GLBT DIGEST December 4, 2007

**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.


=

Sun-Sentinel.com

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzgay1204sbdec04,0,1498424,print.story

Fort Lauderdale among top 5 U.S. destinations for gay travelers

By Doreen Hemlock
December 4, 2007

There's big money in gay and lesbian travel, and Fort Lauderdale is cashingin as a pioneer marketing to gays - and now as their favorite U.S. resorttown.

Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people spent about $65 billion ontravel in the United States alone last year, up 9 percent from 2005 andgrowing by a similar rate this year, said Jerry McHugh, senior director ofresearch for Community Marketing Inc. of San Francisco, which specializes ingay travel.

Destinations worldwide are increasingly vying for the gay and lesbiandollar, with more targeted marketing, panelists said Monday at the first dayof an international conference on gay and lesbian travel at the St. RegisHotel on Fort Lauderdale beach.

Greater Fort Lauderdale is reaping a big share of the money considering itssmall size, thanks to its early outreach to gays a decade ago and its steadycommitment to gay travel. The area's tourism leaders rebuked Fort LauderdaleMayor Jim Naugle's for remarks critical of gays earlier this year, keepinggay visitors coming.

Last year, Broward County attracted almost 1 million visitors from the gaycommunity, who spent about $1.2 billion, or about 10 percent of all traveldollars spent in the area. That tally should rise again this year, with FortLauderdale ranked in a recent gay travel survey as the No. 5 destinationnationwide, trailing only four big cities: New York, Las Vegas, SanFrancisco and Los Angeles.

more . . . . .




=

Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org

Wal -Marting Mass Demonstrations against Pope Benedict XVI -

Mark My Words

By Mark Segal
PGN Publisher
C 2007 Philadelphia Gay News

Sometimes the national leadership of our community makes me shake my head inwonder. The last big suggestion to come from some of our national leaders isto boycott Wal-Mart. What? There are a couple of problems with this idea.This holiday season, Wal-Mart is expected to outpace other retailers thanksto its low prices, which appeal to Americans suffering under PresidentBush's "for rich men" economic policies. Second, how can we effect thisboycott if we believe our own publicity about the affluent gay market? Ifwe're all fashionistas, shopping at Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus, wewouldn't be seen in a Wal-Mart anyway.

Wal-Mart does not seem to be a great target to bring the community togetheror ask allies to join us. (This is not to say that Wal-Mart isn't a goodboycott target in general.) On the other hand, there is an event happeningin April that, if handled well, could unite the GLBT community and ourallies. Pope Benedict XVI is making his first official trip to the U.S. inApril. Like Wal-Mart, his organization does not offer domestic-partnerbenefits. But unlike Wal-Mart, Benedict has a few choice words about ourcommunity.

As a young man, Benedict served in Hitler Youth. He's offended Muslims andJews as well. We know his positions on women's rights, condoms andhomosexuality, and on homosexuality, let's let him speak for himself:

"Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin,it is a more or less strong tendency ordered to an intrinsic moral evil, andthus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder."

more....



=

Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org

Lambda 10 Project for LGBT Fraternity Sorority Issues
Phone: (704) 277-6710
Email: shane@lambda10.org

Lambda 10 Project Releases National LGBT Fraternity Sorority Research
Formal Study Reveals Fraternities Sororities More-Welcoming Despite LGBTHarassment

CHARLOTTE, NC (December 3, 2007) - The Lambda 10 Project NationalClearinghouse for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) FraternitySorority Issues released results and a set of strategic recommendations fromthe first-ever national formal research exploring the LGBT experience withinfraternities and sororities from 1960 to 2007.

Results published in the Lambda 10 Project report suggest that fraternityand sorority organizations are more welcoming of LGB members today than inthe past. Over 75% of the respondents were "out" to members of theirfraternity/sorority, with current undergraduates reporting that they weremore "out" (83%) than their alumni/ae counterparts (25%). The study alsoindicated the main reason LGBT people join fraternities and sororities arefor "friendship" and that a significant number of these students areinvolved as leaders in their respective chapters.

"Overall the research is very encouraging and echoes the change in attitudesfrom younger generations to be more open-minded and inclusive of LGBTpeople," said Sue Rankin, Ph.D., the lead researcher for the study."However, as the results suggest, we still have some work to do given thatover 50% of current undergraduate (n=98) respondents reported that theclimate within their chapters was somewhat homophobic."

Rankin and the team of Lambda 10 Research Associates responsible for thestudy believe that the results will be invaluable in developing educationalresources and in advancing further research to assist fraternities andsororities in creating safer, more inclusive environments for their LGBTbrothers and sisters.

more....



=

Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org

Shane L. Windmeyer, Executive Director
Campus Pride
Phone: (704) 277-6710
Email: shane@campuspride.org

U.S. Colleges Come Out for Gay Youth at LGBT-Friendly College Fair
Thirty campuses send message: "Gay Students are Welcome"

CHARLOTTE, December 4, 2007 -This past weekend thirty colleges from acrossthe United States came out to recruit high school youth and highlight theirprograms and services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)people. The national East Coast fair took place this past Satuday, December1 on the campus of University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

The LGBT-Friendly college fair is part of a long-term initiative of CampusPride, the leading nonprofit organization for LGBT campus groups, tohighlight the positive work of campuses across the United States. The fairwas held in coordination with Campus Pride's LGBT-Friendly Campus ClimateIndex (www.campusclimateindex.org), the only online resource of its kindthat assists colleges and universities in learning ways to improve theirLGBT campus life and for incoming students to find LGBT-Friendly campuses.

"Congratulations to the colleges who came out as LGBT-Friendly and thenearly 130 campuses online who are part of the LGBT-Friendly Campus ClimateIndex," said Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director of Campus Pride. "This wasour first fair ever and we were amazed at the number of colleges who wantedto come out as LGBT-friendly."

The thirty colleges who participated in the East Coast fair were: BucknellUniversity, Columbia University, Connecticut College, Williams College,Eugene Lang College, Georgetown University, Goucher College, IllinoisInstitute of Technology, Lehigh University, Lewis & Clark College, AlfredUniversity, Barnard College, Binghamton State University of New York,Michigan Tech, Syracuse University, Swarthmore College, RooseveltUniversity, Pennsylvania State University, Washington & Lee University,Monmouth University, Towson University, Princeton University, BrandeisUniversity, Marymount Manhattan College, Emory University, University ofUtah, University of Texas Austin, Hofstra University and University ofPennsylvania.

more....



=

Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org

http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/UnequalTaxesOnEqualBenefits.pdf

Unequal Taxes on Equal Benefits:
The Taxation of Domestic Partner Benefits

By M.V. Lee Badgett

The Williams Institute and the Center for American Progress released a newstudy that analyzes tax inequalities on domestic partner benefits. (To readthe full report, click here

Employer-provided health insurance is the backbone of health coverage forAmerican families. Most people who have health insurance get it throughtheir own employer or a family member's employer. Public policy encouragesemployers to provide health insurance by exempting that form of compensationfrom taxation. As a result, married workers who get family health insurancebenefits get a double benefit-they get health insurance coverage for theirspouses and children and are not taxed on the value of that coverage.

In sharp contrast, workers who have an unmarried domestic partner are doublyburdened: Their employers typically do not provide coverage for domesticpartners; and even when partners are covered, the partner's coverage istaxed as income to the employee. Employers who cover domestic partners arealso penalized under current law, since employer payroll taxresponsibilities increase along with employees' income and Social Securitytaxes.

more....



=

Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org

National Black Justice Coalition
Get Active, Get Involved, Get NBJC

http://www.nbjcoalition.org/news/nbjc-convenes-forum-on-hate.html

Check out our website.



=

Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org

Abortion foes push state initiatives to bestow 'personhood'

By Judith Graham and Judy Peres
Tribune staff reporters
December 3 2007, 8:14 AM CST

DENVER -- Opening a new front in their assault on abortion, activists inhalf a dozen states are preparing ballot referendums that would grant"personhood" and constitutional rights to embryos from the moment ofconception.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-eggsdec03,1,3297674.story



=

Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3942817&page=1

Foes Protest 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Fourteen-Year-Old Policy Sparked Weekend Protests

By SARAH ULREY
Dec. 2, 2007 -

Twelve thousand miniature flags are fluttering on the National Mall throughtoday to represent the men and women discharged from the military since BillClinton in 1993 signed off on the "don't ask, don't tell" compromise -- apolicy that requires gays and lesbians conceal their sexual orientation orleave the military.

The flags, placed by volunteers, cover six football fields of space in viewof the Capitol building and the Washington monument.

Nov. 30 marked the anniversary of "don't ask, don't tell," and the start ofa weekend of demonstrations in Washington.

"It's time to have a visual example of how many people that we've lost,"said Antonio Agnone, primary organizer of the events and former U.S. Marinewho voluntarily left his post because of the stress of serving under 'don'task, don't tell.' "And [it's] also [time] to say thank you to all these menand women for their service."

The weekend events, organized by the Human Rights Campaign, ServicemembersUnited, the Log Cabin Republicans, the Liberty Education Forum and theServicemembers Legal Defense Network, was to conclude today with a militarychaplain's prayer service on the National Mall at 11 a.m.

more . . . . .



=

Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2007/12/01/news/politics/7c327fe99e74a939862573a40009e255.txt

Workshop to teach advancing gay issues during caucuses

CEDAR FALLS --- The Human Rights Campaign and One Iowa will hold an equalityworkshop in Cedar Falls Dec. 5 to help Iowans communicate about gay,lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues during the January caucuses.

The event is scheduled from 7-8:45 p.m. in the meeting room at the CedarFalls Public Library

The workshop will consist of mock caucuses during which participants willlearn tips on how best to discuss federal issues like Don't Ask, Don't Tell,the Matthew Shepard Act and civil marriage, as well as gain knowledge ofwhat to expect on Jan. 3. Attendees will also have a chance to ask questionsabout the issues and will be provided with talking points to ensure theybecome savvy spokespeople for the GLBT community at the caucuses.

"These workshops are a crucial aspect of our ongoing work in Iowa," said JoeSolmonese, HRC president. "It is imperative that the GLBT community and itsallies represent themselves effectively during the caucuses to advance thecause of equality. By attending the equality workshops, our community canharness its political power."

For further information or to register contact James Taylor, One Iowa caucusdirector, at james@one-iowa.org or call (515) 710-0606.



=

Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://365gay.com/Newscon07/12/120307venez.htm

Gays Would Have Been Protected Under Venezuela Constitution

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: December 3, 2007 - 3:00 pm ET

(Caracas) Voters narrowly rejected a new constitution for Venezuela, handingPresident Hugo Chavez his first ever electoral defeat.

The main stumbling block was the removal of presidential term limits whichwould have allowed Chavez to stand indefinitely for re-election - somethingmost observers say would have been a precursor to turning the market drivenstate into socialism.

Among the provisions in the sweeping proposed constitution was one thatwould have made the country the first in South America to guarantee LGBTcivil rights.

The measure would have added sexual orientation to the categories protectedunder human rights categories in the constitution.

Other changes would have shortened the workday from eight hours to six,created a social security fund for millions of informal laborers andpromoted communal councils where residents decide how to spend governmentfunds.

more . . . . .



=

Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071203.wlhampson03/BNStory/lifeMain/home

Adopting a broader view of family
We tolerate same-sex marriages but not parenthood, Catherine Bainbridgediscovered on chronicling a lesbian couple's struggles

SARAH HAMPSON
From Monday's Globe and Mail
December 3, 2007 at 8:44 AM EST

Catherine Bainbridge had been sure it would all go well.

When her friends Linda and Mona, who are a lesbian couple, decided that theywanted to have a child, Ms. Bainbridge, a documentary filmmaker, wanted totell their story. "I thought it would be interesting to follow them on theirjourney," she says. "I thought it would go swimmingly, but right from theget-go, it was hard."

The documentary, Mommy, Mommy, is about the lesbian couple's struggle tobecome parents. The special airs on CBC Newsworld tomorrow night.

For Ms. Bainbridge, 45, the experience of following the story, which coversthe women's hopes, efforts, disappointments and eventually, after fouryears, happy ending, shook her assumption that Canadian society is astolerant about the issue of same-sex parenthood as most people believe itis.

Her enthusiasm for her film is like that of a forensic investigator whofound something she didn't think she would, and who now feels passionateabout pointing out the issue she uncovered.

more . . . . .



=

Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://www.creators.com/opinion/deb-price/elderly-mother-in-law-showed-value-of-being-prepared.html

Elderly Mother-in-Law Showed Value of Being Prepared

by Deb Price

In retirement, some people take up golf. Others take up knitting. Mymother-in-law - Joyce's mom - became a world-class paper shredder.

She'd always been determined to keep her financial information from fallinginto the wrong hands. Joyce has childhood memories of watching her tearcanceled checks and credit card receipts into bits.

Then technology kicked in, adding a dash of fun. Ten years ago, at 82, sheproudly demonstrated THE SHREDDER, instantly slicing junk mail, envelopesand bank statements into spaghetti-like ribbons.

Joyce and I suppressed giggles and, I confess, childishly joked in privatethat no one would want to steal the identity of someone whose hobby isdocument shredding.

Fast forward to this August: Even though she's no longer sharp enough torealize it, Joyce's mother had the last laugh - and gave us akick-in-the-pants reminder about the necessity of having our own paperworkin order.

Our lesson began when police arrested a Georgia man for using a credit cardapparently obtained by getting my mother-in-law's Social Security number andforging her signature. Joyce jumped online and discovered that the identitytheft actually involved three fraudulent cards - and charges totaling wellover $1,500.

Joyce placed urgent calls to each credit card company - but slammed intobrick walls. It didn't matter to the lenders that Joyce was trying to informthem of criminal activity. It didn't matter that she was acting in hermother's best interests. It didn't matter that her mother was no longercapable of making the calls herself.

All that mattered was that Joyce didn't possess the legal document allowingher to say the magic words, "I have her durable power of attorney."

more....


=

Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

Pam's House Blend

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3820

Another Distortion of the Bible to Support Prejudice

by: Jerry Maneker
Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 14:51:13 PM EST

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, met with and sharedCommunion with some lesbian and gay clergy. In reaction to this meeting, thefollowing was reported: "In a joint statement Dr Richard Turnbull, chairmanof the Church of England Evangelical Council, and Dr Philip Giddings,convener of the evangelical group Anglican Mainstream, said: 'Every occasionfor listening pastorally to people is to be welcomed. However, the HolyCommunion is a fundamental symbol of fellowship and an expression of ourunity in Christ.' To offer this to those in gay relationships was contraryto biblical teaching and to the teaching by the bishops themselves in theirdocument Issues in Human Sexuality, they said."

[For the full article, see here.]

Further evidence of the bankrupt nature of professing Christianhomophobes, and their distortion of the Bible, can be seen when its reportedthat representatives of the Church of England Evangelical Council and an"evangelical" group called "Anglican Mainstream" state that, "...the HolyCommunion is a fundamental symbol of fellowship and an expression of ourunity in Christ. To offer this to those in gay relationships was contrary tobiblical teaching...."

Nonsense! Show us even one passage in the Bible that prohibits thesharing of Comnmunion with any Christian! There isn't any such passage!

Jesus accepted and welcomed everybody, save the smug, self-satisfied,self-righteous self-proclaimed "evangelicals" who distort the things of God,and seek to place yokes of bondage on others.

more....



=

Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://citizenchris.typepad.com/citizenchris/2007/12/statesman-hits.html

Statesman hits low with Craig muck

December 02, 2007

Leave it to the Idaho Statesman, which already wasted months passing aroundphotos of Larry Craig in D.C. toilets, to set a new journalistic low in itscoverage of the senator's ongoing saga. This time around, the paper ispublishing in graphic detail -- along with audio interviews for the trulyvoyeuristic -- the claims of four men to have had sex with Craig, who hasdenied being gay.

That denial is the supposed justification for the story, though we know theStatesman's editors have said in the past that it's newsworthy enough thatany of the conservative state's politicians might be gay to root around inprivate lives. So the prejudices of the citizenry overrule the reasonableexpectation of privacy that those in public office deserve.

What's truly depressing about the new Statesman article is the very low barset for credibility to be included in the story:

As with the Statesman's August report, the new evidence is not definitive.There are no videos, no love letters, no voice messages. Like last August,they are he-said, he-said allegations about a man seeking discreet sex frompartners whom he counted on to never tell.

But the Statesman's investigation, which included reviews of travel andproperty records and background checks on all five men, found nothing todisprove the five new accounts.

In other words, in the Orwellian mindset of the Statesman and itscrackerjack gay sex reporter, Dan Popkey, an allegation of private sexualconduct is true unless proven otherwise. So without any actualcorroboration, much less the level required by good journalists beforeinvading the privacy of public figures, Popkey and the Statesman roll thepresses.

more . . . . .



=

Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://citizenchris.typepad.com/citizenchris/2007/12/the-science-of.html

The science of anti-gay hate

December 02, 2007

Talk about stories hitting close to home. This UPI story out of Amsterdamcertainly did:

"Amsterdam to study why Moroccan Dutch gay bash"

Dutch authorities are commissioning a study to determine why Moroccan mentarget gays in Amsterdam, considered one of Europe's most gay friendlycities. Amsterdam has experienced a growing number of attacks on gays andlesbians, Der Spiegel reported Friday.

In 2006, the Dutch metropolis registered 32 hate crimes directed at gays,but during the first half of 2007, 26 had already been counted, thenewspaper said.

Mayor Job Cohen commissioned the University of Amsterdam to conduct a studyon the motives behind the attacks. Half the hate crimes were committed bymen of Moroccan origin. Some researchers believe they lashed out at localgays after feeling stigmatized by Dutch society, the newspaper said.

Regular readers of this blog know that my partner and I were holding handsas we walked through the gayest neighborhood in "the gay capital" of Europewhen we were bashed by seven men who looked of Moroccan origin. I wrote acolumn about the experience for the Washington Blade and it blossomed into abig news story over there -- probably because it touched lots of buttons,including the threat to tourism and the cultural effect of so many Moroccanan Turkish immigrants to Holland's famously tolerant society.

more . . . . .



=

Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://www.kansas.com/473/story/244710.html

Pat Robertson's son takes over CBN

By RACHEL ZOLL
AP Religion Writer
Posted on Mon, Dec. 03, 2007

The Rev. Pat Robertson said Monday that his son, Gordon, has succeeded himas chief executive of the Christian Broadcasting Network, the most recentshift to a younger generation of leaders within major conservative Christiangroups.

Robertson, 77, announced the transition on "The 700 Club," theVirginia-based network's flagship show, with Gordon, 49, on air with him.

"I thought that some of this day-to-day operation was important to pass downthe line, especially to somebody a little more adept at figuring out the newtechnologies coming at such a bewildering speed to all of us," the elderRobertson said.

The network's board of directors voted over the weekend to name GordonRobertson the CEO immediately. Pat Robertson will still be chairman of CBNand will continue to appear with his son on "The 700 Club." He will alsoremain president of Regent University, which he founded.

Gordon Robertson said in a phone interview with The Associated Press thathis father had knee replacement surgery last spring and over the summerdeveloped an irregular heartbeat that required surgery. But he is "inremarkably good health now."

more . . . . .



=

Gays Without Borders

An informal network of international GLBT grassroots activists working tomake the world a safer place for GLBT people, and for full GLBT equality inall aspects of legal and social life.

Action: Iran, Makwan Moloudzadeh, Young Gay Man Sentenced to Death,Immediate Intervention Necessary
December 4, 2007

IRAN, YOUNG GAY MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
EVERYONE GROUP: "WE ONLY HAVE A FEW HOURS TO SAVE MAKWAN'S LIFE"

THE SENTENCE FOR THE 21-YEAR-OLD HOMOSEXUAL WAS SUSPENDED TWO WEEKS AGOAFTER THE INTERNATIONAL "FLOWERS FOR LIFE IN IRAN" CAMPAIGN CARRIED OUT BY"EVERYONE". THE CASE HOWEVER HAS BEEN RE-EXAMINED BY THE IRANIAN JUDGES ANDTHE SENTENCE CONFIRMED. THE EXECUTION HAS BEEN FIXED FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.HIS FAMILY'S DESPERATE APPEAL: "SAVE OUR MAKWAN".

GRUPPO EVERYONE CALLS ON THE IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION OF THE ITALIANGOVERNMENT AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, AS WELL AS ALL CIVILIZED SOCIETY,AND LAUNCHES THE CAMPAIGN "HEARTS FOR MAKWAN'S LIFE"

Makwan Moloudzadeh is 21-years-old (he was born on March 31st, 1986) and hewas sentenced to death for the crime of "lavat" (sodomy) according to theIranian Criminal Code that foresees the death penalty. According to themotivation adopted by the Iranian Government, the young man, at the age of13 had sexual intercourse with another boy.

Makwan, who was the object of the international campaign "Flowers for livein Iran" initiated by Gruppo EveryOne (www,everyonegroup.com) - withhundreds of red and white roses being sent to President Ahmadinejad, and themobilization of liberal and progressive Islam - had obtained on November15th of this year, the suspension of the death sentence by the Iranian Headof Judiciary, Ayatollah Seyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi. The judge haddefined the sentence - first issued last June 7th by the Criminal Court ofKermanshah, in West Iran and later confirmed on August 1st - "a violation ofIslamic precepts and human ethics"
more.....



=

UKGayNews.org.uk

http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/07/Dec/0302.htm

Gay Muslim Outs Himself to Muslim Scholars at Conference

Doors of tolerance start to open for gay Muslims?

JOHANNESBURG, December 3, 2007 (PlusNews) - Suhail AbualSameed looked calm,yet he was shaking inside. He was seated before a row of ulama,distinguished Islamic scholars, from Afghanistan to Yemen at theInternational Consultation on Islam and HIV/AIDS, organised by the charity,Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), in Johannesburg, South Africa, last week.

The previous day, several of them had denounced homosexuality as un-Islamicand evil.

Today, AbualSameed had something to tell them.

"As a gay Muslim, I feel unsafe, unloved and unrespected in this space," hesaid.

"Were I to become HIV-positive, the first thing I would lose is my Muslimcommunity. I couldn't come to you guys for support."

You could cut the tension the room with a knife.

AbualSameed continued: "I wish you did not refer to gays with the (Arabic)ords 'shaz' and 'luti' - perverts and rapists - because we are not."

Two men in keffiyas, the gingham headcloth worn by men in many Muslimcountries, waved their arms to silence him but the chairman nodded for himto continue.

more....



=

Women.TimesOnline.co.uk

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article2994783.ece

Sperm donor forced to pay child support after lesbian couple split

December 4, 2007
The Times
Jack Malvern

A man who donated sperm to a lesbian couple is being made to pay childsupport, despite having no involvement in the children's lives.

Andy Bathie, 37, a firefighter from Enfield, North London, provided thesperm after being assured by Sharon and Terri Arnold that he would have nopersonal or financial involvement with the children. But now he is beingforced to pay thousands of pounds in maintenance by the Child SupportAgency, although he has no legal rights over the boy and girl, aged 2 and 4,born to the couple, who have now split up.

Mr Bathie said that he could not afford to have children with his own wifebecause of the financial implications. He is attempting to have the lawchanged so that he is not recognised as a legal parent to the children. "Idid look into the legal side and understood that, as a couple, they would bethe parents, not me. I was never 'daddy'," he told the Evening Standard inLondon. "The CSA admit that mine is an unusual case. This is doublestandards and I'm having money stolen by the Government."

Mr Bathie was approached by the couple five years ago after they entered acivil partnership. At the time he was in a relationship with a woman who hadbeen sterilised and was not planning to have children. He has since marriedsomeone else.

Unaware of the legal pitfalls, he was shocked when the Child Support Agencycontacted him last November to demand payments because the women had splitup. He was made to take a £400 paternity test and his pay was docked.

A spokesman for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority said thatmen who donated sperm through licensed fertility clinics were not the legalfathers of any children born as a result. "Men giving out their sperm in anyother way, such as via internet arrangements, are legally the father of anychildren born, with all the responsibilities that carries," he added.

more....



=

The Independent - UK

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=61512

Malta Gay Rights Movement to host 2009 ILGA-Europe Conference

The European International Lesbian and Gay Association AnnualConference will be held in Malta in 2009 following a presentation at thisyear's conference held in October in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius.

Malta beat the other location, The Hague, that was competing to hostthe gathering. In a statement, the Malta Gay Rights Movement said that forsuch a small island the conference will present an ideal opportunity toraise the visibility of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issuesnationally, as well as in the wider Mediterranean and southern Europeanregion.

Between 25 and 28 October, delegates from all over Europe gathered inthe Lithuanian capital of Vilnius for the 11th European Region of theInternational Lesbian and Gay Association Annual Conference, at which Maltawas represented by Gabi Calleja and Bernard Muscat from the Malta Gay RightsMovement (MGRM).

The conference theme was LGBT Rights are Human Rights - Respect,Recognition and Responsibilities.

more....


=

EuroQueer

The case for a fair fight

The lesson from the Miranda Grell affair is that smears and characterassassination have no legitimate place in democratic politics.

Smearing a gay Lib Dem candidate as a paedophile was homophobic and anew low for Labour

Peter Tatchell

London - The Guardian - Comment is Free - 3 December 2007

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/peter_tatchell/2007/12/the_case_for_a_fair_fight.html

The courts last Friday upheld the conviction of disgraced Labourcouncillor Miranda Grell. She was originally found guilty at WalthamForest Magistrate's Court on 21 September of smearing a rival gayLiberal Democrat candidate, Barry Smith, as a paedophile - in breachof electoral law - during a homophobic dirty tricks election campaignin Leyton Ward, Waltham Forest, in 2006.

What is particularly shocking is that right up until the opening dayof her appeal, despite overwhelming evidence that she had engaged in ascurrilous, illegal smear campaign, Grell was backed by the LabourParty, Labour MPs and local Labour councillors. Indeed, Labour agreedto fund the legal costs of her appeal against conviction, which wereestimated to total £30,000.

Labour only withdrew its support and funding the night before Grell'sappeal - after The Independent exposed Labour's on-going backing forGrell. Initially Labour officials told The Independent that they werestanding by their convicted councillor. Forty-one minutes later, theyperformed an embarrassing u-turn; confirming that although Grell hadbenefited from party cash "up until this point" Labour was now dumpingher.

more....



=

Ippfen.org

http://www.ippfen.org/en/Resources/Our+Publications/New+Publications.htm

3 December 2007

NEW edition of IPPF EN Choices Magazine on the sexual and reproductivehealth and rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people inEurope.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF EN)is pleased to announce the publication of this year's edition of ChoicesMagazine: our annual publication focusing on issues surrounding sexual andreproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Europe. This year's Choicesfocusses on the SRHR of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) peoplein Europe.

"IPPF European Network, as a sexual and reproductive health and rightsorganization, can and should reinforce its attention to LGBT issues bybecoming more active and inclusive in its services and advocacy actions",says Vicky Claeys, Regional Director of The International Planned ParenthoodFederation European Network (IPPF EN). "After all, our vision says that wewant to see a world where every individual is healthy; where sex andsexuality are recognized as fundamental and precious parts of human life;where sexual and reproductive choices are respected; and where diversity isvalued and celebrated."

This edition of Choices gives an overview of the SRHR issues and concernsaffecting LGBT people as well as the positive initiatives taken by variousgroups working for change including some of the activities developed by IPPFEN Member Associations. There is particular focus on international andEuropean civil and political rights mechanisms including the more recentInternational Yogyakarta Principles as well as focus on transgender issuesand questions relating to parenting and sexualities equality in education.

For more information, please contact:
Marie-Agnès Lenoir at +32 2 250 0953

The publication is available electronically at our website www.ippfen.org
via http://www.ippfen.org/en/Resources/Our+Publications/New+Publications.htm



=

Inside Higher Education

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/12/04/iowa

The Power of Pink

Football traditions can take on lives of their own and they aren't ofteneasy to kill. But that's not stopping one former University of Iowa lawprofessor who knows that all too well from trying - much to many a Hawkeyefan's chagrin.

More than a quarter century ago at the University of Iowa, the legendaryfootball coach Hayden Fry decided to paint the visiting locker room pink asa psychological strategy, so the story goes, intended to calm opponents andcurb aggression. After the university rebuilt its pink locker room in 2005as part of a $90 million stadium renovation project, two then-law professorswho objected that the color scheme carries demeaning implications for womensparked an intense and often ugly national debate involving death threatsand hate mail. It at last died down after the former president, David J.Skorton (now at Cornell University), determined that he would not take any
action related to the pink room.

Today, one of those professors is revisiting the (until now) dormant debate.After protesting the pink locker room at a Hawkeye home game in November,Jill Gaulding plans to file a complaint under Title IX of the EducationAmendments of 1972, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination ateducational institutions, now that a new Iowa presidential administration isin place.

"I don't think this is about Hayden Fry or his intention in the 1980s; Ithink this is about how people understand the locker room in 2007," saidGaulding, who has since left Iowa and now practices employmentdiscrimination law in Minnesota. "This [is] understood as a funny version ofthe slur that goes on in athletics about playing like a girl, playing like asisy" - and worse, she said, the university has perpetuated the insult in"a very official, permanent way."

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:

--
Arizona is poised to join more than a dozen states that offer health andother benefits to domestic partners of state employees, gay or straight.Thechange would apply to the 65,000 active Arizona employees of stategovernment and public universities, as well as the 9,000 retirees whoparticipate in the state health plan. In short, it would allow stateemployees with domestic partners to claim the same benefits as marriedcouples, the biggest of which is coverage under the state healthplan.Supporters, which include Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, say theproposal is a step toward fairness and would help the state and its publicuniversities better compete for employees in a marketplace wheredomestic-partner benefits are becoming more common.

--
GAY couples and de factos will have their relationships officiallyrecognised and registered with a certificate under planned Victorian laws.
The State Government's move means unmarried couples will not have torepeatedly prove they are in committed relationships when dealing withproperty, superannuation, inheritance and medical emergencies. Unmarriedpartners of judicial officers who die will also be entitled to part pensionsunder proposed changes.

--
Retirement ceremonies for career American diplomats tend to be predictable,decorous affairs reflecting the skills of envoys who have spent yearsperfecting the fine art of defending often indefensible Washington policiesabroad. But when Michael Guest, a former ambassador to Romania, closed outhis quarter-century career recently he did what few people do - displayeduncommon courage and threw a rhetorical hand-grenade into his own party.Before friends, colleagues and top officials in the State Department TreatyRoom, Mr. Guest took Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (who was notpresent) to task for failing to treat the partners of gay and lesbianforeign service officers the same as the spouses of heterosexual officers.And he revealed - with eloquent sadness, not anger - that this was thereason for his departure.

"Most departing ambassadors use these events to talk about their successes .. . But I want to talk about my signal failure, the failure that in fact iscausing me to leave the career that I love," said Mr. Guest, 50, whose mostrecent assignment was dean of the leadership and management school at theForeign Service Institute, the government's school for diplomats. "For thepast three years, I've urged the Secretary and her senior management team to
redress policies that discriminate against gay and lesbian employees.
Absolutely nothing has resulted from this. And so I've felt compelled tochoose between obligations to my partner - who is my family - and service tomy country. That anyone should have to make that choice is a stain on theSecretary's leadership and a shame for this institution and our country," hesaid.Clearly, there is a need for reform.

Some changes would require congressional action; others Secretary Rice couldimplement by fiat. Mr. Guest told The Times that he has heard nothing fromher, even after his speech. Treating gay public servants by differentstandards than apply to everyone else is unacceptable, especially at a timewhen all American diplomats and military personnel are being called on toserve - sometimes repeatedly - in war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan. It'salso foolhardy since the two conflicts have put such strain on Americanresources that personnel shortages are commonplace. The government should bedoing everything in its power to retain its best and brightest, beginningwith treating them equally.

--
(Picture: David Jean, center, plays a game called Encore with two of hisadopted sons, Ken Jean-Babets, 22, left, and George Jean-Babets, 16, attheir home in Amherst.) The youngest of David Jean's four children is 16now, and as Jean nears the milestone of one last high school graduation, herecalls the painfully public struggle he went through to become a father.Jean, 54, is a teacher of culinary arts, and he is co-chairman of the pastorsearch committee at an Amherst church. He moved to this area in 1996 becauseof the quality of the schools and because his elderly parents live inChicopee, where he grew up. For two weeks in 1985, Jean and his partner, DonBabets, were at the center of a Boston media frenzy. They became pioneers inthe struggle for equal adoption rights for gay and lesbian couples, longbefore same-sex marriage became a public issue.

--
Broadway Baptist Church won't decide until next year whether to allowportraits of gay couples to appear in a church directory being published tocelebrate the church's 125th birthday. Members of the congregation whoattended a meeting after Sunday services decided to send the issue back tothe board of deacons, with the expectation that the board will make arecommendation by Feb. 24, members said. "We do not want to rush to make adecision, but rather to continue to listen to each other and for God'sleading to our church," Kathy Madeja, chairman of the deacons, said in aprepared statement. "Our members have diverse opinions about many things,but what we have in common is our love for God, the church and each other."

--
THE RECENT announcement that Mayor Street has agreed to preside over asame-sex commitment ceremony is likely to please local liberals and angerlocal conservatives. While I join my fellow conservatives in opposingabortion and affirmative action, I disagree with them in their opposition togay marriage - and for the same reason that conservatives usually trumpet inother situations, namely, limiting government intrusion into people's lives.Like most people, I always just accepted the fact that a couple needed alicense from the government to get married. It never occurred to me to askwhy. I can understand the reason for a driver's license, or a license topractice medicine or law. There are many things people do that affect publichealth or public safety, and for which a license should be required. Hiringoneself out as a plumber, electrician or food server comes to mind.



=

National Gay News

http://nationalgaynews.com/

Go to the website, above, for the following articles:

--
Russia's First Annual LGBT Film Festival to Launch in 2008 - In Fall 2008,Russia's first ever lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered film festivalis to take place in the city of Saint Petersburg. In a society where sexualdiversity is not openly discussed and more commonly met with widecondemnation the organizers, Side by Side ("Bok o Bok"), aim to create acultural space that will not only allow for the celebration of lesbian andgay lives but establish contact with society at large, fundamentally leadingto broader understanding and acceptance of minority groups. Film and videosubmissions for the Side by Side film festival are now open.

--
City officials for the first time are specifically targeting gay and lesbiantravelers, to help meet Mayor Bloomberg's goal of drawing 50 millionvisitors to the Big Apple by 2015, The Post has learned. NYC & Company, thecity's tourism arm, took out a three-page ad in the December/January issueof Out, a popular gay- and lesbian-interest magazine. The agency also haslaunched a $30 million, 19-country campaign called "This is New York City."

--
Last Call - The first thing I ever did to identify myself as a gay man -
before coming out to a friend or relative, before putting a rainbow-flag pinon my jacket - was to walk into a gay bar. This was not so unusual in theearly 1990s, when few gay men identified as such before they left highschool. Some of us needed to walk around the block four or five times beforefinally pushing open a dimly lit, unmarked door.

--
GLBT Catholics and Their AlliesWant Answers From Future Church Leader -
Concerned members of the Catholic Church and their allies gathered togetherSunday afternoon to make a statement to John Nienstedt, the future leader ofthe Minneapolis-St. Paul archdiocese. The say they came to tell Nienstedtthey are unhappy with his comments made in the November edition of thecatholic newspaper, the Catholic Spirit.



=

MiamiHerald.com

http://www.miamiherald.com/889/v-print/story/330838.html

Ex-male prostitute linked to 2 scandals

By ERIC GORSKI
Posted on Mon, Dec. 03, 2007

One of the rising stars of evangelical Christian politics resigns afterallegations that he had sex with a man. More than a year later, aconservative U.S. senator is embroiled in a similar scandal.

The allegations against the Rev. Ted Haggard and Sen. Larry Craig have acommon thread: A 50-year-old former prostitute from Denver named Mike Jonesclaims he had sex with both.

"I'll put my credibility up against Larry Craig's," Jones told TheAssociated Press on Monday. "Here's a man that doesn't know the differencebetween innocence and guilty ... I think people know he's been a liar.

"And more than a liar, so much in denial," Jones said.

Craig maintains he is not gay and has denied the latest allegations. Hisspokesman called Jones a liar who is trying to sell a book about hisinvolvement with Haggard.

more . . . . .



=

ExpressGayNews.com

http://www.nypost.com/php/pfriendly/print.php?url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/12032007/news/regionalnews/come_on_out__904796.htm

COME ON OUT!

By FRANKIE EDOZIEN

December 3, 2007 -- City officials for the first time are specificallytargeting gay and lesbian travelers, to help meet Mayor Bloomberg's goal ofdrawing 50 million visitors to the Big Apple by 2015, The Post has learned.NYC & Company, the city's tourism arm, took out a three-page ad in theDecember/January issue of Out, a popular gay- and lesbian-interest magazine.

The agency also has launched a $30 million, 19-country campaign called "Thisis New York City."

Commercials have also been placed on LOGO, a national cable network thattailors its programming to gay viewers. They will be aired over the comingweeks.

There will also be ads on similarly themed gay, lesbian, bisexual andtransgender Web sites - and advertising will be stepped up next year aroundValentine's Day.

more . . . . .



=

365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/12/120407aide.htm

Democratic Aide In Underage Sex Sting

by The Associated Press
Posted: December 4, 2007 - 8:00 am ET

(Washington) A former aide to Sen. Maria Cantwell is in federal custodyafter being arrested on a charge of attempting to sexually exploit a minor.

James Michael McHaney was fired Friday from his job as a scheduler forCantwell, D-Wash., hours after he was arrested by FBI agents. The FBI saidin a charging document that McHaney allegedly tried to set up a meeting withan undercover witness posing online as a teenage boy.

McHaney, who appeared in federal court Saturday, was being held without bondpending a court hearing Wednesday, said Channing Phillips, a spokesman forthe U.S. attorney's office for the District of Columbia.

According to court papers, McHaney, known as Mike, tried to arrange alunchtime meeting with an unidentified person posing as a 13-year-old boy.When the witness asked whether McHaney was interested in sex with a13-year-old, McHaney allegedly replied, "I'll be there," the court paperssaid. He later asked for a photo of the child.

News of the arrest was first reported on The Smoking Gun Web site, http://www.smokinggun.com .

more . . . . .



=

365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/12/120407craig.htm

Questions Raised About Craig Accuser's Story

by The Associated Press
Posted: December 4, 2007 - 8:00 am ET

(Denver, Colorado) One of the rising stars of evangelical Christian politicsresigns after allegations that he had sex with a man. More than a yearlater, a conservative U.S. senator is embroiled in a similar scandal.

The allegations against the Rev. Ted Haggard and Sen. Larry Craig have acommon thread: A 50-year-old former prostitute from Denver named Mike Jonespictured) claims he had sex with both.

"I'll put my credibility up against Larry Craig's," Jones told TheAssociated Press. "Here's a man that doesn't know the difference betweeninnocence and guilty ... I think people know he's been a liar.

"And more than a liar, so much in denial," Jones said.

Craig maintains he is not gay and has denied the latest allegations. Hisspokesman called Jones a liar who is trying to sell a book about hisinvolvement with Haggard.

Jones is among eight men quoted in the Idaho Statesman, alleging sexualencounters with the Republican senator. (story) Jones was among four men whoagreed to be identified by name.

more . . . . .



=

Advocate.com

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid50779.asp

Victim's Sexuality Deemed Not Motive for Deadly Punch

December 04, 2007

The man accused of killing gay South Carolinian Sean Kennedy in May will notbe tried for a hate crime, the Greenville News reported Saturday, and notjust because the state does not have a hate-crimes statute.

"Through an extensive investigation I found that the defendant did notstrike the victim because he was a homosexual," investigator Paul Silvaggiotestified in a Greenville County circuit court bond hearing, according tothe newspaper. "It was only later that he knew the victim was a homosexual."

A $25,000 bond and home detention were set for Stephen Andrew Moller, 19,who was indicted for involuntary manslaughter. The initial warrant chargingMoller with murder indicated that the defendant acted out of a dislike forgay people. Moller turned himself in.

The investigator said Friday that as Kennedy was leaving a Greenville-areanightclub, he stood alongside a car in which Moller was seated. Kennedyreached inside the car to hand the driver a cigarette, but when Moller movedto change the radio station, Kennedy touched his face. Moller got out of thecar and hit Kennedy in the face. Kennedy then fell and hit his head on thepavement, an injury that proved fatal. (The Advocate)


=


[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####