baptist Church in the town of Pine Bluff in 1980, atthe age of 25. Six years later, he moved to Beech Street First BaptistChurch in Texarkana. In both locations, Huckabee's energy, ambition, andskills as a communicator energized his congregation. Under his leadership,each church grew.
more . . . . .
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3904
Pam's House Blend
An Online Magazine in the Reality-Based Community.
Tom-Boys Allowed; Jane-Girls Not Allowed
by: Autumn Sandeen
Wed Dec 12, 2007 at 17:30:00 PM EST
Lambda Legal released a press release of a new lawsuit, filed in theNorthern District Court of Indiana regarding West Side High School (Gary,Indiana) violated Kevin "K.K." Logan's First Amendment rights when it barredhim from his prom for wearing a dress.
From the press release:
K.K. Logan attended West Side High during his junior and senior year andexpressed a deeply rooted femininity in his appearance and demeanor. Bothclassmates and teachers at the school supported him in his daily attendancedressed in clothes typically associated with girls his age.
However, on May 19, 2006, Principal Diane Rouse stretched her arms acrossthe door of the Senior Prom, blocking Logan's entrance. His classmates andfriends rallied to his defense to no avail -- even though a female studentwas allowed entrance dressed in a tuxedo.
The message here is that being a male-bodied person in a dress -- aJane-Girl -- is as bad as using drugs. That's right -- according to schoolpolicy, one can't wear clothing that "advertises" drugs or sexualorientation. And let's be clear, that means a female-bodied person wearinga tux isn't advertising sexual orientation, but a male-bodied person wearinga prom dress is advertising sexual orientation. The policy is excerpted inthe press release:
Principal Rouse has stood by a school policy that deems inappropriate any"clothing/ accessories that advertise sexual orientation, sex, drugs,alcohol, tobacco, profanity, negative social or negative educationalstatements."
more....
=
Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com
http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2007/12/12/3
Etheridge, Lennox among Nobel concert celebs
published Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Stars performing at a concert Tuesday honoring Nobel Peace laureates Al Goreand the United Nations climate panel said they hoped to draw attention toglobal warming.
Gore and the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shared the NobelPeace Prize for their efforts to document and spread the word about what theformer vice president calls the planetary emergency of global warming.
Performers at the annual concert included Kylie Minogue, Alicia Keys, AnnieLennox, and Melissa Etheridge. Etheridge won an Oscar for the song ''I Needto Wake Up,'' which was featured in Gore's documentary, An InconvenientTruth. Etheridge said Gore had asked her to write the song.
''I was deeply honored, I was deeply moved, and then I had to write a songabout global warming, which is not easy,'' the 46-year-old singer said,adding that Gore's efforts gave her ''a great amount of hope for ourEarth.''
Keys said the Nobel Peace Prize underscores how the efforts of one person,such as civil rights leader the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., can make adifference.
more . . . . .
=
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:
--
Rhode Island: I decry the state Supreme Court ruling that two Providencewomen wed in Massachusetts can't get a Rhode Island divorce. But while it isan immediate setback to the cause of marriage equality here, it may in thelong run prove a help. The 3-to-2 decision leaves the two women in legallimbo unless one of them wants to move to the Bay State and live there for ayear. I hope the ruling shakes legislators here from their obstinancy orcomplacency toward legalizing same-sex weddings in Rhode Island. Many whofind the topic uncomfortable undoubtedly have rationalized their hands-offattitude by thinking, "What's the big deal? Those folks can just zip intoMassachusetts, marry there, return here, and all will be fine." The SupremeCourt ruling makes it clear that the situation is more complicated thanthat.
--
Last month, Coadjutor Archbishop John Nienstedt, an official in the Catholicchurch who is scheduled to assume the post of Archbishop in St. Paul, Minn.,wrote an article in a Catholic newspaper saying that parents of gays andlesbians "formally cooperate in a grave evil" by accepting the same-sexpartners of their offspring.
The article elicited cries of protest at the time; on Dec. 2, it alsobrought about a protest of a more visible sort, when over 300 people stageda protest and "die-in" at the Cathedral of St. Paul, reports the Dec. 14edition of the National Catholic Reporter Archdiocese spokesman DennisMcGrath was quoted in the same Star Tribune article, explaining Nienstedt'sremarks by saying, "He didn't mean you must stop loving your child. But ifyou say, 'Why don't you go hit the gay bars tonight? ...'" ContinuedMcGrath, "He was talking about those who encourage or promote homosexualactivities, like a pornographer might."
--
Same sex couples could soon be denied health insurance in Ingham County.
Right now county employees are eligible to receive those benefits for theirgay partners. Some commissioners say it's a direct violation of the law.
County officials say they need to end the practice soon. Joe Darby has beencrunching the numbers.
Joe Darby: "Well it's very costly." He's trying to figure out how he and hispartner will be able to afford their medical bills if his employer takesaway their same sex benefits. Joseph Darby: "My partner is very ill andrelies on health care coverage." Darby has worked for Ingham County for thepast nine years. He's always carried his partner on his health insurance.
Now county officials say Darby and other gay employees simply cant do itanymore. Joe Darby: "That means they would not be able to get theirprescriptions. They would not be able to go to the doctor." CountyCommission Chair Marc Thomas says it's part of the state marriage amendmentpassed thee years ago.
--
As most of you know, I blog out of North Carolina and have been followingthe campaign of Jim Neal, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seatheld by Elizabeth Do-Nothing Dole. If elected he would be the first out gaysenator in the country, but the fact that he is running out and proud as asingle father - after all, we gay folks have families and average lives likeour taxpaying neighbors, despite the attempt by the GOP and the religiousnutcases to say otherwise. Jim Neal reminds people about families in thisvideo scooped from YouTube - there is more to "family values" than what wehear from the bible-beating set and the political moral hypocrites.
=
National Gay News
http://nationalgaynews.com/
Go to the website, above, for the following articles:
--
Powerful Messages from Ellen and Jodie to Depressed LGBTQ Teens
It's that time of year again when the world seems festive, happy and gay.But for LGBT and questioning teens, the holidays can also be hell. TheTrevor Project - the nation's only 24/7 free, confidential suicideprevention helpline for LGBTQ teens (866-4-U-TREVOR) - recently held their10th annual Cracked Xmas event in Los Angeles honoring Ellen DeGeneres andClear Channel Radio Los Angeles - raising more than $463,000 to keep thenon-profit going.
--
Former "Ex-Gay" Describes "Spiritual Rape" by Pentecostal Ministry
Former "ex-gay" Scott Harrison gave an interview to Southern Poverty LawCenter about his experience coming to terms with his homosexuality aftersuffering through a grueling "exorcism" from a neo-Pentecostal ministrycalled Living Waters/Desert Stream in the 80's. Harrison now speaks togroups like PFLAG about his experience.
=
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment